Argo - 2012 - 3 Stars

Actors:  Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston
Director:  Ben Affleck

Argo is a film that accomplishes most all of what it sets out to do.  It has a compelling story, a solid script, and capable direction.  So why don't I like it more?  I suppose it's because it takes very few chances with its story or direction.  It's easy to call what happens in Argo cliche, but much of it is likely true-to-life; movies have contorted our grasp of common humanity - we're all trite when put into life-threatening circumstances.

Argo does have problems with tone - it doesn't trust its peripheral characters to be interesting, so it loads them up with pithy one-liners.  Every character, in addition to being good at their job, is apparently auditioning to be a guest on Pardon My Zinger.  The constant pith becomes distracting, but thankfully it subsides as the film reaches its final act.