Argo

Ein ernstes Thema der Bedrohung von Amerikanern, die in Iran stecken geblieben sind, das sensibel durch die verspielte Hollywood-Einstellung entspannt wurde. Die Regie ist wirklich ausgezeichnet, Affleck wird erwachsen. Die klischeehaften Szenen im letzten Drittel (die Tickets im letzten Augenblick, die Flugzeugjagd) entsprechen wahrscheinlich nicht den wahren Begebenheiten, sie passen jedoch sympathisch in das Filmkonzept, wo das real-life Problem mit politischer Dimension im letzten Augenblick vom Hollywood-Heroismus mit einem Comic-Charakter gerettet wird. Visuell ausgefeilt, eine super Besetzung, die Atmosphäre der Zeit ist hervorragend und Desplats Musik fantastisch. (07.02.2013)

There’s no more boring and hackneyed cliché in recent times than the constant emphasis on how much better Ben Affleck is as a director than as an actor. (26.02.2013)

Ben Affleck confirms his quality as a director. This time, and based on the responses from abroad, he hit the bullseye of the taste of the American public and critics, and it’s no wonder. Argo is a decent period piece, a thriller, a drama, has a pinch of filmmaking comedy, it’s based on real events and you end up rooting for the clever and nice Americans. And from a genre perspective, it can be viewed without any politics. Personally, however, it didn’t captivate me, maybe because the climax relies too much on coincidences, and though the tension escalates nicely, the overall pleasant realistic feeling is lost. But overall, it’s your typical well made four star film, and a nice scapegoat for anti-American posers. (30.11.2012)

Ben Affleck really is the man. I must admit that I never believed that he could be the leading representative of decent and intelligent Hollywood of this day and age, but every new movie he makes is such a smash hit that my brain is having a hard time coping with such amounts of quality. Argo may not be a five-star smash hit and that’s only because it drags on a bit at the beginning and it takes a while for the movie to finally get to the action. But once the action starts, which is actually the entire second part of the movie, your heart will stop beating with all the suspense the same way it did for me. The story itself is absolutely amazing and interesting and I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Argo wins the Oscar for Best Picture. It has all the traditional Oscar-winning qualities, so we will see. For me, this was a job really well done about a certain chapter of CIA and Hollywood history, which couldn’t have been filmed any better. Yeah and Ben Affleck was absolutely perfect in his role. (24.02.2013)

Dies ist nicht das Ereignis der Saison - sowohl amerikanische Kritiker, als auch das dortige Publikum müssen logischerweise von einem Film begeistert sein, der nicht einfach blöd und simpel ist, sondern beliebte Pläne und einen gewissen "Power-Film" -Patriotismus aufrechterhalten kann. Aus meinem Blickwinkel schätze ich die cleveren sowie gut funktionierenden Montagen (Lesen des Argo-Drehbuchs/drastische Szenen aus dem Iran - die Heist-Parallele in Form einer "Fluchtplanung / eines Verfolgungsprozesses"), den berühmten selbstveunglimpfenden Humor des Hollywoodhandlungasstranges sowie die Fluchtsequenz, die ausschließlich mittels Detailaufnahmen sowie Halbdetails gedreht wurde und na ja, Rodrigo Prietos Kameraführung ist ein Vergnügen an sich. Nach einer "problematisierenden" politischen Einführung kapituliert jedoch Argo schließlich im Angesicht bewährter Schemata, was jedoch keineswegs die Tatsache beeinträchtigt, dass Ben Affleck einen weiteren handwerklich souveränen Film gedreht hat, den ich "rein genossen" habe. (24.11.2012)

As excellent as he is a director, he is simply a little bland as an actor. He proves the first not just in the opening, most powerful scene of the year, but throughout the movie. He manages to demonstrate immense bravado as a director, building up stifling tension in a story where you know what happens, while poetically interleafing political thriller with satire on a burned-out "_llywo_d". He also proves his acting (non)skills throughout, tripping himself up by otherwise casting acting aces in the other roles, or at least actors who constantly out-act him. This said, most detrimental turned out to be the airport finale where he comes across like an unintentional parody of himself. Certainly cinematic exaggeration of reality is one thing, but dishing out so many clichés in ten minutes is just too much. It is all the more surprising because up until that point he has been avoiding them and going his own way. So, in the end no new Munich or Baader Meinhof Complex occurs, it’s just too naive and shallow for that, but ranking it amongst them is sufficient recognition of Argo’s qualities. (29.11.2012)

Among film fans, it is a well-known fact that Ben Affleck is a much better director than an actor. But he is apparently not such a good director that he realizes the limits of his acting skills and adjusts the casting of the main character accordingly. That is unfortunate. What Ben Affleck builds in the director's seat, the same Ben Affleck tears down in the lead role with his bloodless performance. It's certainly not embarrassing, but it needed to be cast with a top-notch character actor. Ben Affleck's ability to create and maintain tension, his meticulousness in capturing the atmosphere of the 70s, as well as the revolutionary conditions in Iran after the fall of the Shah, still remain. In the field of political thrillers, it's not at the absolute peak, because Ben Affleck couldn't avoid a few unnecessarily melodramatic moments or getting emotional in family scenes, and the viewer's suspense is further marred by the fact that a film based on a true story has nothing to surprise you with and you simply know from the very beginning how it will end. On the other hand, it is a strong above-average film and it is a joy to watch such a well-executed screenplay. Overall impression: 75%. (19.04.2015)

