Argo

Ben Affleck directs and stars in this based-on-a-true-story drama about a mad CIA plot to rescue six embassy workers from revolution-torn Iran, circa 1980. The idea was to sneak them out while pretending to be the crew from a high-budget science fiction film seeking to shoot in Tehran. Affleck gets the period details pitch perfect and spins the whole thing as a dry-mouthed, wet-palmed thriller. There are hints of Aaron Sorkin's patented walk-and-talk style dialogue, and the tension mounts to almost ridiculously high levels, but a firm directorial hand and a sly sense of humor keep things grounded. 120 minutes