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{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2012}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Argo
| image = Argo2012Poster.jpg
| alt = <!-- See: WP:ALT -->
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[Ben Affleck]]
| producer = [[Grant Heslov]]<br />Ben Affleck<br />[[George Clooney]]
| based on = {{Based on|''The Master of Disguise''|[[Tony Mendez|Antonio J. Mendez]]}}<br />{{Based on|''The Great Escape''|[[Joshuah Bearman]]}}
| screenplay = [[Chris Terrio]]
| starring = Ben Affleck<br />[[Bryan Cranston]]<br />[[Alan Arkin]]<br />[[John Goodman]]
| music = [[Alexandre Desplat]]
| cinematography = [[Rodrigo Prieto]]
| editing = [[William Goldenberg]]
| studio = [[Graham King|GK Films]]<br />Smokehouse Pictures
| distributor = [[Warner Bros.]]
| released = {{Film date|2012|08|31|Telluride Film Festival|2012|10|12|United States}}
| runtime = 120 minutes<ref>[http://www.bbfc.co.uk/AFF290034 "Argo"]. British Board of Film Classification (BBFC). Retrieved September 18, 2012.</ref>
| country = United States
| language = English
| budget = $44.5 million<ref name="Mojo">{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=argo.htm |title=Argo (2012) |publisher=Box Office Mojo |date=2012-01-09 |accessdate=2013-01-22}}</ref>
| gross = $187,256,427<ref name="Mojo" />
}}

'''''Argo''''' is a 2012 American [[Thriller (genre)|thriller]] film<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.filmographics.com/en/Argo/ |title=Argo |publisher=Filmographics.com |date= |accessdate=2012-10-12}}</ref> directed by [[Ben Affleck]]; it is a dramatization of the "[[Canadian Caper]]" based on an article published in 2007,<ref name="Bearman">{{cite journal |last=Bearman |first=Joshuah |url=http://www.wired.com/magazine/2007/04/feat_cia |title=How the CIA Used a Fake Sci-Fi Flick to Rescue Americans from Tehran |journal=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |date={{nowrap|April 24}}, 2007}}</ref> in which [[Tony Mendez]], a CIA operative, led the rescue of six U.S. diplomats from [[Tehran]], [[Iran]], during the 1979 [[Iran hostage crisis]].

The film stars Affleck as Mendez with [[Bryan Cranston]], [[Alan Arkin]], and [[John Goodman]], and was released in North America to critical and commercial success on October 12, 2012. The film was produced by [[Grant Heslov]], Affleck, and [[George Clooney]]. The story of this rescue was also told in the 1981 [[television movie]] ''Escape from Iran: The Canadian Caper'', directed by [[Lamont Johnson]].<ref>http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082339/</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8CaoypxnV6o/UHC7T80cTtI/AAAAAAAAKNs/TKDjuq6lA4E/s1600-h/escape-from-iran-the-canadian-caper-1981-true-story-dvd-94c7%25255B2%25255D.jpg |title=escape-from-iran-the-canadian-caper-1981-true-story-dvd-94c7%255B2%255D.jpg (image) |publisher=Lh4.ggpht.com |date= |accessdate=2012-10-29}}</ref>

''Argo'' received seven nominations at the [[85th Academy Awards]] including [[Best Picture]], [[Best Adapted Screenplay]] ([[Chris Terrio]]) and [[Best Actor in a Supporting Role]] ([[Alan Arkin]]). Argo also earned five [[Golden Globe Awards|Golden Globe]] nominations, and won the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama|Best Picture – Drama]], and [[Golden Globe Award for Best Director|Best Director]], while being nominated for [[Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture|Best Supporting Actor]] for Arkin. It won the award for the Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture at the [[19th Screen Actors Guild Awards]] with [[Alan Arkin]] being nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role.

==Plot==
Militants storm the [[U.S. embassy in Tehran]] on November 4, 1979, in retaliation for that nation's sheltering the recently [[Mohammad Reza Pahlavi|deposed Shah]]. More than 50 of the embassy staff are taken as hostages, but six escape and hide in the home of the Canadian ambassador [[Kenneth D. Taylor|Ken Taylor]] ([[Victor Garber]]). With the escapees' situation kept secret, the US [[State Department]] begins to explore options for [[Extraction (military)|"exfiltrating"]] them from Iran. [[Tony Mendez]] ([[Ben Affleck]]), a CIA specialist brought in for consultation, criticizes the proposals. He too is at a loss for an alternative until, inspired at home by watching ''[[Battle for the Planet of the Apes]]'' on TV with his son, he plans to create a cover story that the escapees are Canadian filmmakers, [[Location scouting|scouting "exotic" locations]] in Iran for a similar sci-fi film.

