Movie : Argo

Wow what a frustrating but well-made film!The subject matter is a little difficult and the fact that it's a true story makes is both easier and more difficult to watch. Easier because we know the outcome but difficult because it's so real. Based on the testimony of the main character, Tony Mendez, the story is of the 6 Americans who managed to escape the American embassy in Tehran just as it was being besieged by an angry mob who then brutally held the remaining staff hostage for several weeks.What happens next is the extroardinary twist and what, at times, adds comedy elements, indeed, some critics have labelled this a comedy. As all Americans have left Tehran, there is no way of disguising the 6 as nurses, charity volunteers or anything else. What Mendez comes up with is the idea to make a fake Hollywood film and the 6 are the film crew. But to make it credible, he actually needs to do this - bar going ahead and making the film. He enlists a couple of Tinsel town's finest and once they find a script , throw a press event, place actual adverts and have business cards, even an actual Hollywood office with the all important phone line in case anyone checks during the escape. He even makes the 6 Canadians, I guess, in an attempt to make them less hated so the accents have to be altered slightly.In the meantime, the Canadian Ambassador takes in the 6 and keeps them safe whilst in hiding.My frustration exists because there are so many mistakes, not in the film, not in the script, but in 1979!

• If I was hiding to save my life the first thing I would do is disguise myself, heavily, completely alter my appearance.
• What I won't do is leave the house, go near a window or really even be on the ground floor where I can be seen by the bad people trying to kill me from the outside. Not to mention putting everyone else at risk.
• Be eternally grateful for the Canadian ambassador for risking his own life and that of his family's in taking me in
• Listen to those who 'save people' for a living rather than not

For such a harrowing subject, there is so much humour which lightens the film without making light of the topic.

Having said all of that, there are astonishing performances from all of the cast and the film just seems to have bought the best out of everyone. I'm getting used to this 'Affleck as a director' vogue too.8/107/10 Smile factor