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Argo Blu-ray Disc Review $35.99

Argo Blu-ray Disc Review

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  • THE FILM
  • VIDEO
  • AUDIO
  • EXTRAS

ARGO
(2012, Blu-ray released February 19, 2013 – MSRP $35.99)

THE FILM:

    Based on real events, the dramatic thriller “Argo” chronicles the life-or-death covert operation to rescue six Americans, which unfolded behind the scenes of the Iran hostage crisis, focusing on the little-known role that the CIA and Hollywood played – information that was not declassified until many years after the event. On November 4, 1979, as the Iranian revolution reaches its boiling point, militants storm the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, taking 52 Americans hostage. But, in the midst of the chaos, six Americans manage to slip away and find refuge in the home of Canadian Ambassador Ken Taylor. Knowing it is only a matter of time before the six are found out and likely killed, the Canadian and American governments ask the CIA to intervene. The CIA turns to their top “exfiltration” specialist, Tony Mendez, to come up with a plan to get the six Americans safely out of the country. A plan so incredible, it could only happen in the movies.

WHO SHOULD BUY:

I didn’t ever really care to see Ben Affleck on screen. But that was before The Town. And now, with Argo in his back pocket, this man can seemingly do no wrong in my eyes. Argo is such tight, well written, well crafted drama, filled with history and character and, if you can believe it, fun, that damn near anyone can enjoy it.

In the hands of most filmmakers, the extraction of Americans from Iran during the hostage crisis of 1979 would be a dry, tense affair. Affleck keeps it tense, yes, but relishes in the notion that the plot to get the people to safety hinges on Hollywood hucksters and comic book art. And so the audience relishes it. And everyone wins. Performances are across the board excellent but it’s the score and the period production design and fashions that really sell the world of the film. Team Affleck gets it all so right, so close to the way things were back in the day, that the newly filmed material blends perfectly with actual news footage from the crisis. It’s tough to punch any holes in Argo. This might very well be the best film of 2012.

THE BLU-RAY DISC:

It’s also tough to punch holes in the Blu-ray presentation of the film. Argo looks incredible in 1080p, suffering only from the look that Affleck is shooting for – a worn, washed out image the likes of which you’d see in a film from the ’70s. The commitment to authenticity here is so strong that the film even opens with the ’70s era Warner logo. Gotta love that. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 feels more modern, though, with the type of deep punchy bass and clarity of mids and highs you’ll only find in modern film sound tracks. This is a fantastic, dynamic and immersive audio experience.

Warner seems to have gone all out with the Argo Blu-ray disc, going so far as to even involve the original participants of the exercise, including former president Jimmy Carter! If the collection of featurettes and interviews doesn’t float your boat, the incredible feature-length picture-in-picture track and director’s commentary should get the job done. The disc also features the 47-minute long 2005 television doc “Escape from Iran: The Hollywood Option“.

Highly recommended!

SPECIAL FEATURES:

  • Feature Length Picture in Picture: Eye Witness Account
  • Commentary with director Ben Affleck and writer Chris Terrio
  • Rescued from Tehran: We Were There
  • Argo: Absolute Authenticity
  • ARGO: The CIA & Hollywood Connection – Escape From Iran: The Hollywood Option


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