Mendez and his supervisor Jack O'Donnell ([[Bryan Cranston]]) contact [[John Chambers (make-up artist)|John Chambers]] ([[John Goodman]]), a Hollywood make-up artist who has previously crafted disguises for the CIA. Chambers puts them in touch with film producer Lester Siegel ([[Alan Arkin]]). Together they set up a phony film studio, publicize their plans, and successfully establish the pretense of developing ''Argo'', a "science fantasy" in the style of ''[[Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope|Star Wars]]'', to lend credibility to the cover story. Meanwhile, the escapees grow frantic inside the ambassador's residence. The revolutionaries reassemble embassy papers [[Paper shredder|shredded]] before the takeover and learn that some personnel have escaped.

Posing as a producer for ''Argo'', Mendez enters Iran and links up with the six escapees. He provides them with Canadian passports and fake identities to prepare them to get through security at the airport. Although afraid to trust Mendez's scheme, they reluctantly go along with it, knowing that he is risking his own life too. A "scouting" visit to the [[Grand Bazaar, Tehran|bazaar]] to maintain their cover story takes a bad turn, but their Iranian culture contact gets them away from the hostile crowd.

Mendez is told that the operation has been cancelled to avoid conflicting with a [[Operation Eagle Claw|planned military rescue of the hostages]]. He pushes ahead, forcing O'Donnell to hastily re-obtain authorization for the mission to get tickets on a [[Swissair]] flight. Tension rises at the airport, where the escapees' flight reservations are confirmed at the last minute, and a guard's call to the supposed studio in Hollywood is answered at the last second. The group boards the plane just as the Iranian guards uncover the ruse and try to stop their plane from getting off the runway.

To protect the hostages remaining in Tehran from retaliation, all US involvement in the rescue is suppressed, giving full credit to the Canadian government and its ambassador (who left Iran with his wife under their own credentials as the operation was underway; their Iranian housekeeper, who had known about the Americans and lied to the revolutionaries to protect them, escaped to [[Iraq]]). Mendez is awarded the [[Intelligence Star]], but due to the classified nature of the mission, he would not be able to keep the medal until the details were made public in 1997. All the hostages were freed on January 20, 1981. The film ends with President [[Jimmy Carter]]'s speech about the Crisis and the [[Canadian Caper]].

==Cast==
[[Image:Ben Affleck 2009.jpg|thumb|right|Actor, producer and director Ben Affleck.]]
{{Div col}}
* [[Ben Affleck]] as [[Tony Mendez]]
* [[Bryan Cranston]] as Jack O'Donnell
* [[Alan Arkin]] as Lester Siegel
* [[John Goodman]] as [[John Chambers (make-up artist)|John Chambers]]
* [[Tate Donovan]] as Bob Anders
* [[Clea DuVall]] as Cora Lijek
* [[Christopher Denham]] as Mark Lijek
* [[Scoot McNairy]] as Joe Stafford
* [[Kerry Bishé]] as Kathy Stafford
* [[Rory Cochrane]] as Lee Schatz
* [[Victor Garber]] as [[Kenneth D. Taylor|Ken Taylor]]
* [[Kyle Chandler]] as [[Hamilton Jordan]]
* [[Chris Messina]] as Malinov
* [[Željko Ivanek]] as Robert Pender
* [[Titus Welliver]] as Jon Bates
* [[Bob Gunton]] as [[Cyrus Vance]] ([[United States Secretary of State]])
* [[Philip Baker Hall]] as [[Warren Christopher]] ([[United States Deputy Secretary of State]]) {{small|(Uncredited)}}
* [[Richard Kind]] as Max Klein
* [[Michael Parks]] as [[Jack Kirby]]
* [[Tom Lenk]] as Rodd
* [[Christopher Stanley]] as Tom Ahern
* [[Page Leong]] as Pat Taylor
* [[Taylor Schilling]] as Christine Mendez
* Ashley Wood as Beauty
* Sheila Vand as Sahar
* Devansh Mehta as Matt Sanders
* [[Omid Abtahi]] as Reza
* Karina Logue as Elizabeth Ann Swift
* [[Adrienne Barbeau]] as Nina
* [[Fouad Hajji]] as Komiteh
{{Div col end}}

Affleck cast Goodman, Parks and Bishé after seeing them in ''[[Red State (2011 film)|Red State]]''.

==Production==

===Filming===
[[Image:AYA Sophia2012.33.jpg|thumb|right|Mendez meets a CIA agent at Istanbul's [[Hagia Sophia]] before going to Iran.]]
''Argo'' is based on the [[Canadian Caper]] that took place during the [[Iran hostage crisis]] in 1979 and 1980. [[Chris Terrio]] wrote the screenplay based on Joshuah Bearman's 2007 article in ''[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]'': "How the CIA Used a Fake Sci-Fi Flick to Rescue Americans from Tehran."<ref name="Bearman"/> The article was written after the records were declassified.

