tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post7330699679717940654..comments2024-03-28T06:14:54.076-04:00Comments on And So It Begins...: ArgoAlex Withrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-27412314646084179552012-10-23T18:18:09.480-04:002012-10-23T18:18:09.480-04:00Great review Alex, I think I agree it's one of...Great review Alex, I think I agree it's one of the best political thrillers I've ever seen. Didn't quite love it but it's pretty awesome.<br /><br />Also, having now seen it, I'm still happy with 9-1 odds for it! Think it's got a great chance :)Alex Thomashttp://timeforafilm.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-92040556603983650562012-10-22T09:45:20.493-04:002012-10-22T09:45:20.493-04:00What I meant by plot heavy was that I didn't w...What I meant by plot heavy was that I didn't want to get into many of the plot mechanics in my review, because I detest spoilers, so I try to get my reviews as plot-limited as possible. <br /><br />I do think the flick was very heavy on plot (which certainly isn't a dig) but definitely straight forward.<br /><br />See, I actually knew nothing whatsoever about the real story. Sections of American/foreign politics don't interest me nearly as much as they (probably) should.<br /><br />Going over to read your review soon!Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-6227905404751279172012-10-19T22:44:21.714-04:002012-10-19T22:44:21.714-04:00"In the film’s faultlessly paced opening minu..."In the film’s faultlessly paced opening minutes" <br />Agreed, 100%. Those opening minutes - which are not actually "opening" the film if you consider the history lesson - are stellar. That and the final scouting through Tehran's Bazaar are the two scenes I keep thinking about again when I think of the movie. <br /><br />"This is a rather plot-heavy movie"<br />On the other hand, I disagree with this, to be honest. Not that it isn't plot heavy, but I think it's really straightforward. I don't know if you read my review, but that's actually the problem I had with the film. It was densely plotted without ever feeling substantial on a contextual level. I always felt like he could explore the politics more. Then again, I'm accused of being biased because I know the story well and I wanted him to delve into it more. Amirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06862108887275338771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-61034676719770453672012-10-17T11:33:47.721-04:002012-10-17T11:33:47.721-04:00Ha, no doubt! I knew back then that this guy had i...Ha, no doubt! I knew back then that this guy had it. Crazy shit.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-31167032554295839902012-10-17T11:33:19.387-04:002012-10-17T11:33:19.387-04:00My pleasure! I think people really need to see thi...My pleasure! I think people really need to see this one, for a number of reasons. It's a very fine film indeed.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-13815443409632563792012-10-17T11:32:49.477-04:002012-10-17T11:32:49.477-04:00Thanks Fly! I was right there with you - wrapped u...Thanks Fly! I was right there with you - wrapped up in tension, waiting to see how it all panned out. Loved it!Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-64656280200538737272012-10-17T11:32:07.481-04:002012-10-17T11:32:07.481-04:00Thanks! I definitely dig Affleck as a director, an...Thanks! I definitely dig Affleck as a director, and Argo is his strongest yet (even though GBG remains my favorite of his). Hope you enjoy it!Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-43064908726590186912012-10-17T11:30:56.038-04:002012-10-17T11:30:56.038-04:00Ha, love that quote. And honestly, what you descri...Ha, love that quote. And honestly, what you described in your first paragraph is the basis of much of my life education. I saw things in movies, then looked them up and studied them until I was satisfied. That got me into SHITLOADS of trouble at school, but oh well! Teachers don't really like when a student knows more about the Holocaust or slavery than they do haha.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-50427814073550230442012-10-17T11:28:45.520-04:002012-10-17T11:28:45.520-04:00Lincoln and The Master won't cut it. Les Mis m...Lincoln and The Master won't cut it. Les Mis might, if it's a big hit. Silver Linings, if it's upbeat enough, and Life of Pi, if it's inspiring enough. Argo is a little too heavy-handed for the Oscars. Bet cha ;)Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-87046719698366652442012-10-17T07:36:49.998-04:002012-10-17T07:36:49.998-04:00Realy!? I've taken Les Mis at 7-1 and Siver Li...Realy!? I've taken Les Mis at 7-1 and Siver Linings at 7-1 as well but I think it's between these 3 for sure.<br /><br />I think Lincoln will fall flat, The Master is no chance, Life of Pi a small one.Alex Thomashttp://timeforafilm.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-51376239920169886112012-10-17T04:54:05.755-04:002012-10-17T04:54:05.755-04:00Wow, interesting to see such an amazing review for...Wow, interesting to see such an amazing review for Argo. It was always on my To See list of his autumn, but now it just might be on top. Thanks!Dianahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18333927581755884053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-54306637357752830252012-10-16T22:50:52.102-04:002012-10-16T22:50:52.102-04:00Great review, Alex! I couldn't agree more with...Great review, Alex! I couldn't agree more with your description of "impossibly tense." I was childishly nervous every step of the way, even though I was pretty sure I knew how things would turn out. Argo is entertaining and eerily relevant to our world politics today. A+ for a great review. REM Runnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07192269111947552105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-70444773258526870712012-10-16T19:46:04.041-04:002012-10-16T19:46:04.041-04:00Well, judging from Gone Baby Gone, I thought he di...Well, judging from Gone Baby Gone, I thought he did. ;)Joshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08596682195753811295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-48947625722407515602012-10-16T18:20:57.572-04:002012-10-16T18:20:57.572-04:00Great review! I must say I'm not too fond of A...Great review! I must say I'm not too fond of Affleck - either actor or director, I didn't really like Gone Baby Gone and The Town was only all right. But I will see Argo, it seems like a serious BP contender.s.