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ARGOMovie Reviews
Thriller comedy about the covert operation to rescue six Americans who sought refuge in the Canadian embassy when Iranian militants stormed the U.S. embassy in Tehran in 1979. Cast:Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, John Goodman, Victor Garber, Tate Donovan, Clea DuVall, Scoot McNairy, Rory Cochrane, Christopher Denham, Kerry Bishe, Kyle ChandlerDirector:Ben AffleckRelease Date:October 12, 2012DVD Release:February 19, 2013From:Warner Bros.Rating:RLength:2 hr. 0 min.
Argo openedWIDE to sensational reviews. • Alison Willmore wrote for Movieline, "...fine filmmaking..." • And Mara Reinstein wrote in Us Weekly, "...intelligent, riveting... one of the year's best.... Affleck wrings palm-sweating suspense out of the most mundane events..." More Reviews Below...
Alynda Wheat, People: OUTSTANDING(cg) "The crackerjack script doubles as a nerve-jangling thriller and an arch comedy. And the director? He might be the slyest trick of all..."(See all of Alynda Wheat's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 218 words, 10/11/12
Richard Corliss, Time: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "...a solid but very ordinary film with patriotic and inspirational elements... 'Argo's' twist, one nearly unique in modern U.S. films, is that the CIA fibbers are the good guys."(See all of Richard Corliss's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 754 words, 09/08/12
Christy Lemire, Associated Press: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...gripping... a seamless blend of detailed international drama and breathtaking suspense, with just the right amount of dry humor... one of the best films of the year."(See all of Christy Lemire's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 789 words, 10/11/12
Mara Reinstein, Us Weekly: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...an intelligent, riveting thriller... one of the year's best.... Affleck wrings palm-sweating suspense out of the most mundane events..."(See all of Mara Reinstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 124 words, 10/11/12
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...electrically suspenseful, cunningly original... the rare movie that has great fun while touching a raw political nerve.... Affleck ups his game..."(See all of Owen Gleiberman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 760 words, 10/05/12
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone: OUTSTANDING(cg) "Affleck doesn't merely direct 'Argo,' he directs the hell out of it, nailing the quickening pace, the wayward humor, the nerve-frying suspense.... ferociously exciting..."(See all of Peter Travers's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 529 words, 10/12/12
Claudia Puig, USA Today: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...the rare nail-biter that's also riotously funny as it focuses on a real-life incident that was not exactly ripped from the headlines.... easily one of the year's best..."(See all of Claudia Puig's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 414 words, 10/12/12
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...spellbinding and surprisingly funny.... has cliff-hanging moments when the whole delicate plan seems likely to split at the seams.... The craft in this film is rare."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 543 words, 10/12/12
Glenn Kenny, MSN Movies: VERY GOOD(cg) "...a crackerjack escape thriller.... once we get to the finale, the entirety of Persia seems to have become a bunch of wild-eyed bearded homicidal maniacs."(See all of Glenn Kenny's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 615 words, 10/09/12
James Berardinelli, Reel Views: OUTSTANDING(cg) "Recognizing that many of the movie's elements are lifted from actual events elevates the importance... The final 30 minutes of 'Argo' crackle with tension."(See all of James Berardinelli's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,091 words, 10/10/12
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (14 Reviews)
Manohla Dargis, New York Times: OUTSTANDING "...a smart, jittery thriller... a doozy of a story and so borderline ridiculous that it sounds -- ta-da! -- like something that could have been cooked up only by Hollywood."(See all of Manohla Dargis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 894 words, 10/12/12
Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...never makes a wrong move.... gets every cinematic detail right. And if it seems wild, or any part didn't happen exactly as shown. . . well, that's what movies are for."(See all of Joe Neumaier's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 545 words, 10/12/12
Lou Lumenick, New York Post: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...allows Ben Affleck to offer some white-knuckle suspense for a grand show -- and a slam-bang ending that's guaranteed to have audiences cheering."(See all of Lou Lumenick's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 689 words, 10/12/12
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...its entertainment intentions are clear, and the execution is clean, sharp and rock-solid. It's as apolitical as a political crisis story set in Iran can get."(See all of Michael Phillips's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 846 words, 10/12/12
Rafer Guzman, New York Newsday: VERY GOOD(cg) "...tends to favor plot over character: Mendez is thinly drawn, as are the six Americans. But it's a well-told story that's timely, topical and thoroughly entertaining."(See all of Rafer Guzman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 305 words, 10/12/12
David Edelstein, New York Magazine: EXCELLENT "...a marvel of cunning, an irresistible blend of cool realism and Hollywood hokum... What a mix: poker-faced espionage and broad showbiz satire."(See all of David Edelstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 534 words, 10/07/12
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...spellbinding and surprisingly funny.... has cliff-hanging moments when the whole delicate plan seems likely to split at the seams.... The craft in this film is rare."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 543 words, 10/12/12