In 2007, the producers [[George Clooney]], [[Grant Heslov]] and David Klawans set up a project based on the article. Affleck's participation was announced in February 2011.<ref>{{cite journal |last=McNary |first=Dave |url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118031570 |title=Affleck in talks to direct 'Argo' |journal=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date={{nowrap|February 3}}, 2011}}</ref> The following June, [[Alan Arkin]] was the first person cast in the film.<ref name="First">{{cite journal |last=Sneider |first=Jeff |url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118038411 |title=Alan Arkin first to board 'Argo' |journal=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date={{nowrap|June 10}}, 2011}}</ref> After the rest of the roles were cast, filming began in [[Los Angeles]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.filmapia.com/published/scenes?placeId=1825&movie=argo |title=Scenes from 'Argo' shot in 'Los Angeles' |publisher=filmapia.com}}</ref> in August 2011. Additional filming took place in [[McLean, Virginia]], [[Washington, D.C.]], and [[Istanbul]].<ref name="upi">{{cite news | author=Staff | url=http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/Movies/2011/09/12/Affleck-starts-shooting-Argo-film-in-LA/UPI-30821315856942/ | title=Affleck starts shooting 'Argo' film |in LA | publisher=United Press International | date={{nowrap|September 12}}, 2011 }}</ref>

Archival TV news footage from the era was used throughout the film as in-story exposition. Reflecting the time period of the film, the opening credits use the "triple slash" W [[Warner Bros.]] logo (originally used by [[Warner Communications]]), which was used by the company from 1972 to 1984, instead of the contemporary "WB" shield logo.

==Historical accuracy==

===The Shah and the coup===
During the opening prologue, the narrator claims that the Shah [[Mohammad Reza Pahlavi]] was installed by the [[1953 Iranian coup d'état|1953 Iranian ''coup d'état'']]. This is a half-truth - Mohammad Reza Pahlavi had been Shah since 1941, but the ''coup d'état'' gave Pahlavi ultimate authority, whereas previously Iran had been a [[constitutional monarchy]] headed by Prime Minister [[Mohammed Mossadegh]]. The narrator says Mohammed Mossadegh was "overwhelmingly elected as Prime Minister" by the Iranian people; technically, he was elected Prime Minister by the [[Islamic Consultative Assembly|Iranian Parliament]], after [[Haj Ali Razmara|his predecessor]] was assassinated. Iranian prime ministers are chosen by Parliament members, who are elected by popular vote, as in many parliamentary governments.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/library/world/mideast/041600iran-cia-chapter1.html |title=The C.I.A. in Iran: Britain Fights Oil Nationalism |publisher=The NY Times |accessdate=3 November 2012}}</ref> The Shah's full name was "Mohammed Reza Shah Pahlavi";<ref>{{cite web|url=http://persepolis.free.fr/iran/personalities/shah.html |title=The Shah |publisher=Persepolis |accessdate=3 November 2012}}</ref> the film's narrator refers to the Shah as "Reza Pahlavi".

===Canadian vs. CIA roles===
After the film was previewed at the [[Toronto International Film Festival]]<ref name=Evans2012>{{Citation | title = Argo TIFF premiere gallery | url = http://www.digitalhit.com/galleries/42/614/ | year = 2012 | author = Evans, Ian | journal = DigitalHit.com | accessdate = 2013-01-19 }}</ref> in September 2012, some critics said that it unfairly glorified the role of the CIA and minimized the role of the Canadian government, particularly that of Ambassador Taylor, in the extraction operation. ''[[Macleans (magazine)|Macleans]]'' asserted that "the movie rewrites history at Canada's expense, making Hollywood and the CIA the saga's heroic saviours while Taylor is demoted to a kindly concierge."<ref name="Macleans">{{cite news|last=Johnson|first=Brian D.|title=Ben Affleck rewrites history|url=http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/09/12/ben-affleck-rewrites-history/#more-292541|accessdate=September 19, 2012|newspaper=Macleans|date=September 12, 2012}}</ref> The postscript text said that the CIA let Taylor take the credit for political purposes, which some critics thought implied that he did not deserve the accolades he received.<ref name = "Knelman TOSTAR Review">{{cite news| last = Knelman| first = Martin| title = TIFF 2012: How Canadian hero Ken Taylor was snubbed by Argo| url = http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/tiff/article/1255390--tiff-2012-how-canadian-hero-ken-taylor-was-snubbed-by-argo| accessdate = 2012-09-19| newspaper = The Toronto Star| date = September 13, 2012| archiveurl = http://www.webcitation.org/6BSUi2AXY| archivedate = 2012-10-16| deadurl = no| location = Toronto}}</ref> Affleck changed the postscript text to read, "The involvement of the CIA complemented efforts of the Canadian embassy to free the six held in Tehran. To this day the story stands as an enduring model of international co-operation between governments."<ref name="KnelmanTorStar2">{{cite news|last=Knelman|first=Martin|title=Ken Taylor's Hollywood ending: Affleck alters postscript to 'Argo'|url=http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/1258706--ben-affleck-changes-argo-postscript-for-ken-taylor|accessdate=September 19, 2012|newspaper=The Toronto Star|date=September 19, 2012}}</ref> The ''[[Toronto Star]]'' complained, "Even that hardly does Canada justice."<ref name="CoyleTorStar">{{cite news|last=Coyle|first=Jim|title=
'Argo': Former ambassador Ken Taylor sets the record straight|url=http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/1267937--argo-film-gives-former-canadian-ambassador-ken-taylor-chance-to-set-the-record-straight|accessdate=November 1, 2012|newspaper=The Toronto Star|date=October 7, 2012}}</ref>
When interviewed, Taylor noted that, "In reality, Canada was responsible for the six and the CIA was a junior partner. But I realize this is a movie and you have to keep the audience on the edge of their seats."<ref name="KnelmanTorStar2"/> Taylor is also shown threatening to close the Canadian embassy in the movie; in reality, this never happened.<ref name="KnelmanTorStar2"/>

