Ben Affleck is one of the more intelligent Hollywood star-directors out there - people like Kevin Smith would say that in the easy noughties but it didn't seem that way with all those bad films he made, but he's proved them wrong since. Still, he can't resist stealing Canadian glory in the interests of a Hollywood movie. The bravery and intelligence of their northern neighbours are played down - there's even a scene where the CIA whinge about the Canadians getting credit because it's a secret mission. Boo hoo. They're just annoyed because the Canadian Caper was one of the few things they didn't stuff up with the fall of the Shah.
Look, to be fair this movie doesn't hold back from criticism of the US foreign policy - their role in the 1952 coup, kicking out a democratically elected leader; the complete failure of the CIA to pick that the revolution was going to happen (it doesn't hold back on the craziness of Iranian extremists at the time). It's just annoying that having done that Affleck snubbed the Canadians, add a line swiping the British and New Zealand embassies not taking Americans, and depicts every Iranian character as a chanting/ranting idiot (except the guy who is the liaison for the film crew).
I do think Affleck was right playing up the thriller aspect - although when they go to Hollywood there's no way the movie can resist turning into farce, which is does, but it doesn't overwhelm the life and death stakes. Alan Arkin and John Goodman give good performances, even if Arkin's character is fictional and both characters speak in lines which sound like grabs for the trailer. Affleck gives a restrained, bearded performance - a little more charisma and believable tough guy-ness wouldn't have hurt in this role (which needed a young Tommy Lee Jones or Robert Duvall).
The characters of the American hostages are a debit. It's cute that the actors all look similar to their real counterparts but they lack individuality and sympathy - only Kerrie Bishe really stands out. (She was the only one I cared for anyway - the rest seemed to get buried underneath glasses and moustaches).
I am bagging this movie far more than I meant to. There is so much to enjoy - it's a great story, the opening attack sequence is brilliant, the Hollywood angle is fresh, I enjoyed the finale too even though I got the sense it was Hollywood hype, the period detail is an utter delight. It could have had about 15 minutes cut out (Affleck loves scenes of people arriving places) but compared to most Hollywood films these days this stands out like a beacon.
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