This is such a tense movie. Even though I knew how it turned out in real history, I was on the proverbial edge of my seat the whole time. It's 1980, Iran Hostage Crisis time and 6 US embassy employees get out of the complex during the riots and take shelter in the Canadian embassy. The revolution is not honoring any of the niceties of diplomatic behavior, so these people are at greater risk than the hostages. The CIA is full of BS ideas on how to save them (e.g., let them ride 500 miles out of the county in winter on bikes) and knows it's really up sh*t creek since they have NO control over what is happening in Iran and nobody inside that they can trust.
Enter Tony Mendez, an "exfiltration" specialist. He conjures up a fake sci-fi movie project, to be filmed in Iran, and used as a cover to get the hiding people out. With costumes, stateside publicity about the fake movie and pure courage, he goes to Iran to save the people.
This movie is very tense, very satisfying in a righteous, patriotic sort of way and very well written and directed. Ben Affleck directs and stars. He's a deadpan character, not much of an acting challenge. Most of the rest of the cast (except for Bryan Cranston and the delightfully profane Alan Arkin) are no-name, but they are quite good at seeming NOT like actors.
The history isn't quite right in its details, but it's good enough to fit into a 2 hour movie. In light of all the bad publicity about CIA failures, this operation is a real high point. The film is tightly directed, completely on-target for the story it tells and really invests itself in an authentic period look, both for the Americans and the Iranian revolutionaries.
If you're in the mood for a heart palpitating political drama, with just the right amount of black-comic relief, this is the movie for you. I really liked it.