Affleck noted,
<blockquote>"Because we say it's based on a true story, rather than this is a true story, we're allowed to take some dramatic license. There's a spirit of truth", and that, "the kinds of things that are really important to be true are—for example, the relationship between the U.S. and Canada. The U.S. stood up collectively as a nation and said, ‘We like you, we appreciate you, we respect you, and we’re in your debt.’...There were folks who didn’t want to stick their necks out and the Canadians did. They said, ‘We’ll risk our diplomatic standing, our lives, by harbouring six Americans because it’s the right thing to do.’ Because of that, their lives were saved."<ref name="Macleans"/></blockquote>

===British and New Zealand roles===
Upon its wide release in October 2012, the film was criticized for its claim that the [[New Zealand]] and [[UK|British]] diplomats had turned away the six American refugees in Tehran. Diplomats from New Zealand had proved quite helpful; one drove the Americans to the airport.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.3news.co.nz/NZs-role-in-Iran-crisis-tainted-in-Afflecks-film-Argo/tabid/418/articleID/273069/Default.aspx |title=NZ's role in Iran crisis tainted in Affleck's film 'Argo' - Story - Entertainment |publisher=3 News |date= |accessdate=2012-10-29}}</ref> The British hosted the Americans initially, but the location wasn't safe and all considered the Canadian ambassador's residence to be the better location. British diplomats also assisted other Americans beyond the six.<ref>{{cite web|author=Film |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/9622647/Ben-Afflecks-new-film-Argo-upsets-British-diplomats-who-helped-Americans-in-Iran.html |title=Ben Affleck's new film 'Argo' upsets British diplomats who helped Americans in Iran |publisher=Telegraph |date= |accessdate=2012-10-29}}</ref> Bob Anders, the U.S. [[consul]]ar agent played in the film by [[Tate Donovan]], said, "They put their lives on the line for us. We were all at risk. I hope no one in Britain will be offended by what's said in the film. The British were good to us and we're forever grateful."<ref name = "Telegraph UK review">{{cite news| last = Barrett and Jacqui Goddard| first = David| title = Ben Affleck's new film 'Argo' upsets British diplomats who helped Americans in Iran | url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/9622647/Ben-Afflecks-new-film-Argo-upsets-British-diplomats-who-helped-Americans-in-Iran.html| accessdate = 2012-10-21| newspaper = The Telegraph U.K.| date = October 20, 2012}}</ref>

[[Sir John Graham, 4th Baronet|Sir John Graham]], the then-[[List of diplomats of the United Kingdom to Iran|British ambassador to Iran]], said, "My immediate reaction on hearing about this was one of outrage. I have since simmered down, but am still very distressed that the film-makers should have got it so wrong. My concern is that the inaccurate account should not enter the mythology of the events in Tehran in November 1979." The then-British [[chargé d'affaires]] in Tehran said that, had the Americans been discovered in the British embassy, "I can assure you we'd all have been for the high jump [i.e. in trouble]."

Affleck is quoted as saying to the ''[[Sunday Telegraph]]'': "I struggled with this long and hard, because it casts Britain and New Zealand in a way that is not totally fair. But I was setting up a situation where you needed to get a sense that these six people had nowhere else to go. It does not mean to diminish anyone."

===Imminent danger to the group===
In the film, the diplomats face suspicious glances from Iranians whenever they go out in public, and appear close to being caught at many steps along the way to their freedom: while pretending to scout for filming locations at a [[bazaar]]; while purchasing plane tickets to Zurich; while trying to board the plane; and finally before the plane takes off, when Iranian guards try to stop the plane in a dramatic chase sequence. In reality, the diplomats never appeared to be in imminent danger: the six never went to a bazaar, Taylor's wife bought three sets of plane tickets from three different airlines ahead of time,<ref name="Macleans"/><ref name="KnelmanTorStar2"/> there was no confrontation with security officials at the departure gate,<ref name=TN>{{cite news
| url = http://www.thenewspaper.ca/the-news/item/989-diplomats-in-iranian-hostage-crisis-discuss-argo
| title = Diplomats in Iranian hostage crisis discuss Argo: Spoiler alert: Hollywood fudged the facts
| publisher = [[The Newspaper]]
| author = Yukon Damov
| date = 2012-11-16
| archivedate = 2012-11-17
| archiveurl = http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenewspaper.ca%2Fthe-news%2Fitem%2F989-diplomats-in-iranian-hostage-crisis-discuss-argo&date=2012-11-17
| dead = no
| quote = Wednesday night’s conversation between former diplomats Robert Anders and Michael Shenstone, hosted by the U.S. Consulate and the University of Toronto International Relations Society, was an exercise in displaying Hollywood’s manipulation of historical reality.
}}</ref><ref name="CIA history"/> and there was no runway chase at the airport.<ref>{{cite web|author=19 Photos |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/oct/10/hollywood-cant-make-this-up-argo-recounts-the-cia-/?page=all |title=Tony Mendez, clandestine CIA hero of Ben Affleck’s 'Argo,' reveals the real story behind film smash |publisher=Washington Times |date=2012-10-10 |accessdate=2012-10-29}}</ref>

