Tehran, 1979. The air crackles with revolution as crowds surge, chanting slogans that echo through the ancient streets. Inside the U.S. embassy, chaos erupts. As the building is stormed, six Americans slip away, finding refuge in the home of Canadian Ambassador Ken Taylor. But their sanctuary is fragile, their presence a ticking time bomb. In Langley, Virginia, CIA exfiltration expert Tony Mendez, played by Ben Affleck, is summoned to devise a plan, any plan, to extract them. Jack O’Donnell, Mendez’s superior, emphasizes the dire stakes: capture means certain death. Partnering with Hollywood makeup artist John Chambers and the cynical producer Lester Siegel, Mendez crafts an audacious scheme: a fake film production, a cover story so outlandish it just might work. The clock is ticking, and failure is not an option, not for Mendez, not for the six lives hanging precariously in the balance.
Movie Overview
| Title | Argo |
|---|---|
| Release Date | 2012-10-11 |
| Runtime | 120 minutes |
| Genre | Drama, Thriller |
Movie Cast
| Name | Character |
|---|---|
| Ben Affleck | Tony Mendez |
| Bryan Cranston | Jack O’Donnell |
| Alan Arkin | Lester Siegel |
| John Goodman | John Chambers |
| Victor Garber | Ken Taylor |
| Tate Donovan | Bob Anders |
| Clea DuVall | Cora Lijek |
| Scoot McNairy | Joe Stafford |
| Rory Cochrane | Lee Schatz |
| Christopher Denham | Mark Lijek |
| Kerry Bishé | Kathy Stafford |
| Kyle Chandler | Hamilton Jordan |
| Chris Messina | Malinov |
| Zeljko Ivanek | Robert Pender |
| Titus Welliver | Bates |
| Keith Szarabajka | Adam Engell |
| Bob Gunton | Cyrus Vance |
| Richard Kind | Max Klein |
| Richard Dillane | OSS Officer Nicholls |
| Omid Abtahi | Reza Borhani |
| Page Leong | Pat Taylor |
| Farshad Farahat | Azizi Checkpoint #3 |
| Sheila Vand | Sahar |
| Karina Logue | Elizabeth Ann Swift |
| Ryan Ahern | Sgt. Sickmann |
| Bill Tangradi | Alan B. Golacinski |
| Jamie McShane | William J. Daugherty |
| Matthew Glave | Col. Charles W. Scott |
| Roberto Garcia | Sgt. William Gallegos |
| Christopher Stanley | Thomas L. Ahern, Jr. |
| Jon Woodward Kirby | Fred Kupke |
| Alborz Basiratmand | Student with Poster |
| Ruty Rutenberg | Marine #1 |
| Michael Woolston | Marine #2 |
| Sharareh Sedghi | Lady with Radio |
| Bobby Zegar | Tear Gas Student |
| Victor McCay | Malick |
| Matt Nolan | Peter Genco |
| J.R. Cacia | Brice |
| Bill Kalmenson | Hal Saunders |
| Rob Brownstein | Landon Butler |
| David Sullivan | Jon Titterton |
| Jean Carol | Jordan’s Secretary |
| Michael Cassidy | Jordan’s Analyst |
| John Boyd | Lamont |
| Yuriy Sardarov | Rossi |
| Nikka Far | Tehran Mary |
| Aidan Sussman | Ian Mendez |
| Barry Livingston | David Marmor |
| Ali Saam | Ali Khalkhali |
| Araz Vahid Ebrahim Nia | Moradi |
| Scott Anthony Leet | The Minotaur |
| Ashley Wood | Space Lab Nurse |
| Rob Tepper | Film Director |
| Ray Porter | First A.D. |
| Stephen J. Lattanzi | PA |
| Danielle Barbosa | Lester’s Housekeeper |
| Michael Parks | Jack Kirby |
| Eric Scott Cooper | Publicist |
| Adrienne Barbeau | Nina / Serksi the Gallactic Witch |
| Tom Lenk | Variety Reporter |
| Nelson Franklin | LA Times Reporter |
| Kelly Curran | Princess Aleppa |
| Mark Rhino Smith | Evil Villain |
| Scott Elrod | Achilles Crux |
| Bill Blair | Humanoid Robot |
| Daston Kalili | Green Jacket |
| Joseph S. Griffo | Nestor the Android |
| Andrew Varenhorst | Blue Monster |
| Amitis Frances Ariano | Persian Dancer |
| Ali Fiori | Sci Fi Body Suit Girl |
| Taies Farzan | Middle Class Iranian Woman |
| Florans Atlantis | Middle Class Iranian Man |
| Rafi Pitts | Iranian Consulate Official |
| Allegra Carpenter | British Airways Flight Attendant |
| Bobby Naderi | Airport Husband |
| Ray Haratian | Immigration Officer |
| Mehrdad Sarlak | Immigration Officer |
| Soheil Tasbihchi | Immigration Officer |
| Hovik Gharibian | Immigration Officer |
| Dorianne Pahlavan | Airport Hysterical Wife |
| Houshang Touzie | Deputy Minister of Islamic Guidance |
| Peter Henry Schroeder | Producer |
| Ali Farkhonde | Tehran Car Rental Man |
| Sahm McGlynn | Bearded Fundamentalist in Bazaar |
| Muhammed Cangören | Bazaar Shopkeeper |
| Asghar Allah Veirdi Zadeh | Bazaar Angry Man |
| Leyla Beysulen | Angry Woman |
| Lindsey Ginter | Hedley Donovan |
| Tim Quill | Alan Sosa |
| Larry Sullivan | Engell’s Secretary |
| Danilo Di Julio | Sgt. Gauthier |
| Fanshen Cox | White House Operator |
| Tehmina Sunny | Swissair Ticketing Agent |
| Amir K | Passport Official |
| Baris Deli | Carpet Factory Komiteh |
| Cas Anvar | Revolutionary Guard |
| Bahram Khosraviani | Revolutionary Guard |
| Sam Sheikholeslami | Revolutionary Guard |
| Saba Sarem | Revolutionary Guard |
| Puya Abbassi | Revolutionary Guard |
| Reza Mir | Komiteh Reza |
| Jozef Fahey | Lock Up PA |
| Annie Little | Swissair Gate Agent |
| Fahim Fazli | Komiteh Subordinate |
| Brandon Tabassi | Young Komiteh at Airport |
