2012: Week 45: Argo

Argo

Genre: Drama, Thriller, History 

Main Players: Ben Affleck, John Goodman, Alan Arkin, Victor Garber

General Gist: Six Americans are trapped in hiding in the Canadian embassy in Iran.  In an effort to get them back home, the CIA creates a fake movie as an excuse to get in the country and get them out by saying they are a film crew.  Based on a true story in the late 70's early 80's.

Tiff's Take: 
This movie was based on a true story which I love.  And it has Ben Affleck who I'm always rooting for.  He doesn't have the best track record in my mind as being the best actor in the world but I've always really liked him.  This character really fit him well.  Maybe it helped that he was the director.  Who knows.  What I do know is this story was so interesting.  It makes you wonder what movie will be made 30 years from now about something happening right now that we have no idea about.  That's a little unsettling so maybe we shouldn't think about that.

This was a pretty serious movie with a big emphasis on suspense.  The whole time I was on the edge of my seat wondering if they were going to get out.  Now, if I knew the story from way back in the day I would know the answer to that but I didn't.  I was only like 2 and to be honest I probably wouldn't know too much about it if I was 18 at the time.  Since I didn't really know exactly what was going to happen it was even more nail biting.  And just to give my heart a little break there was comedic relief by John Goodman and Alan Arkin's characters.  Just the right amount.

I really enjoyed this and so did Russ.  Russ thought this would be interesting but I don't think he thought he would like it quite so much.  (I mean it's no James Bond movie but...) Great date night movie.  Both parties will enjoy this one.       

Tiff's Rate: Opening Night

Deb's Take: 
I am not much of a history buff either.  I married a history buff so that he could give me all the details of the things I have missed in life.  Brian said he remembered this, and I don't know if he told me, or I just assumed, but I knew from the beginning they were getting out, so I wasn't in as much of a suspenseful stupor as some, but I agree this movie was suspenseful.

I think Ben Affleck did a great job as both director and actor of this film.  After watching a true story based movie I always go and do a little hunting around to see how the film was different from the real situation.  This movie was good about trying to get the story accurate, while making it "Hollywood".  I, like my sister, am amazed at the things that happen in this world without the general public knowledge.  Well,,maybe not that surprised. 

I really think you will like this movie if you like history, or even if you just like movies that include real life events.  There was plenty of suspense, light humor and action, with enough drama to round it all out.

Deb's Rate: Opening Night

Preview: Skyfall and Breaking Dawn 2 both in the same week.  Oh, and maybe we'll throw a bonus review in the mix as well. 

Week 6: The Company Men

This week's movie was pretty thought provoking. The movie followed the life of 3 men in Boston who lose their jobs during the start of the recession in 2008. Ben Affleck, Tommy Lee Jones and Chris Cooper play the 3 main men. All very fitting to their roles. I am a true lover of Ben Affleck and he did a really good job in this movie. In fact, all three men did great in bringing me to the point where I felt I could really "feel" what they were going through. I like that kind of a movie! (as you all know by now). Craig T Nelson, although in the villian role, did a good job...I like him! and Kevin Costner, although only a small role, added to a very strong and powerful cast.

I think what I liked the most about this movie was that it got me really thinking about the recession and all the people who were really hit hard. I have been fortunate enough to be in the health care field, and haven't really felt the hardship so many in the higher level business world have felt. I also felt I got a good sense of what a man who must provide for his family must feel like, especially at an older age, when the thing he has worked for his whole life is pulled out from under his feet. I found that I was pretty disgusted with the whole high exect, CEO big billion dollar company leaders. I agreed with the lesson...yes we like to live that lifestyle, but can we do with less to protect some of those below us...my lesson from the movie.

Although the movie was kind of slow moving, I did find I was captured by the characters and storylines. It was depressing. Sad to think some benefit from others misfortunes, even when they worked just as hard to get where they are.

I was pleased with the ending, put a positive flair on it all! Made me feel hopeful that people are generally good, and that what really matters is family, and friends.

All in all, well written and played. I liked the cast, it was kind of slow, but I enjoyed it none the less.

Have a good week! Let us know what movies you are seeing so we can give them a try as well!!

Week 6: The Company Men

This week's movie was The Company Men. I hadn't heard a lot about this movie so I wasn't really sure what to expect. It seemed to have a full cast of well known male actors. Ben Affleck, Tommy Lee Jones, Chris Cooper and a smaller role for Kevin Costner. They all did a good job but I can't say that any of them stood out more than the others. Ben Affleck was good in it but I think he always does a little better when it's a role that is based on his real life in some way. This movie was based out of Boston so he fit in with that. I like Ben Affleck as an actor alright but sometimes he's just not as believable as he should be. This one he did good though.

The story line was basically about three men losing their jobs and how it effected their lives. All three men were living these inflated lifestyles, living excessively with high paying jobs. When they lose their jobs you almost don't feel sorry for them. Almost. They were all genuine enough that more then anything it was mostly just touching and a little heartbreaking. It seemed like they just weren't ever going to get a break. To be honest, it went on so long I thought maybe it wasn't going to be a very happy ending. And although it wasn't totally a feel good ending it mainly made you feel like the small guys won out and the big corporations got what they deserved. Well, as much as a big corporation can get what they deserve anyway.

Overall, it wasn't a real fast paced movie but entertaining enough even if it was slightly depressing. But like I said the characters were likable and you truly cared how their lives were going to end up.

To Sum it up: Touching, a little depressing and sorta slow going.