===Others===
The film contains other historical inaccuracies:
*The major role of producer Lester Siegel, played by Alan Arkin, is fictional.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2012/10/12/argo_true_story_the_facts_and_fiction_behind_the_ben_affleck_movie.html |title=How accurate is Argo |publisher=www.slate.com |date= |accessdate=2012-11-15}}</ref>
*The film depicts a dramatic last-minute cancellation of the mission by the Carter administration and a bureaucratic crisis in which Mendez declares he will proceed with the mission. Carter delayed authorization by only 30 minutes, and that was before Mendez had left Europe for Iran.<ref name="CIA history">{{cite journal|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/csi-studies/studies/winter99-00/art1.html |title=CIA Goes Hollywood: A Classic Case of Deception |last=Mendez |first=Antonio J. |authorlink=Tony Mendez |work=[[Studies in Intelligence]] |publisher=Central Intelligence Agency |date=Winter 1999-2000 |accessdate=2010-11-01}}</ref>
*In real life, CIA agent [[Antonio Mendez]] is part-[[Mexican people|Mexican]], leading some critics to argue that Ben Affleck should have cast a Hispanic actor, and not himself, in the role.<ref>{{cite web|author= Navarrette, Ruben |url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/09/opinion/navarrette-argo-affleck-latino/index.html |title=Latino should have played lead in 'Argo' |publisher=CNN |date=2013-01-10 |accessdate=2013-01-10}}</ref>
*The [[Hollywood sign]] is shown damaged as it had been in the past, but it had actually been repaired in 1978, prior to the events described in the film.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodsign.org/the-history-of-the-sign/1978-a-sign-is-reborn/ |title=The History of the Sign: 1978: A Sign is Reborn |date= |accessdate=2012-12-09}}</ref>

==Release and reception==

===Critical response===
''Argo'' was widely acclaimed by critics. [[Rotten Tomatoes]] reported that 96% of critics gave the film positive reviews based on 246 reviews, with an [[weighted mean|average]] score of 8.4 out of 10. Its consensus reads: "Tense, exciting and often darkly comic, Argo recreates a historical event with vivid attention to detail and finely wrought characters."<ref name="rt">{{cite web | url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/argo_2012/ |title=Argo |publisher=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] | accessdate={{nowrap|November 17}}, 2012 }}</ref> At [[Metacritic]], which assigns a weighted average rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the film has received an average score of 86, considered to be "universal acclaim", based on 45 reviews.<ref name="meta">{{cite web | url=http://www.metacritic.com/movie/argo |title=Argo Reviews | publisher=[[Metacritic]] | accessdate={{nowrap|October 10}}, 2012 }}</ref> Naming ''Argo'' one of the best 11 films of 2012, critic [[Stephen Holden]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' wrote: "Ben Affleck's seamless direction catapults him to the forefront of Hollywood filmmakers turning out thoughtful entertainment."<ref>{{cite web|last=Holden|first=Stephen|title=The Year of the Body Vulnerable|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/16/movies/lincoln-and-amour-top-stephen-holdens-best-of-list.html?pagewanted=all|publisher=[[The New York Times]]|date=December 14, 2012|accessdate=December 14, 2012}}</ref> [[Roger Ebert]] of the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' gave the film 4/4 stars, calling it "spellbinding" and "surprisingly funny". Ebert chose it as his best film of the year.<ref name=ebert>Ebert, Roger (10 October 2012). [http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121010/REVIEWS/121019999 Argo]. ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]''. Retrieved 2013-01-16.</ref>

''[[The Washington Times]]'' said it felt "like a movie from an earlier era — less frenetic, less showy, more focused on narrative than sensation" but that the script included "too many characters that he doesn’t quite develop."<ref>Peter Suderman, [http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/oct/11/movie-review-argo/ Movie Review: 'Argo'], ''[[The Washington Times]]'', October 11, 2012</ref>

