Directed by: Ben Affleck
Starring: Ben Affleck, John Goodman, and Alan Arkin
Plot: During the Iran Hostage Crisis, a CIA agent poses as a Hollywood producer to sneak Americans out of the country.
Review:
In 1979, a group of Muslim protesters stormed the American embassy in Iran taking the people inside as hostages. They did this because the US had recently sided with the recently overthrown Shah, which the US helped put into power in the first place. Director Ben Affleck revisits these events in the beginning of the movie. They start off like a history lesson giving us the information we need to know and then drops us right in the thick of it. The Muslim protesters are the kind we have seen before with their flag burning and effigies. Their passionate chanting deafening all other sounds. Inside the embassy, the employees are trying to go on with the daily responsibilities while nervously staring out the window. The tension is palpable. It is written on the faces of all the employees. Affleck chose these actors wisely. There are a few familiar looking faces within the crowd. No A-listers of course, but utility actors that are just as reliable. When the protesters flood the embassy and start taking hostages pulling these people out of their desk jobs, it is very frightening and disturbing imagery starting me off on the edge of my seat.
Starting off with that kind of tension, it is important that you don’t deflate right afterward. You need to keep that momentum going, and Affleck is able to keep that fast pace to the story. He turns every scene into a battle of wits. There is a lot of professionalism and intelligence when the suits get together, but there is also a deadpan sense of humor and lyrical rhythm to the dialog. This allows everything to flow really well. Combine that with the ever-moving, interactive camera and you end up with scenes of just talking that come with intensity and impact.
John Goodman, Alan Arkin, and Ben Affleck
The CIA goes through the usual cover stories to get people out. Keeping them on their toes is Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck pulling double duty), an exfiltration expert, and his boss, Jack O’Donnell (Bryan Cranston). As Mendez, Affleck has an answer and retort for everything. Based on his past roles, you might think Affleck would go for a dump truck full of smarm, but he is surprisingly level headed. In fact, he walks around the whole movie with the weight of this responsibility sitting on his shoulder pushing him further into the ground. He takes a less is more approach in what may be one of his best performances ever.
While watching a movie with his son (over the phone), Mendez comes up with a brilliant idea. He will go to Iran as a Hollywood producer scouting for locations for his new science fiction movie and will leave with the escapees posing as his film crew. Mendez needs the help of a legendary Hollywood make-up artist (John Goodman) and a cranky old film producer who realizes his best years are behind him (Alan Arkin). The two of them are the glue to breaking tension and keeping the dialog light. They are the perfect comic relief characters and actors. The actors bring with them a level of gravitas so that they are not just simply clowns for our entertainment, and the characters represent the proud but cynical patriotism of the American people who are sad to see what a mess their country has got into.
Affleck coaches them at their new covers
In one key scene, Alda shares a taco with Affleck. Affleck asks him about his family, and Alda opens up about how his job keeps him from seeing his kids. Any other script or director would fill the dead air. Affleck would usually say something cheesy like, “we have so much in common. Blah-blah-blah!” Instead, Affleck gives him a knowing look, and Alda reacts. Some art is about knowing how to manipulate the negative space, and this small but telling scene of these characters is a brilliant example of just how this movie represents human interaction. It is so much more about what is unsaid. Joe Stafford, one of the escaped embassy workers, can disagree dramatically with Mendez all he wants. It will never be as interesting or natural as when Stafford offers Mendez an appreciative handshake.
History movies are always kind of difficult. If you are paying attention, you already know the ending. It becomes the challenge for the filmmakers to make the ride worth the non-payoff. Affleck succeeds at that and puts another notch in the win column. Affleck: 3 for 3.
Rating: 9/10
