Argo: Extended Cut Blu-Ray Review

Director: Ben Affleck

Starring: Ben Affleck, Alan Arkin, John Goodman, Bryan Cranston, Tate Donovan

Running Time: 129 minutes/120 minutes

Certificate: 15

Extras: Feature Length Picture in Picture: Eye Witness Account (theatrical version), Commentary, Rescued from Tehran: We Were There, Argo: Absolute Authenticity, ARGO: The CIA & Hollywood Connection, Escape from Iran: The Hollywood Option

Critical acclaim is fine, it adds certain audience pressures, but winning the Best Picture Academy Award is a whole different pressure. Past winners THE ARTIST (2012), THE KINGS SPEECH (2011) and THE HURT LOCKER (2010), amongst others, have been put under a microscope following victory and this year it’s ARGO’s turn.

Militants attack the US Embassy in Iran taking 44 people hostage. Six workers escape to the Canadian Ambassadors house waiting for the troubles to blow over. As time passes the CIA formulate a plan involving a fake movie, false passports and Tony Mendez (Aflleck) risking his life in Iran to secure the groups safe return.

Flag-waving movies portraying America as hero are ten-a-penny. One of many refreshing aspects of ARGO is its total avoidance of these temptations. Chris Terrio’s screenplay avoids cliche and tells a dramatic human story. This coupled with Ben Affleck’s supreme direction (we’ll ignore his Oscar snub) make ARGO a sumptuous feast for the eyes, brain and sweat glands, which you’ll need. Telling a reasonably well known story, of which the outcome may be predictable, Affleck ratchets up the tension to an unbearable level in the final 35 minutes. Gone is the humour prevalent throughout to be replaced by darting eyes, queue waiting and questioning, each performed perfectly by the greatest ensemble cast of recent years. Tate Donovan, Clea DuVall, Scoot McNairy, Rory Cochrane, Christopher Denham and Kerry Bishé each excel in their roles in the marooned group, whilst Affleck, Bryan Cranston, John Goodman and of course Alan Arkin are tremendous before, when it can’t get any better, Philip Baker Hall pops in for a cameo. Topping off the class is perfect production design and a beautifully understated score by Alexandre Desplat, who has had quite the year with credits including ZERO DARK THIRTY and RUST AND BONE amongst many others.

To say ARGO lives up to the Best Picture hype and pressures is to say blood is red. In the cinema it was the greatest trip of 2012, on Blu-ray and DVD it will be the best journey of 2013. Peerless entertainment, blood vessel bursting tension and a perfect cast make this a must own. In fact buy two copies just in case one breaks.

Extras: A tremendous package supplies featurettes on the true story, the making of the film and a retrospective from all the main parties, including President Carter. A great package.

ARGO is released on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Download 4th March