{{quote box|quote=
The craft in this film is rare. It is so easy to manufacture a thriller from chases and gunfire, and so very hard to fine-tune it out of exquisite timing and a plot that's so clear to us we wonder why it isn't obvious to the Iranians. After all, who in their right mind would believe a space opera was being filmed in Iran during the hostage crisis?|source=—Roger Ebert, writing for the ''Chicago Sun-Times''<ref name="ebert" />|align=left|width=40%|fontsize=85%|bgcolor=#FFFFF0|quoted=2}}
Literary critic [[Stanley Fish]] says that the film is a standard [[caper film]] in which "some improbable task has to be pulled off by a combination of ingenuity, training, deception and luck." He goes on to describe the film's structure: "(1) the presentation of the scheme to reluctant and unimaginative superiors, (2) the transformation of a ragtag bunch of ne’er-do-wells and wackos into a coherent, coordinated unit and (3) the carrying out of the task." Although he thinks the film is good at building and sustaining suspense, he concludes,
<blockquote>
This is one of those movies that depend on your not thinking much about it; for as soon as you reflect on what’s happening rather than being swept up in the narrative flow, there doesn’t seem much to it aside from the skill with which suspense is maintained despite the fact that you know in advance how it’s going to turn out. ... Once the deed is successfully done, there’s really nothing much to say, and anything that is said seems contrived. That is the virtue of an entertainment like this; it doesn’t linger in the memory and provoke afterthoughts.<ref>{{cite news | first=Stanley | last=Fish | title=The 'Argo' Caper | url=http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/29/the-argo-caper/ | work=[[The New York Times]] | date=October 29, 2012 | accessdate=2013-01-04}}</ref></blockquote>

[[Jian Ghomeshi]], a Canadian writer and radio figure of Iranian descent, thought the film had a "deeply troubling portrayal of the Iranian people". Ghomeshi asserted "among all the rave reviews, virtually no one in the mainstream media has called out [the] unbalanced depiction of an entire ethnic national group, and the broader implications of the portrait." He also suggested that the timing of the film was poor, as American and Iranian political relations were at a low point.<ref>{{cite news | last=Ghomeshi | first=Jian | title=Argo is crowd-pleasing, entertaining – and unfair to Iranians | url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/jian-ghomeshi-argo-is-crowd-pleasing-entertaining-and-unfair-to-iranians/article4855769/ | newspaper=Globe and Mail | date=November 2, 2012 | accessdate=2012-11-05}}</ref> A November 3, 2012 article in the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' claimed that the film had received very little attention in Tehran. The article referred to a review by [[Masoumeh Ebtekar]], whose memoirs are the only Iranian narrative of the events.<ref>{{cite news | last=Mostaghim | first=Ramin | coauthors=Alexandra Sandels | title=U.S. film 'Argo' not getting any buzz in Iran | url=http://articles.latimes.com/2012/nov/03/world/la-fg-iran-argo-20121104 | location=Los Angeles | work=Los Angeles Times | publisher=Tribune Company | date=November 3, 2012 | accessdate=9 January 2013}}</ref>

In an interview with ''[[People (magazine)|People]]'' magazine, President [[Barack Obama]] said "''Argo'' I thought was terrific. Ben Affleck did a nice job."<ref>{{cite news|title=2012 - The White House Interview|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=323993407700436&set=a.177117985721313.28244.154369681329477&type=1&theater|accessdate=December 31, 2012|newspaper=People Magazine}}</ref> The film is nominated for seven [[Academy Awards]] except in the Director category. Following the announcement of the nominations, [[Bradley Cooper]], whose film was nominated in several categories, said: "Ben Affleck got robbed".<ref>{{cite web|last=Carneiro|first=Bianca|title='Ben Affleck was robbed': Best actor nominee Bradley Cooper on Argo star's Oscars snub|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2260210/Oscars-2013-Bradley-Cooper-claims-Ben-Affleck-robbed-Academy-Awards-snub.html?ito=feeds-newsxml|work=Daily Mail|accessdate=January 10, 2013|date=January 10, 2013}}</ref> This opinion is shared by the ceremony's host [[Seth MacFarlane]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Macatee|first=Rebecca|title=Ben Affleck's Oscars Snub: Bradley Cooper, Seth MacFarlane Think Argo Director Was Robbed|url=http://uk.eonline.com/news/377346/ben-affleck-s-oscars-snub-bradley-cooper-seth-macfarlane-think-argo-director-was-robbed|work=[[E! Online]]|publisher=[[NBCUniversal]]|accessdate=January 10, 2013|date=January 10, 2013}}</ref>

''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' wrote about this controversy:

{{quote|Standing in the Golden Globe pressroom with his directing trophy, Affleck acknowledged that it was frustrating not to get an Oscar nod when many felt he deserved one. But he's keeping a sense of humor. "I mean, I also didn't get the acting nomination," he pointed out. "And no one's saying I got snubbed there!"<ref>{{cite journal |title= The Oscars / 2013: Eyes on the Prize |journal= [[Entertainment Weekly]] |date= January 25/February 1, 2013 |location= New York |publisher= Time Inc. |page= 22}}</ref>}}

===Home media===
The film will be released in North America on February 19, 2013 on [[DVD]], [[Blu-ray]] and with an [[UltraViolet (system)|UltraViolet]] digital copy.<ref>{{cite web|title=Argo Blu-Ray|url=http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Argo-Blu-ray/57932/|work=Blu-Ray.com|accessdate=January 17, 2013}}</ref>