A precise picture. Ben leaves nothing to chance, unlike the Yankees on this operation. He knows very well what he can and can’t get away with. It’s not such a blockbuster as for instance The Town, but even so, Argo is pretty original, ingenious and historically accurate. Ben’s acting is rather dry, not attracting attention to himself (maybe a bit of a shame), but he’s still cool. In terms of acting, no problems with this movie. De-restricted material about how some non-existing dumb sci-fi saved lives will shut the mouths of people who badmouth sci-fi fantasy movies for being irrelevant. Argo is one of those irresistibly cheap combos of Star Wars and John Carter that has something to say to people in this century too. A bit of a problem is contrasting sprightly Hollywood (still with the old, tumbledown sign - the period accuracy is spot on) and Iran where a city-slicker hangs from the crane by his necktie. In any case, it’s a quality genre movie and I can’t wait for another movie with Ben. Argo fuck yourself. (04.12.2012)

A smart and very thoughtful reconstruction of historical events that has been missing here for a long time. The film beautifully oscillates between serious drama and accomplished satire, intertwining both key elements in individual scenes from side to side. The whole thing appears mature, intelligent, and it is damn entertaining and captivating to watch. Ben Affleck also hit with the costume design, the sets, and the cinematography. The performances are brilliant by all involved. (12.02.2014)

Affleck didn't disappoint again. This time his work may not have that much panache and the viewer has to endure the first half of the film without any emotional basis for the events rather than experience them, but the final, one could say riveting, passage convinced me to give it a high rating and especially about Affleck's qualities as a director. A well-drawn tense situation, a beautiful period atmosphere, a surprisingly decent performance by Affleck and pleasant allusions to the deceitfulness and depravity of the movie industry, all this against a backdrop of a great escape that, in the end, had me completely engrossed and keeping my fingers crossed for the heroes as much as I have done for any film in a long time. Plus the necessary dose of clichés and the mandatory diversion towards the audience, which increased the dynamism and impact of the climax. My Oscar favourites this year may have been made of completely different dough, but Affleck rocked the academics in such style that he couldn't possibly lose. Patriotism is highly addictive, especially when it’s portrayed with such quality. "Argo, fuck yourself!" (10.03.2013)

Afflecks Regie-Meisterstück. Kurz nach The Town - Stadt ohne Gnade habe ich mir seinen am höchsten bewerteten Streifen angeschaut, und ich bin noch mehr als zufrieden. Obwohl ich die Amerikanern nicht für alles, was sie in der Welt angerichtet haben und dies auch weiter tun, lieben muss, habe ich der riskanten gewaltfreien Aktion zur Befreiung von für normalen Diplomaten und einer Zivilistin die Daumen gehalten und am Ende fast nicht geatmet, auch wenn ich von vornherein wusste, wie es ausgehen würde. Es gibt nicht ohne eine amerikanische Peinlichkeit ab, trotzdem hinterließ Argo in mit ein starkes Filmerlebnis und die unglaubliche Lust, mein historisches Wissen um die iranische Revolution zu erweitern. Ich habe schon ein Auge auf die Buchserver geworfen, wo ich eine hübsche Publikation über den Iran herbekommen könnte. (26.12.2013)

I am very glad that Ben Affleck realized quite early on that he is not such a good actor, but that he might have talent for other professions in the film business. In 1998, he discovered that he has a talent for screenwriting because he won an Oscar for the screenplay of the film "Good Will Hunting" together with Matt Damon. What surprised the whole world even more was the fact that Ben is a great director. He proved it with his first film "Gone Baby Gone", and even more so with the film "The Town", but perhaps the most surprising thing was when he finally ventured outside of the city and surprised both critics and audiences with the film "Argo". More: http://www.filmovy-denik.cz/2013/02/argo-2012-85.html (09.04.2013)

Spannend, dank der treffenden Wahl sehr gut geschauspielert und demnach glaubhaft… Den Oscar hat sich Argo wohl verdient. Schon in den früheren Filmen hat Ben Affleck bereits bewiesen, dass er als Regisseur letztlich mehr Erfolg haben könnte als Schauspieler, aber hier hat er noch einmal eine Stufe drauf gelegt. Während des ganzen Films glaubte man an die ausweglose Situation, in der sich amerikanische Diplomaten im Iran befanden. Am Ende kam es mir schon etwas übertrieben vor, wie sie bei der Flucht im letzten Moment alles noch schaffen. Schließlich konnte es ja nicht wirklich so krass gewesen sein, und das Ende hätte meiner Meinung nach auch nicht so sehr mit einem Happy End ins Auge stechen müssen. Trotzdem würde ich den Film dank der hervorragend gewählten Vorlage als einen der Top-Filme des Jahres bezeichnen. (27.02.2013)