Argo (2012, dir. Ben Affleck) ****/****

Ben Affleck's Argo demonstrates that great suspense can be mustered from a story in which we already know what will happen in the end.  It tells the story of the Iranian hostage crisis of 1979 in which six American's are successfully taken out of Iran by posing as a Canadian film crew.  Everything about Argo is top-notch.  Affleck's direction, the period detail, the acting, the script all make it a great film and one of the best of the year.  Even though you know from historical accounts that the Americans made it out, the film so expertly portrays their escape that the viewer is left breathless.  A must-see.