Tony mendez, clandestine cia hero of ben afflecks argo. The script used was based on the 1967 roger zelazny science fiction novel lord of light, adapted and set on a planet with a middleeastern feel, to justify their desire to scout filming locations in iran. The true story behind ben afflecks globewinning film. Ethan coen first explained why the pair added the true story disclaimer to the film, saying, we wanted to make a movie just in the genre of a true story movie. The elaborate back story was based on a film named argo. Sep 14, 20 excanada pm says real iran hostage story is better than argo new documentary our man in tehran offers a very true look at the rescue of six us citizens during the 1979 crisis. Although this is based on a true story, its close enough to qualify for the trope. Sep 07, 2012 r eality gets a primping in ben afflecks version of the true story of tony mendez, a cia operative who helped a group of six american diplomats impersonate a canadian film. The coen brothers modern classic certainly has a plot that is stranger than.
At the request of the survivors, the names have been changed. The central element of the story sounds incredible but is in fact true. The events depicted in this film took place in minnesota in 1987. Jan 14, 20 ben afflecks film argo tells the bizarre story of how in 1980 the cia with canadian help sprang a group of americans from iran after they escaped a us embassy overrun by protestors. Because we say its based on a true story, rather than this is a true story, were allowed to take some dramatic license. It feels like an attempt to transpose the mix of thrills and prestige of a film like argo onto a different true story, a paintbynumbers approach thats far less compelling than drawing. On the 35th anniversary of the iran hostage crisis, the ciathrough its twitter accountfactchecked ben afflecks oscarwinning 2012 film. President jimmy carter provides his take on the movie version of the rescue of american hostages from iran in the ben affleck film argo. Argo is a 2012 american historical drama thriller film directed by ben affleck. In brooklyn, it is a true story a dumbo filmmaker is working on a documentary about the reallife events that inspired the ben affleck blockbuster argo a miraculous story about a science fiction script used by the cia in a ploy to rescue six americans in iran during the 1979 hostage crisis. Ben affleck is receiving wellearned praise for directing if. Nov 10, 2014 read how the argo mission really went. Dumbo directors documentary tells true story behind argo. Oct 04, 2016 fargo starts with text that says this is a true story, adding that the events of the film happened in minnesota in 1987.
Screenwriter chris terrio adapted the screenplay from the 1999 book by the u. Jul 14, 2017 the true story behind the new movie argo about how cia operatives posing as a hollywood production team rescued six americans hiding in iran during the 1979 embassy crisis. The true story behind the argo movie reveals that this never actually happened, nor did they ever venture into town to scout a location. The cia finally sets the record straight on the true story.
In a recent interview with the huffington post, the coen brothers set the record straight about whats real in fargo and what isnt. Find out which details of the 20 best picture winner were true, and which were hollywood fabrications. If this sounds like a bit of a farce, then you might be surprised to hear that its based on a true story. Argo is the title of the nonexistent film that extractor pretended to be producing. Based on a true story with elements of fictional emroidery. Feb 16, 20 the movie argo, up for seven oscars at this years academy awards, is based on the true story of the cia rescue of americans in tehran during the 1979 hostage crisis. A film that i can only describe as ben afflecks baby, argo is about the true story of the us embassy in tehran, iran being raided with 6 americans stuck in tehran as refugees, but its only a. Nov 07, 2014 the central intelligence agency wants to set the record straight on argo, the 2012 oscarwinning film about a daring rescue operation in iran based on the true story of the 1979 hostage crisis. Argo is a tense and surprisingly funny thriller, and although set more than 30 years ago, it deals with political tensions still relevant today. A postscript during the film s end titles citing the argo incident as a model of international cooperation makes much more sense when you keep those facts in mind. Afflecks direction and chris terrios script allows the film to smoothly shift from. The true story behind the new movie argo about how cia operatives posing as a hollywood production team rescued six americans hiding in iran during the 1979 embassy crisis. Argo movie true story meet the real tony mendez and the 6. Oct 15, 2012 a postscript during the film s end titles citing the argo incident as a model of international cooperation makes much more sense when you keep those facts in mind.