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13987831438787776712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-53709344240401863372012-10-16T18:10:15.783-04:002012-10-16T18:10:15.783-04:00Seriously. And people have a responsibility to rea...Seriously. And people have a responsibility to read/watch things critically and check the facts for themselves if in doubt. Not that I always take my own advice, mind you, but at least I don't blame the writer or film-maker for it. <br /><br />As the professor said in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, "Honestly, what do they teach in schools nowadays?" :-PAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-60547104426871565562012-10-16T17:23:21.374-04:002012-10-16T17:23:21.374-04:00It would definitely make a good double bill with W...It would definitely make a good double bill with Wag the Dog, but Argo is far from satire or absurdist humor. It has a dead serious tone.<br /><br />I agree about The Town. I loved Renner and Lively in it, but it is pure entertainment. Argo is way past entertainment. It is entertaining, sure, but it accomplishes so much more than that. I highly recommend it.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-74349873990165099342012-10-16T16:50:47.582-04:002012-10-16T16:50:47.582-04:00Haven't seen Argo yet. hmm, the story sounds f...Haven't seen Argo yet. hmm, the story sounds familiar to Wag The Dog (1997)...that was a producer creating a fake war. <br /><br />Affleck's last one, The Town (2010), was a good thrill ride, nothing more than that in my opinion. Argo looks like a step up for Ben Affleck as a director, does his latest strive for anything other than entertainment? Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09395044055566348346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-50336065828835871122012-10-16T16:16:12.684-04:002012-10-16T16:16:12.684-04:00I'd love to see it again too. This thing was s...I'd love to see it again too. This thing was so goddamn tense, I actually think I'd like it better the second time around. Who knew Affleck had such good directing chops?Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-41192641679584420392012-10-16T15:38:10.262-04:002012-10-16T15:38:10.262-04:00Excellent review man. I was slightly underwhelmed ...Excellent review man. I was slightly underwhelmed with the film, even though it's very well-executed. Right now I'd give it a solid A-, but I'm going to see it again. It looks like a film that might grow in my estimation after another look.Joshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08596682195753811295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-79549211673234859002012-10-16T11:05:46.966-04:002012-10-16T11:05:46.966-04:00Thanks Andina! I honestly didn't expect to lik...Thanks Andina! I honestly didn't expect to like this as much as I did either. I hope you get a chance to see it!Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-16230245681788692512012-10-16T09:49:17.471-04:002012-10-16T09:49:17.471-04:00Surprised on how great the ratings people give to ...Surprised on how great the ratings people give to this movie. I don't have any expectation, and I don't really like Ben Affleck as an actor. But reading your review makes me want to check it out. Great review!Andinahttp://www.inspired-ground.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-14251057699765480262012-10-16T09:24:03.232-04:002012-10-16T09:24:03.232-04:00You've touched onto an always-pertinent movie ...You've touched onto an always-pertinent movie argument: how can you enjoy films that you already know the ending too? It's tricky to pull off. For example: everyone knows the ship is going to sink in Titanic, so James Cameron's job is to make it as engrossing as possible. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.<br /><br />For the record, I didn't already know the ending to Argo. Decades old American foreign politics don't interest me at all, so I was in the unknown.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-39017735519228759112012-10-16T09:21:30.063-04:002012-10-16T09:21:30.063-04:00I don't know your mom's movie tastes but I...I don't know your mom's movie tastes but I really don't think she'll be disappointed by this one! I agree, Affleck's career choices as of late have been exceptional.<br /><br />Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting!Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-72761707547963255752012-10-16T09:19:45.020-04:002012-10-16T09:19:45.020-04:00Nice! Glad you liked it.Nice! Glad you liked it.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-35709554967412062582012-10-16T09:19:34.735-04:002012-10-16T09:19:34.735-04:00Goodman and Arkin are FANTASTIC in this. Perfect r...Goodman and Arkin are FANTASTIC in this. Perfect roles for them.<br /><br />It seems like now more than ever, people believe that Based on a True Story title card. There are no restrictions or merits of fact checking in order for a director to begin their film with that. So, yeah... don't take things so literally, people! Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.com