===Accolades===
{{anchor|Awards}}
{| class="wikitable" width="95%"
|+List of awards and nominations
! | Award
! | Category
! | Nominee
! | Result
|-
|rowspan=7|[[85th Academy Awards]]<ref>{{cite news|title=The Nominees|url=http://oscar.go.com/nominees|accessdate=January 10, 2013|newspaper=OSCAR|date=January 10, 2013}}</ref>
|[[Academy Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]]
|[[Grant Heslov]], [[Ben Affleck]] and [[George Clooney]]
|{{pending}}
|-
|[[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]]
|[[Alan Arkin]]
|{{pending}}
|-
|[[Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay|Best Adapted Screenplay]]
|[[Chris Terrio]]
|{{pending}}
|-
|[[Academy Award for Best Film Editing|Film Editing]]
|[[William Goldenberg]]
|{{pending}}
|-
|[[Academy Award for Best Sound Editing|Best Sound Editing]]
|Erik Aadahl and Ethan Van der Ryn
|{{pending}}
|-
|[[Academy Award for Best Sound Mixing|Best Sound Mixing]]
|[[John Reitz]], [[Gregg Rudloff]] and Jose Antonio Garcia
|{{pending}}
|-
|[[Academy Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Score]]
|[[Alexandre Desplat]]
|{{pending}}
|-
||[[American Film Institute#AFI Awards|AFI Awards]]
|Movies of the Year
|Ben Affleck, George Clooney, and Grant Heslov
|{{won}}
|-
|rowspan=3|[[2nd AACTA International Awards]]<ref>{{cite news | title=Jackman, Kidman up for AACTA awards |date=9 January 2013 | work=The Sydney Morning Herald |publisher=Fairfax Media | url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/jackman-kidman-up-for-aacta-awards-20130109-2cg94.html |first=Maddox |last=Garry| accessdate=11 January 2013}}</ref>
|[[AACTA International Award for Best Film|Best Film&nbsp;– International]]
|Grant Heslov, Ben Affleck and George Clooney
|{{pending}}
|-
|[[AACTA International Award for Best Direction|Best Direction&nbsp;– International]]
|Ben Affleck
|{{pending}}
|-
|[[AACTA International Award for Best Screenplay|Best Screenplay&nbsp;– International]]
|Chris Terrio
|{{pending}}
|-
| rowspan="7"| [[66th British Academy Film Awards|British Academy Film Awards]]<ref>{{cite web|title=EE British Academy Film Awards Nominations in 2013|url=http://www.bafta.org/film/awards/nominees-winners-2013,3584,BA.html|publisher=[[British Academy of Film and Television Arts]]|accessdate=11 January 2013|date=9 January 2013}}</ref>
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Film|Best Film]]
| Grant Heslov, Ben Affleck, George Clooney
| {{Pending}}
|-
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Direction|Best Director]]
| Ben Affleck
| {{Pending}}
|-
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay|Best Adapted Screenplay]]
| Chris Terrio
| {{pending}}
|-
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role|Best Actor in a Leading Role]]
| Ben Affleck
| {{pending}}
|-
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role|Best Actor in a Supporting Role]]
| Alan Arkin
| {{pending}}
|-
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Film Music|Best Original Music]]
| Alexandre Desplat
| {{pending}}
|-
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Editing|Best Editing]]
| William Goldenberg
| {{pending}}
|-
|rowspan=7|[[Critics Choice Awards]]
|Best Picture
|
|{{Won}}
|-
|Best Supporting Actor
|Alan Arkin
|{{nom}}
|-
|Best Acting Ensemble
|
|{{nom}}
|-
|Best Director
|Ben Affleck
|{{Won}}
|-
|Best Adapted Screenplay
|Chris Terrio
|{{nom}}
|-
|Best Editing
|William Goldenberg
|{{nom}}
|-
|Best Score
|Alexandre Desplat
|{{nom}}
|-
|rowspan=3|[[Detroit Film Critics Society]]
|Best Picture
|
|{{nom}}
|-
|Best Director
|Ben Affleck
|{{nom}}
|-
|Best Ensemble
|
|{{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="5"|[[70th Golden Globe Awards]]
|[[Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture - Drama|Best Motion Picture - Drama]]
|
|{{won}}
|-
|[[Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture|Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role]]
|[[Alan Arkin]]
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[Golden Globe Award for Best Director|Best Director - Motion Picture]]
|[[Ben Affleck]]
|{{won}}
|-
|[[Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay|Best Screenplay - Motion Picture]]
|[[Chris Terrio]]
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Score - Motion Picture]]
|[[Alexandre Desplat]]
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[Los Angeles Film Critics Association]]
|Best Screenplay
|[[Chris Terrio]]
|{{won}}
|-
|[[National Board of Review Awards 2012]]
|Special Achievement in Filmmaking
|[[Ben Affleck]]
|{{won}}
|-
|rowspan="2"|Nevada Film Critics Society
|Best Picture
|
|{{won}}
|-
|Best Director
|[[Ben Affleck]] - Tied with [[Kathryn Bigelow]] for ''[[Zero Dark Thirty]]''
|{{won}}
|-
|[[New York Film Critics Online]]
|Best Ensemble Cast
|
|{{won}}
|-
|rowspan=5|[[Phoenix Film Critics Society]]
|Top Ten Films
|
|{{won}}
|-
|Best Director
|[[Ben Affleck]]
|{{nom}}
|-
|Best Ensemble Acting
|
|{{nom}}
|-
|Best Screenplay Adaptation
|
|{{won}}
|-
|Best Film Editing
|
|{{won}}
|-
|[[Roger Ebert]]
|Best Picture of the Year
|
|{{won}}
|-
|[[Directors Guild of America]]
|[[Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Feature Film|Best Director]]
|[[Ben Affleck]]
|{{pending}}
|-
|[[Producers Guild of America]]
|[[Producers Guild of America Award for Best Theatrical Motion Picture|Best Picture]]
|[[Ben Affleck]], [[George Clooney]] and [[Grant Heslov]]
|{{won}}
|-
|rowspan=2|[[19th Screen Actors Guild Awards|Screen Actors Guild Awards]]
|[[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role|Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role]]
|Alan Arkin
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture|Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture]]
|Cast
|{{won}}
|-
|rowspan=8|[[San Diego Film Critics Society]]
|Best Film
|
|{{won}}
|-
|Best Director
|Ben Affleck
|{{won}}
|-
|Best Supporting Actor
|Alan Arkin
|{{nom}}
|-
|Best Adapted Screenplay
|Chris Terrio
|{{won}}
|-
|Best Editing
|William Goldenberg
|{{won}}
|-
|Best Production Design
|Sharon Seymour
|{{nom}}
|-
|Best Score
|Alexandre Desplat
|{{nom}}
|-
|Best Ensemble Performance
|
|{{nom}}
|-
|rowspan=4 | [[Satellite Awards]]
|Motion Picture
|
|{{nom}}
|-
|Best Director
|Ben Affleck
|{{nom}}
|-
|Best Adapted Screenplay
|Chris Terrio
|{{nom}}
|-
|Best Original Score
|Alexandre Desplat
|{{won}}
|-
|rowspan=5|[[St. Louis Film Critics]]
|Best Film
|
|{{won}}
|-
|Best Director
|Ben Affleck
|{{won}}
|-
|rowspan=2 | Best Supporting Actor
|Alan Arkin
|{{nom}}
|-
|John Goodman
|{{nom}}
|-
|Best Adapted Screenplay
|
|{{nom}}
|-
|rowspan=5|[[Washington D. C. Area Film Critics Association]]
|Best Film
|
|{{nom}}
|-
|Best Director
|Ben Affleck
|{{nom}}
|-
|Best Supporting Actor
|Alan Arkin
|{{nom}}
|-
|Best Acting Ensemble
|
|{{nom}}
|-
|Best Adapted Screenplay
|
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[Writers Guild of America]]
|[[Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay|Best Adapted Screenplay]]
|[[Chris Terrio]]
|{{Pending}}
|-
|}

