The 'Argo' Review Thread

[Walts Ghost]

Originally Posted by Collider

Ben Affleck in Talks to Direct ARGO; Produced by George Clooney

Following the critical and commercial success of The Town, we’ve watched Ben Affleck deliberate over his follow-up. Possibilities include a film ab0ut the conflict in eastern Congo, Replay, The Trade, and American Bullshit. Just a hunch, but the latest option could be the one that sticks. Affleck is in early negotiations to direct Argo , a political drama which revolves around the Iran hostage crisis in 1979. George Clooney and Grant Heslov (The American) are producing along with David Klawans (Nacho Libre).

Chris Terrio (Heights) wrote the script based on a Wired magazine article titled “How the CIA Used a Fake Sci-Fi Flick to Rescue Americans from Tehran.”

Here’s how Heat Vision describes the subject matter:

I love these stranger-than-fiction stories, especially when they involve government intelligence (see: The Informant!). Terrio’s script landed on the 2010 Black List of Hollywood’s best unproduced screenplays, one spot below the aforementioned and not dissimilar American Bullshit that also caught Affleck’s eye. Bullshit likewise centers on a government operation called Abscam, “the true story of the FBI’s 1980 undercover sting operation of Congress.” But Argo appears to have risen to the top of Affleck’s list, and I can’t blame him. I wonder if either Affleck or Clooney might star.

Read the full Wired article, written by Joshuah Bearman and published in April 2007, here.

Source

Sounds good to me. Affleck is a great director so I can't wait to see how this turns out

[Guitar Joe]

Originally Posted by Walts Ghost

Source

Sounds good to me. Affleck is a great director so I can't wait to see how this turns out

This part sounds weird to me. It's true, but it still seems strange.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Walts Ghost

Sounds good to me. Affleck is a great director so I can't wait to see how this turns out

I don't know about great but there's no question I prefer him on this side of the camera.

He's a lot like Sophia Coppola that way

[Ator the Invincible]

Originally Posted by Walts Ghost

Sounds good to me. Affleck is a great director so I can't wait to see how this turns out

Yeah, he's 2 for 2 behind the camera. I'll definitely check out whatever his next project turns out to be. And Argo does sound interesting.

[Evra]

Originally Posted by Guitar Joe

This part sounds weird to me. It's true, but it still seems strange.

I know exactly what you mean. Just doesn't sound right, Affleck and great director but he is!

[WyldeMan45]

Ben Affleck Will Also Star in His Next Directorial Feature, ARGO

Director Ben Affleck first started considering Argo as his next project in February. In the months since, Affleck cast Alan Arkin and John Goodman in two supporting roles. Until tonight, Affleck had yet to announce the man to play Tony Mendez, “the CIA exfiltration expert who created a fake Hollywood production to get six Americans who were hiding out at the Canadian ambassador’s out of Iran.” According to Variety, Affleck will assume the lead role himself. Affleck, Arkin, and Goodman make a formidable trio at the top of the playbill.

George Clooney and Grant Heslov are on board as producers under their Smokehouse banner. Chris Terrio (Heights) wrote the script based on a Wired magazine article titled “How the CIA Used a Fake Sci-Fi Flick to Rescue Americans from Tehran.” Read more about the truly movie-worthy subject matter after the break.

This outline is pulled from our initial report:

“The story centers on how, during the occupation of the American embassy by Iranians in 1979, a rescue effort was mounted by the CIA and the Canadian government to extract six U.S. diplomats.

The CIA used a disguise expert and concocted a scenario that involved the six being a Hollywood crew scouting a movie titled Argo. Under those disguises, they were able to flee the country.”

Read the full Wired article, written by Joshuah Bearman and published in April 2007, here.

Terrio’s script landed on the 2010 Black List of Hollywood’s best unproduced screenplays. Alan Arkin and John Goodman are in final negotiations to play producer Lester Siegel and Oscar-winning makeup artist John Chambers, respectively.

Given the talent on both sides of the camera, I’m guessing Warner Bros. will schedule Argo for release as an Oscar hopeful in late 2012.

[WyldeMan45]

Bryan Cranston in Talks to Join

Casting seems to be moving right along for Ben Affleck’s next directorial project Argo. Just yesterday, it was announced that John Goodman and Affleck himself had joined Alan Arkin in the cast, and now Variety reports that Bryan Cranston is in negotiations to take on one of the lead roles. The film tells the true story of how the CIA and the Canadian government teamed up to rescue six U.S. diplomats who had been taken hostage by Iranians in 1979. The CIA’s ruse involved convincing the Iranian government that the diplomats were actually a Hollywood film crew scouting locations.