Karina Longworth, Village Voice/LA Weekly: OUTSTANDING "...the kind of quality adult film that really shouldn't be an endangered species, and a love letter from Affleck to the industry that made him..."(See all of Karina Longworth's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 269 words, 10/10/12
Peter Howell, Toronto Star: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "The third act is chock full of thriller clichés... The film, alas, is also full of regrettable stereotypes.... Should we expect anything else from Hollywood?"(See all of Peter Howell's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 845 words, 10/12/12
Liam Lacey, Toronto Globe & Mail: VERY GOOD(cg) "...enjoyable Hollywood hokum.... succeeds as a savvy, facile crowd-pleaser by hewing closely to the same Hollywood conventions that it mildly mocks."(See all of Liam Lacey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 633 words, 10/12/12
Josep Parera, La Opinion: OUTSTANDING(cg) "Un extraordinario largometraje, que lleva a la audiencia a lo mejor del cine de los años 70, sin fetichismos ni idolatrías innecesarias."(See all of Josep Parera's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 523 words, 10/12/12
Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: EXCELLENT(cg) "Affleck spins the absurd true story into an engrossing espionage thriller that would be utterly ridiculous if the stakes weren't literally life-or-death."(See all of Norman Wilner's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 175 words, 09/13/12
KEY CITIES (13 Reviews)
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...serious and substantive, an ingeniously written and executed drama... It also happens to be extremely funny, crafty and enormously entertaining."(See all of Ann Hornaday's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 812 words, 10/12/12
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...taut... One of Affleck's great feats is to show both Mendez's confidence and calm, but also the nagging doubt and dread in his eyes. He knows this could all go wrong."(See all of Steven Rea's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 531 words, 10/12/12
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star-Tribune: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...quick-witted... handles the political context of the hostage crisis intelligently... such superior craftsmanship is a gift to be treasured."(See all of Colin Covert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 524 words, 10/12/12
Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic: OUTSTANDING(cg) "It's entertaining. It's smart. It's well-acted. It's fast-paced and exciting, thrilling at times.... Affleck's sure hand never wavers... we never forget what is at stake..."(See all of Bill Goodykoontz's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 665 words, 10/12/12
Wesley Morris, Boston Globe: VERY GOOD(cg) "As a director, Pollack and Pakula are pretty much where Affleck is: a smart, talented classicist who's good with actors and the rhythms of storytelling..."(See all of Wesley Morris's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,198 words, 10/12/12
Stephen Whitty, New Jersey Star-Ledger: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...a mostly terrific picture, mixing rude laughs and real suspense. And if nothing else, it proves that every so often, the CIA can pull something off..."(See all of Stephen Whitty's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 613 words, 10/12/12
Marc Mohan, Portland Oregonian: EXCELLENT(cg) "The period details are spotless, kindling memories of those days of yellow ribbons and nightly news updates on the fate of the American hostages."(See all of Marc Mohan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 388 words, 10/12/12
Joe Williams, St. Louis Post-Dispatch: OUTSTANDING(cg) "It's a measure of Affleck's maturity that an avowed liberal with internationalist sympathies can make the CIA seem so heroic."(See all of Joe Williams's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 427 words, 10/12/12
Steve Persall, Tampa Bay Times: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...a supremely constructed popcorn flick, a political thriller taut as piano wire and a Hollywood satire funnier than most comedies.... one of the best of 2012."(See all of Steve Persall's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 509 words, 10/11/12
Tom Long, Detroit News: EXCELLENT(cg) "...awfully well-made, thoroughly enjoyable... It may not have a lot beyond its outrageous story, but the story is undeniably a doozy, and the movie is a blast."(See all of Tom Long's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 497 words, 10/12/12
Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald: VERY GOOD(cg) "...accomplished enough to stand alongside the 1970s political thrillers that inspired it, right down to the vintage red-and-black Warner Bros. logo that opens the film."(See all of Rene Rodriguez's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 427 words, 10/12/12
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (11 Reviews)
Karina Longworth, Village Voice/LA Weekly: OUTSTANDING "...the kind of quality adult film that really shouldn't be an endangered species, and a love letter from Affleck to the industry that made him..."(See all of Karina Longworth's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 269 words, 10/10/12
Katey Rich, Cinema Blend: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...the kind of serious drama that leaves you smiling because of how marvelously well it pulls everything off... the crackerjack precision of the story is what blows you away."(See all of Katey Rich's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 640 words, 10/11/12
Peter Keough, Boston Phoenix: VERY GOOD(cg) "Affleck will get you riled up about those crazy Iranians, but in the end he shows how movie magic can sometimes work better than missiles and bombs."(See all of Peter Keough's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 360 words, 10/11/12
Keith Phipps, AV Club: EXCELLENT(cg) "...turns one of recent history's strangest footnotes into a gripping thriller made all the more effective by its emphasis on the human cost of global gamesmanship..."(See all of Keith Phipps's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 766 words, 10/11/12
