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3 comments
2 comments
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on 6/29/2013
Two cautionary tales about U.S. involvement in the Middle East based on a true story. Argo begins with what happens when the U.S. manipulates another nation's politics too much. Charlie Wilson ends with a hint of what is to come when the U.S. doesn't manipulate another nation's politics enough. Or something like that. Argo is so by the book that it becomes tedious. All the moments of humor, pathos and tension are placed just where they should be, to the point where I was expecting them to occur. Like that part at the end when the skeptical guy shakes Affleck's hand. And the whole thing with Affleck being away from his family felt tacked on. I wasn't feeling it. Charlie Wilson's War was much more colorful and vibrant. The humor and message bits had a free flowing easiness to them. That, and it was way sexier than Argo.
It's funny. I had the exact opposite reaction. Argo just struck me as a better film, one that was deserving of the Oscars it received. Affleck's direction was perfect, and the final result was simply powerful. While I liked Charlie Wilson's War, I got to see it before its release, and I was highly anticipating it. Although I enjoyed the final result, I found my expectations sinking throughout the film. While there were moments of true pleasure (The scene with Charlie and Gust being interrupted throughout was one that was worth the price of admission alone), it seemed that the film copped out at the end by not dealing with the consequences of Wilson's actions. The final quote was just not enough. Still, I liked it well enough, but I expected true greatness. Argo delivered that in spades, which gives Argo the easy victory.
on 6/30/2013
"...it seemed that the film copped out at the end by not dealing with the consequences of Wilson's actions. " Isn't that the whole point? That it need not deal with the consequences because *we* *are* living the *consequences*? Whatever. I don't much *care* about the *issues* the film captures in its frame (but I do appreciate that it is...substantive), I just like that the frame itself is a stylishly drawn collage of cynicism and wordcraft. It's like being hand delivered a semi-important postcard by Lais deLeon; the messenger is more appealing than the message.
on 2/3/2014
Two great stories of what it's really like behind the scenes of the government. While the 2 headliners in Charlie Wilson's War, Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts and Philip Seymour Hoffman are brilliant, Argo is the superior film
on 6/12/2014
Not a fan of WILSON acting was good but i didnt care about it while I really liked ARGO top 10 film of 2012 very good movie I dont love it either but i digged it after only one view.