'Argo' review: Iran hostage escape tale

The most gripping sequence in "Argo," Ben Affleck's skillful retelling of a wild plan to rescue six Americans during Iran's 1979 hostage crisis, begins with the very first line. "The crowd looks a little bigger today, huh?" says a worried U.S. Embassy staffer as Iranian protesters roil outside his window. When one finally jumps over the compound fence, it isn't panic that first spreads through the office. It's doom.

This isn't an exact parallel to the events around Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens' death in Libya last month, but it's hard not to draw comparisons. "Argo" will go on to blend comedy, action, illusion and realism, but that solemn opening is a reminder of what's truly at stake.

Third-time director Affleck plays Tony Mendez, a CIA exfiltration specialist charged with smuggling out the Americans. Cover-identities are suggested and rejected -- journalists, teachers, charity workers? -- until Mendez gets this doozy: How about a Canadian film crew making a science-fiction movie? Reluctantly, deputy director Jack O'Donnell (Bryan Cranston) pitches it upstairs: "This is the best bad idea we have, sir."

From there, "Argo" (the title of some real guy's now-fake script) follows Mendez's efforts to transform a lie into the truth. He hires makeup artist John Chambers (a jovial John Goodman), who designed Spock's ears for the "Star Trek" series and won an Oscar for "Planet of the Apes" (and whose CIA work was so secret that his 2001 obituaries didn't mention it), and cantankerous producer Lester Siegel, a composite character winningly played by Alan Arkin. "If I'm gonna make a fake movie," he barks, "it's gonna be a fake hit!"

"Argo" tends to favor plot over character: Mendez is thinly drawn, as are the six Americans (effectively played by Kerry Bishé, Scoot McNairy and others). But it's a well-told story that's timely, topical and thoroughly entertaining.

PLOT The true story of six Americans who try to escape the 1979 Iran hostage crisis by posing as a science-fiction film crew RATING R (language, some violence)

CAST Ben Affleck, John Goodman, Alan Arkin, Kerry Bishé

SEE PHOTOSBen Affleck

LENGTH 2:00

PLAYING AT Area theaters

BOTTOM LINE An engrossing and richly detailed thriller from director Affleck, who skillfully blends farce with high-stakes drama.

Affleck, from raspberries to raves

A look back at Ben Affleck's career:

Mallrats (1995) -- Affleck's first appearance in a Kevin Smith comedy kicked off a long-standing collaboration.

Good Will Hunting (1997) -- Affleck and childhood friend Matt Damon co-wrote it with an eye toward co-directing. The film won two Oscars -- one for supporting actor Robin Williams and one for Affleck and Damon's screenplay.

Armageddon (1998) -- Affleck played a hot-dogging asteroid driller in Michael Bay's special-effects extravaganza, a critical bomb.

Pearl Harbor (2001) -- Affleck re-teamed with Bay to play an Air Corps pilot in this critically drubbed World War II spectacle, which drubb.

Daredevil (2003) -- Affleck said he had wanted to play the Marvel Comics superhero since he was a kid. He received mixed reviews.

Gigli (2003) -- The much-discussed failure in which he co-starred with then-girlfriend Jennifer Lopez.

Hollywoodland (2006) -- Affleck earned good notices as "Adventures of Superman" actor George Reeves in this biopic.

Gone Baby Gone (2007) -- Affleck made his directorial debut with this adaptation of a Dennis Lehane novel that earned raves for sense of atmosphere, pacing and work with actors.

The Town (2010) -- Affleck's second directorial outing was set in his hometown of Boston. But the canvas of this crime thriller was larger and involved more intricate action scenes. Affleck's co-star, Jeremy Renner, was Oscar-nominated for his supporting performance. -- The Washington Post