My top 250 movies based on true story 20002017 imdb. Argo claims to be a true story and while its widely regarded as one of the best pictures of the year, garnering multiple nominations and awards, the truth is its portrayal contains some. The cia finally sets the record straight on the true story behind argo quartz skip to navigation skip to content. Oct 10, 2012 based on a topsecret, toounbelievabletobetrue story that went largely unrevealed until the cia declassified some of its role in the caper in the late 1990s, argo recounts how the united. The true story behind ben afflecks globewinning film bbc. The argo true story reveals that the americans first attempted to walk to the british embassy compound that was 20 minutes away. Oct 12, 2012 argo s central, nutty storylinein which the cia establishes a fake movie production, complete with a full script and ads in variety and the hollywood reporter, in order to rescue six. Milos bikovic, petar strugar, nina jankovic, danina jeftic. Furthermore, the title card that preceded the action declared, the events depicted in this. Jan 14, 20 argo recreates the storming of the us embassy in tehran in november 1979. Notwithstanding this easy exit, the account written by cia agent antonio j.
These based on a true story movies might get a lot of praise for their more videos. The cia finally sets the record straight on the true story behind argo. Argo, the new movie from actordirector ben affleck, has mostly been getting ravesincluding a qualified but fairly strong endorsement from slates own. Instead, a man named roger lucy, who was housesitting with the four americans staying at the sheardowns home, volunteered to be the interrogator. Mar 01, 20 a movie cant be a true story if much of the content is fictionalised. The cia spent friday debunking the ben affleckdirected film on its twitter. Historic fiction in movies and historical accuracy. Based on the true story of the 1979 hostage crisis in tehran, argo. Based on real events, the dramatic thriller argo chronicles the lifeordeath covert operation to rescue six americans. May 31, 2015 the story behind the story of a film based on a true story can be just as fascinating as the true story itself, according to participants at todays produced by discussion on the complexities of. Was the housekeeper in the movie based on a real person. Ben afflecks film argo tells the bizarre story of how in 1980 the cia with canadian help sprang a group of americans. The movie argo, up for seven oscars at this years academy awards, is based on the true story of the cia rescue of americans in tehran during.
The true story behind operation argo to rescue americans. Argo s central, nutty storylinein which the cia establishes a fake movie production, complete with a full script and ads in variety and the hollywood reporter, in order to rescue six. Audiences will be waiting for an equivalent of that awful moment when the cunning. Central intelligence agency operative tony mendez, the master of disguise, and the 2007 wired article by joshuah bearman, the great escape. Argo movie true story meet the real tony mendez and the.
Apr 14, 2015 fargo made its tv debut in the same way as it did on cinema screens in 1996. Essentially not a true story the express tribune blog. Mendez who is played by ben affleck in the film still reads like le. Oct 18, 2012 in hollywood, its based on a true story. A story about serbian football team that decides to follow a dream that takes them on a journey to the first world football championship in montevideo, uruguay in 1930. How the cia used a fake scifi flick to rescue americans from tehran. Ben afflecks film argo tells the bizarre story of how in 1980 the cia with canadian help sprang a group of americans from iran after they escaped a us embassy overrun by protestors. For his direction of the critically acclaimed drama, affleck won a golden globe award, and the movies academy award for best picture. In 1996, we were led to believe the coen brothers breakthrough film, fargo, was a true story. Apr 23, 2014 yes, argo 2012 movie was based on a true story. A dream that allows them to become true stars and living legends. Drama from former classified information argo is a 2012 film classified under the genre of biography, drama, history according to. Excanada pm says real iran hostage story is better than argo.
How much of fargo is actually based on a true story. The movie argo, up for seven oscars at this years academy awards, is based on the true story of the cia rescue of americans in tehran during the 1979 hostage crisis. In reality, writerdirector duo joel and ethan coen loosely based the. Argo recreates the storming of the us embassy in tehran in november 1979. Nov 08, 2012 argo is partly based on a wired magazine article called the great escape, and that film is a potent influence. Moreover, it calls attention to how the film could have been something quite different. The coen brothers reveal fargo is based on a true story. The cia cooked up a plan to spirit the six out of the country on a scheduled.
Yes, but in researching the argo true story, we discovered that unlike what is shown in the film, tony mendez did not act as the interrogator. Argo, like beautiful mind, plays out as a clever mix of genre formulas. Mendez and the employees are forced to drive through a hostile crowd on their way to a production meeting with a government official. Argos central, nutty storylinein which the cia establishes a fake movie production, complete with a full script and ads in variety and the. When the opening segment of argo positions the film as authentic. The facts and fiction behind the ben affleck movie. Sheila vand left as sahar in the movie and the real maid named lolita right. Tony mendez is an ex filtration specialist who proposes that they pose as a canadian film crew scouting locations for a science fiction movie called argo. The opening minutes feel lifted from a documentary about the 1970s iranian revolution. Using hollywood connections, mendez creates a back story for the movie ads in variety, casting calls, inviting he media to a production launch and then heads off to iran to lead the six.