"Argo": Great Film; Historically Inaccurate

So you know those weeks where no matter how hard you try, you just can’t seem to fit everything in?  Well this past week was like that for me.  I was so busy with school, work, and family, that I just couldn’t get a chance to see a new movie this week.  I had planned on seeing “The Call” with Halle Berry, but something ALWAYS seemed to get in the way.  I was worried that I wouldn’t have anything to blog about this week, but then it hit me.  I remembered that I had seen “Argo” not too long ago—and this film has sparked some recent controversy so I figured now would be a perfect time to submit my thoughts!

For those who don’t know much about this film, “Argo” won a TON of worldwide awards, including the Oscar this year for Best Picture.  It’s a historical drama, thriller starring Ben Affleck, and was also directed by him as well.  In 1979, the American embassy in Iran was invaded by Iranian revolutionaries and several Americans were taken hostage.  Six of them managed to escape to the official residence of the Canadian Ambassador and the CIA was eventually ordered to get them out of the country.  Exfiltration expert Tony Mendez (Affleck) developed a plan to create a fake Canadian film project looking to shoot in Iran, in order to successfully smuggle the Americans out as its production crew.  He seeks out the help from some trusted Hollywood contacts, and they work together to try and put this plan in motion. 

I thought it was a fantastic film.  Affleck fully immerses you into this hostage crisis, almost to the point where you feel as though you were actually there.  It was witty, thrilling, and emotional all at once.  However, as a Canadian who was not even alive in the time where this event took place, I am still aware that this film EXTREMELY downplayed Canada’s involvement.  Argo largely credits the American CIA at the expense of the Canadian’s.  In an interview conducted my CNN, former President Jimmy Carter says that “90 percent of the contributions to the ideas and the consummation of the plan was Canadian”.  He also gives his personal opinion stating that the real hero was the Canadian Ambassador, Ken Taylor, who orchestrated the entire process.  According to him, Tony Mendez, who was played very well by Affleck, was only in Tehran for “a day and a half.”

I understand that this was a Hollywood movie, and it of course was American, which is probably the main reason why the Canadian contributions were kerbed.  I just hope that those who enjoyed the film will educate themselves on this important piece of history—with the ACTUAL FACTS.  With all that being said, I still recommend that everyone see this movie, and let me know your thoughts on it!  You can leave me a comment here at the bottom!

I’ll also leave the theatrical trailer at the bottom, along with the CNN interview with Jimmy Carter.  Very interesting and worth checking out!

                                                                                  imdb.com

Identity Thief & Oscar Talk

Well first I would like to chime in on the Oscars that aired this past Sunday. Here were some of the winners:

 Anne Hathaway won Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Les Misérables

Christoph Waltz won Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Django Unchained

Best Director went to Ang Lee, for Life of Pi

The AMAZING Jennifer Lawrence one Best Actress in a Lead role for Silver Linings Playbook

Daniel Day-Lewis won Best Actor is a Lead Role for Lincoln

And Picture of the Year went to… ARGO OF COURSE!

I have to say that I agree with all the chosen winners.  They were all amazing films and well deserved.  I was most excited for Jennifer Lawrence, because if you haven’t noticed, I’m a HUGE fan.  She was simply adorable the way she fell on stage walking up to receive her Oscar.

But, onto todays review!

Last night I decided to see “Identity Thief”, which stars Melissa McCarthy, alongside Jason Bateman, John Favreau, and Amanda Peet.  Jason plays Sandy Bigelow Patterson, a modest account rep who lives in Denver, Colorado with his pregnant wife (Peet) and their two young daughters.  He works for a company where the top dogs get all the rewards, and the real workers get nothing.  He and a group of coworkers are tired of it and decide to take their clients and start their own branch together.  Sandy will be making triple the amount he is being paid now. 

All seems to be going perfectly until Sandy gets pulled into the police station because he is being accused for missing his court date for a truck load of charges.  Sandy insists that there must be a mistake and the police pull a mug shot of the person they are looking for.  This is when they discover that the “Sandy Bigelow Patterson” they are really looking for… is a woman.  It’s clear that this woman (McCarthy) has stolen the REAL Sandy’s identity, and has also been maxing out his credit cards.  They police also learn that because of this woman, Sandy’s name was used to buy drugs from a dangerous criminal.  Unfortunately the police can't do anything unless the identity thief was standing right there with them.  Sandy gets an idea. 

Earlier, Sandy had received a call from a women’s salon saying that he has an appointment on Friday in Florida.  He was confused at first, but after discovering that this identity thief was from Florida, he realizes that he can find her on his own.  Sandy decides that he will go down to Florida and bring her back to Denver where she can talk to his new boss, and clear his name— since he is at risk of being fired for all of these false charges. 

But Melissa McCarthy’s character is anything BUT cooperative.  This trip turns out to be more than Sandy bargained for as he tries everything to make sure that this woman returns back to Denver with him. 

In my books, the movie was okay.  I usually enjoy Jason Batemans sarcastic remarks, and Melissa McCarthy’s outrageous behaviour, but I really wasn’t overly impressed with this flick.  I found it to be a cheap attempt at being a comedic film.  Don’t get me wrong, I love the actors, but I wish it had been better.  Let’s just say, I wish I had saved my money and waited until it came out on DVD…

But regardless, here is a trailer for the film and a clip of charming Jennifer Lawrence talking about her Oscar experience.

Jennifer Lawrence and the Oscars
Identity Thief