Cranston will play an Irish CIA agent from Boston who used to be the bodyguard to President Eisenhower. Goodman plays Oscar-winning Planet of the Apes makeup artist John Chambers, Arkin is set to portray a Hollywood producer and O.S.S. veteran, and Affleck is taking on the lead. George Clooney and Grant Heslov are producing. Given the caliber of Affleck’s recent work and the cast he’s assembled so far, Argo is shaping up to be quite the flick.

[RJ Smoove]

After watching all three seasons of Breaking Bad in a couple of weeks, he quickly became one of my favorite actors. I hope he does join.

[octagon]

I may seriously have to stop hating this nitwit

Go Ben.

[WyldeMan45]

Cranston is managing to fit in an awful lot of of film work when he's not doing Breaking Bad. He's got John Carter, Contagion, Rock of Ages and Red Tails, not to mention now this project.

[RJ Smoove]

Originally Posted by octagon

I may seriously have to stop hating this nitwit

Go Ben.

You may have to stop? Gone Baby Gone and The Town are amazing films. If you still hate him after those two, there's no hope for you!

Originally Posted by WyldeMan45

Cranston is managing to fit in an awful lot of of film work when he's not doing Breaking Bad. He's got John Carter, Contagion, Rock of Ages and Red Tails, not to mention now this project.

Not to mention Total Recall. I'm pumped for that one.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by RJ Smoove

You may have to stop? Gone Baby Gone and The Town are amazing films. If you still hate him after those two, there's no hope for you!

I haven't rented The Town yet but yes, Gone Baby Gone was excellent.

Not excellent enough to completely wipe Bennifer from my mind but as I say, he might be getting there.

[WyldeMan45]

Originally Posted by octagon

I haven't rented The Town yet but yes, Gone Baby Gone was excellent.

Not excellent enough to completely wipe Bennifer from my mind but as I say, he might be getting there.

Fifteen years of horrible movies and I loathed him for those fifteen years only to have Gone Baby Gone, start to lessen the hate and see a very capable director. Then came the Town, and I was blown away. I couldn't believe little Ben finally learned to act and it was very impressive.

[RJ Smoove]

Originally Posted by octagon

I haven't rented The Town yet but yes, Gone Baby Gone was excellent.

Not excellent enough to completely wipe Bennifer from my mind but as I say, he might be getting there.

Hmm. Well in terms of his performance and direction, The Town is superior IMO. Obviously he wasn't in GBG, but you really should watch The Town.

Originally Posted by WyldeMan45

Fifteen years of horrible movies and I loathed him for those fifteen years only to have Gone Baby Gone, start to lessen the hate and see a very capable director. Then came the Town, and I was blown away. I couldn't believe little Ben finally learned to act and it was very impressive.

Under his own direction no less.

[WyldeMan45]

Originally Posted by RJ Smoove

Under his own direction no less.

Yeah I noticed that too, so apparently all those years he just couldn't find someone to properly direct him.

[RJ Smoove]

Originally Posted by WyldeMan45

Yeah I noticed that too, so apparently all those years he just couldn't find someone to properly direct him.

Kevin Smith did fine with Ben in all his movies IMO. I've actually never really disliked him as an actor. Granted I was a kid while his career was coming up.

[FT-86]

Originally Posted by RJ Smoove

Hmm. Well in terms of his performance and direction, The Town is superior IMO. Obviously he wasn't in GBG, but you really should watch The Town.

Heck ya, The Town was one my favorite movies of the decade and 2010. I know, not the best of the decade for some, but I got a great vibe from it. Hes also becoming one my favortie directors. His performences are a lot better when he has a serious role in a movie too. Keep up the good work Ben.

[menaceuk]

I'll watch just cause afflecks last couple of Directed movies were pretty good, Gone baby Gone and The Town

[WyldeMan45]

Oh no Ben..................

Nice man bangs!

While stars like Channing Tatum and Matt Damon are shaving their heads, Ben Affleck is at the other end of the spectrum: He's growing out his hair.

The actor stepped out in Santa Monica, Calif. on Monday sporting a shaggy new 'do that channeled a certain 17-year-old multi-platinum pop star. But for those wondering if the actor has a case of Bieber Fever (he does have two daughters after all), they'll be relieved to know that his straighter, longer locks can be attributed to a movie role.

The 38-year-old actor, who has rocked a cleaned-up crew in the past, has been skipping the routine haircuts for his new film Agro -- a thriller in which he's starring, directing, and co-producing.

[Lehnhart]

Wow...been a while since someone has posted in this thread. But I've been seeing the trailer on TV a lot lately. Looks like it's going to be a great film.