inflight - Jetstar

Recommended Movie Of The MonthArgoWords by Sophie LeahyPicture this: Iran 1979. Six U.S. diplomats are in hiding after revolutionaries seize control of theembassy, so the CIA must formulate a plan to help them escape. Their idea? To have a group poseas Canadian filmmakers, on location for a (fake), Middle-Eastern sci-fi blockbuster called Argo.As outrageous and untenable as this plan sounds, itactually happened and is now the basis of a Hollywoodblockbuster from actor-turned-director Ben Affleck, whohas served a dynamic thriller, appropriately titled Argo(2012). After an opening sequence that outlines therecent political history of Iran, the story begins in themidst of a protest in Tehran. The country is in turmoil, withrevolutionaries furious over the escape and subsequentprotection of their former dictator. Mobs of angry peoplestorm the U.S. embassy and amidst the chaos, sixdiplomats slip away and take shelter at the house ofCanadian Ambassador, Ken Taylor.Stumped as to how to bring the group home from theirhideout, the outlandish Hollywood plan is floated by theCIA operative Tony Mendez (Affleck). With a Hollywoodproducer, director, script and a fake production companyset up, the crazy idea takes off.The drama and emotion in this film is twofold. As thestory develops, Argo switches in mood and tone, asboth a light look at the mechanisms of Hollywood anda lung-squeezing political thriller. Watching the CIA andCanadians lie their way through tinseltown is incrediblyfunny. It is easy to forget that real lives are being playedwith as the posturing and bluffing continues. But thenthe camera will flick to intense backroom talks, as theenormity and pressure of the task is realised by boththe crew involved and moviegoers themselves, and thesuspense builds.The cast playing the diplomats are terrific, perfectlycapturing the odd mix of boredom and fear that the groupin hiding would have surely been feeling. Fast-paced,tightly edited and entertaining, Affleck demonstrates animpressive amount of skill as both the lead in the filmand the director. Tune in for Argo, on-board now.2 jetstar.com