Argo by Ben Affleck (2012)

One of the 2013 Oscar contenders.

Made with meticulous attention to detail – reflecting the late 1970′s and early 1980′s.

Costumes, gadgets/props (as glasses, hairdos) bring to mind childhood memories when dads and moms wore those ridiculous tartan and tweed jackets. From that perspective (plus the cars) it is a job well done.

The grainy film takes us almost for trip back in time. Back into the times, when everyone constantly smoked, when smoking was allowed onboard commercial flights, when Swissair was an operating airline, when no industry crisis was heard of in Burbank, California.

This is based on a true story, therefore shortcuts were necessary. Unfortunately Affleck did not avoid oversimplifications – such as the moment when six people slowly walk out of the American embassy in Tehran under siege unobserved and undisturbed by anyone.

Overall, this is a good film, and probably an important film depicting the social changes in Iran over the last few decades. To an extent it fits into my favourite political genre and it is better than last year’s George Clooney’s “The Ides of March”.

I would like to see the Academy appreciate the costumes, set design and the carefully led suspense.