| John Hans Tester | Swissair Pilot |
| Alex Schemmer | Swissair Co-Pilot |
| Yan Feldman | Air Traffic Controller |
| Nancy Stelle | Swissair Flight Attendant |
| Maz Siam | Iraqi Border Guard |
| Ken Edling | Assistant Secretary of State |
| Deborah Deimel Bean | State Department Official |
| Michael Chieffo | CIA Archives Officer |
| Taylor Schilling | Christine Mendez |
| Philip Baker Hall | CIA Director Stansfield Turner (uncredited) |
| Eli Jane | Swissair Stewardess (uncredited) |
| Lucas N. Hall | Protestor (uncredited) |
Storyline
In the throes of the Iranian revolution, with tensions escalating and anti-American sentiment at its peak, six American diplomats find themselves trapped inside the Canadian ambassador Ken Taylor’s residence in Tehran, fearing for their lives as the US embassy is stormed. Far from rescue, CIA exfiltration expert Tony Mendez, haunted by past failures and fueled by a desperate need to redeem himself, is tasked with the seemingly impossible mission of extracting them. After discarding numerous dangerous options, Mendez, with the help of Hollywood makeup artist John Chambers and seasoned producer Lester Siegel, concocts an audacious plan: to create a fake Canadian film production scouting for locations in Iran, providing the six diplomats with Canadian identities and a credible cover for escape. As Mendez navigates the treacherous streets of Tehran, facing suspicion and relentless scrutiny from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, the pressure mounts, and the line between reality and the elaborate fabrication blurs. The success of the mission hinges not only on Mendez’s cunning and the diplomats’ ability to convincingly play their roles but also on the unwavering support of Taylor and Jack O’Donnell back in Langley, who fight bureaucratic obstacles to secure the mission’s approval. With time running out and the risk of exposure growing with each passing moment, Mendez and the six Americans must make their daring escape, facing a harrowing journey through the airport, the last hurdle separating them from freedom, where the slightest slip could mean capture and certain death, leaving audiences breathless until the very last second of their departure.
Details
In the throes of the 1979 Iranian Revolution, “Argo” plunges into a tense and perilous mission to rescue six American diplomats who have sought refuge within the Canadian ambassador’s residence in Tehran. As the streets erupt in protests and the U.S. embassy is stormed, CIA exfiltration expert Tony Mendez, portrayed by Ben Affleck, is tasked with devising a plan to extract the stranded Americans. With time running out and the risk of discovery escalating, Mendez crafts an audacious scheme: to create a fake Hollywood film production, scouting for a science fiction movie titled “Argo,” as a cover to smuggle the diplomats out of the country. Seeking assistance from veteran Hollywood makeup artist John Chambers, played by John Goodman, and the cynical but resourceful producer Lester Siegel, portrayed by Alan Arkin, Mendez navigates the treacherous landscape of both Hollywood illusion and Iranian political turmoil. Back in Washington, CIA operative Jack O’Donnell, acted by Bryan Cranston, works tirelessly to secure the necessary approvals and resources, battling bureaucratic hurdles and political sensitivities. As the plan unfolds, the six Americans, including Bob Anders, played by Tate Donovan, must embrace their roles as Canadian filmmakers, navigating checkpoints, evading suspicion, and enduring heart-stopping moments that test their courage and resolve. “Argo” weaves a gripping narrative of espionage, political intrigue, and the power of ingenuity against seemingly insurmountable odds, exploring themes of national pride, personal sacrifice, and the blurred lines between reality and deception in a high-stakes international crisis.
FAQs
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What is Argo about?
Argo is a thriller-drama about a CIA specialist who creates a risky plan to rescue six Americans hiding in the Canadian ambassador’s home during the Iranian revolution.
Who directed Argo?
Ben Affleck directed Argo.
Who stars in Argo?
Argo stars Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, and John Goodman.
What genres does Argo belong to?
Argo is classified as a Drama and Thriller.
When was Argo released?
Argo was released on October 11, 2012.
What is the runtime of Argo?
The runtime of Argo is 120 minutes.
What was the budget for Argo?
The budget for Argo was 44,500,000.
What was the revenue generated by Argo?
Argo generated a revenue of 232,300,000.
What is the tagline for Argo?
The tagline for Argo is “The movie was fake. The mission was real.”
Is Argo based on a true story?
Argo is based on the true story of the “Canadian Caper,” a daring CIA operation.
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