Best Picture: Argo

     We'll be discussing the dramatization of "the 1980 joint CIA-Canadian secret operation to extract six fugitive American diplomatic personnel out of revolutionary Iran." In other words, the historical thriller, Argo. The other nominees for Best Picture can be seen on the Oscars website.
     Aside from Best Picture, Argo has been nominated for six other categories - making that seven categories total that they have been nominated for in the Oscars. It is up for Best Actor, Film Editing, Music, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, and Writing for Adapted Screenplay.
   The whole plot of the movie centers around the CIA "extractor" Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck), a producer named Lester Siegel (Alan Arkin) and a makeup man named John Chambers (John Goodman). In order to save the American diplomats, Chambers and Siegel would fabricate a fake sci-fi thriller named "Argo." They would commission a screenplay, pay for storyboards, and buy a big ad in Variety and most importantly, impersonate the big people in Hollywood, which is kind of meta. The movie about the fake movie catches your attention though, and is quite fascinating.

      Argo has a lot of cliff-hanging moments that really do make it seem as if the whole "Canadian Caper" plan will not work out. That their plan may just cause deaths rather than be a rescue mission. The fact that these scenes keep you in the edge of your seat is a sign that you're watching a movie that has gotten the thrilling aspect down to the T. This thriller could have completely used violence, which most do, but it went the other way and used timing and realistic-ness (Is that a word? Probably not.) as well as the plot to create the suspense. We know the plot, and it is clear to us but not to the public, in Iran or America. This dramatic irony situates even more of a suspense.

     Argo is able to mes together the small details in life and pair it up with serious matters without crossing the line. That in itself is a success considering this was based on a declassified operation. 

The movie has its comedic moments too. Such as the line "Argo go f--- yourself!"
     The thing is, you know how the movie is going to end. However, it still manages to see surprised and don't know what to expect. One saying that I think sums up this movie is "it's not the destination but the journey that counts." Good luck Argo, I think you have a heck of a chance this upcoming Oscars.