Cynthia Fuchs, Pop Matters: EXCELLENT(cg) "If ever a team might be said to roll, it's this one, embodying a mix of cynicism, wisdom, and gentle good humor, they sort out the impossible task before them."(See all of Cynthia Fuchs's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 970 words, 10/12/12
Alison Willmore, Movieline: VERY GOOD(cg) "...a subdued thriller about a small triumph in a troubled moment in time, but it's not without its sting.... more fine filmmaking from Affleck..."(See all of Alison Willmore's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 827 words, 10/11/12
Andrew Schenker, Slant: MODERATE(cg) "Undeniably rousing, but deeply irresponsible... fans the flames surrounding historical events likely to still remain raw in the memory of many viewers."(See all of Andrew Schenker's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 759 words, 10/11/12
Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: EXCELLENT(cg) "Affleck spins the absurd true story into an engrossing espionage thriller that would be utterly ridiculous if the stakes weren't literally life-or-death."(See all of Norman Wilner's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 175 words, 09/13/12
Curt Holman, Atlanta Creative Loafing: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...suspenseful... Affleck cements his reputation as a capable filmmaker, although his compelling political thriller doesn't take full advantage of its thematic implications."(See all of Curt Holman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 723 words, 10/10/12
MaryAnn Johanson, Flick Filosopher: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...simply a fantastic movie: very funny, hugely suspenseful, enormously intelligent, beautifully presented in every possible way."(See all of MaryAnn Johanson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,060 words, 10/18/12
HIGHBROW PRESS (7 Reviews)
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: OUTSTANDING "...sensational... exults in what a movie can do when its story has a compelling core... What's startling is that the invented elements have been done so well."(See all of Joe Morgenstern's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,072 words, 10/12/12
Manohla Dargis, New York Times: OUTSTANDING "...a smart, jittery thriller... a doozy of a story and so borderline ridiculous that it sounds -- ta-da! -- like something that could have been cooked up only by Hollywood."(See all of Manohla Dargis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 894 words, 10/12/12
Bob Mondello, NPR: OUTSTANDING "...the real accomplishment here is how Affleck manages to segue from 'Ocean's 11'-style repartee to pulse-pounding tension and back again."(See all of Bob Mondello's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 427 words, 10/11/12
Dana Stevens, Slate: EXCELLENT "...a rip-roaring Hollywood thriller, complete with romance, a comic subplot, and a car chase or two.... isn't quite on the level of the Sidney Lumet classics..."(See all of Dana Stevens's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,073 words, 10/12/12
Andrew O'Hehir, Salon: OUTSTANDING "...propulsive, claustrophobic... Affleck gets marvelous supporting turns from Alan Arkin and John Goodman... Tension, humor and drama are built up masterfully..."(See all of Andrew O'Hehir's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,090 words, 10/11/12
MOVIE INDUSTRY (6 Reviews)
Peter Debruge, Daily Variety: EXCELLENT "...the thrill of 'Argo' is in watching how the illusion-making of movies found such an unlikely application on the world political stage, where the stakes were life and death."(See all of Peter Debruge's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 809 words, 08/31/12
Todd McCarthy, Hollywood Reporter: OUTSTANDING "...a crackerjack political thriller told with intelligence, great period detail and a surprising amount of nutty humor... fascinating..."(See all of Todd McCarthy's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 938 words, 09/01/12
Emanuel Levy, Cinema 24/7: OUTSTANDING(cg) "What makes this Affleck's most accomplished work to date is a display of a unified, personal vision and a masterful technical control over every element of the production..."(See all of Emanuel Levy's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 827 words, 09/06/12
Manohla Dargis, New York Times: OUTSTANDING "...a smart, jittery thriller... a doozy of a story and so borderline ridiculous that it sounds -- ta-da! -- like something that could have been cooked up only by Hollywood."(See all of Manohla Dargis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 894 words, 10/12/12
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: OUTSTANDING "...sensational... exults in what a movie can do when its story has a compelling core... What's startling is that the invented elements have been done so well."(See all of Joe Morgenstern's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,072 words, 10/12/12
13.6 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
Argo's reviews are separated by an average 13.6 percentage points. The norm for this measure is 18.4 percentage points. Less than 18.4 indicates more consistent reviews; greater than 18.4 indicates more mixed reviews. In the chart below, each dot represents a review, with the dots at the top more positive than the dots at the bottom. From left to right, the dots represent reviews in big, bigger and biggest publications. Roll over each dot for more detail.
Coverage:Argo's reviews cover 100.0% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 33,973 words involume (average is 20,172 words). Length:The film's reviews average 653 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
Reviews Broke 6 Days Before Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
Argo's reviews on average broke 6 days before opening. Norm for this measure is 1.2 hours before. The chart below shows reviews on opening day and the days before and after opening; the left side is earlier and the right side is later. The red bars extending above the horizontal mid-line represent more positive reviews, and the red bars extending below represent more negative reviews. The white space/red bar in the middle is Argo's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
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