== References ==
;Footnotes
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

;Further reading
{{refbegin}}
*"[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/iran-blog/2012/nov/13/argo-iranians-ben-affleck Why Argo is hard for Iranians to watch]." ''[[The Guardian]]''. November 13, 2012.
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Portal|United States|Canada|Iran|International relations|Film|2010s}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{Official website|http://argothemovie.warnerbros.com}}
* {{IMDb title|1024648|Argo}}
* {{Amg movie|542623|Argo}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes|argo_2012|Argo}}
* {{Metacritic film|argo|Argo}}
* {{mojo title|id=argo|title=Argo}}

{{Ben Affleck}}
{{GoldenGlobeBestMotionPictureDrama 2001–2020}}
{{ScreenActorsGuildAward CastMotionPicture 2011–2020}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Argo}}
[[Category:2012 films]]
[[Category:English-language films]]
[[Category:Persian-language films]]
[[Category:American political thriller films]]
[[Category:American political drama films]]
[[Category:Films about filmmaking]]
[[Category:Iranian Revolution films]]
[[Category:Canada–United States relations in popular culture]]
[[Category:Central Intelligence Agency in fiction]]
[[Category:Films set in 1979]]
[[Category:Films set in 1980]]
[[Category:Films set in Iran]]
[[Category:Films set in Tehran]]
[[Category:Films set in Istanbul]]
[[Category:Films set in Los Angeles, California]]
[[Category:Films set in Virginia]]
[[Category:Films set in Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:Films shot in Los Angeles, California]]
[[Category:Films shot in Turkey]]
[[Category:Films shot in Virginia]]
[[Category:Anti-Iranian sentiments]]
[[Category:Warner Bros. films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Ben Affleck]]
[[Category:Films based on actual events]]
[[Category:Films whose director won the Best Director Golden Globe]]
[[Category:Best Drama Picture Golden Globe winners]]

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[[zh:逃离德黑兰]]

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