8 | / 10 |
Users | 4.1 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.3 |
As the Iranian revolution reaches a boiling point, a CIA agent concocts a plan to free Americans who have found shelter at the home of the Canadian ambassador.
Starring: Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, John Goodman, Victor GarberPeriod | 100% |
Biography | 76% |
History | 71% |
Drama | 64% |
Thriller | 30% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
Portuguese: Dolby Digital 5.1
Mandarin: Dolby Digital 5.1
Thai: Dolby Digital 5.1
English SDH, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Cantonese, Korean, Mandarin (Simplified), Mandarin (Traditional), Thai
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
UV digital copy
DVD copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
Argo and filmmaker Ben Affleck are on the march. The 2013 Golden Globes: Argo, Best Motion Picture Drama, Affleck, Best Director. The 2013 BAFTA Awards: Argo, Best Film, Affleck, Best Director. Producers Guild of America Awards: Affleck, Outstanding Producer of a Motion Picture. Directors Guild of America Awards: Affleck, Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a Feature Film. Screen Actors Guild Awards: Argo and Affleck, Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble. Critics' Choice Awards: Affleck, Best Director. AFI Film Awards: Argo, Movie of the Year. Onwards and upwards. Argo and Affleck's ultimate destination? The 2013 Academy Awards. The problem? While the film received a Best Picture nomination, and now looks to be a much more serious contender than once projected, Affleck didn't earn a Best Director nod, and rarely do the two awards part company. The signs are aligning, though, and they all point to Argo taking home Best Picture, meaning Affleck's missing nomination is set to become one of the biggest Oscar oversights in recent memory.
But none of that really matters, does it? Awards are an honor, as most anyone in Hollywood will attest, but they're nothing more than a validation, and a subjective industry validation at that. The real question is: does Argo and, by extension, Affleck deserve such accolades and acclaim? The answer: absolutely. Not only has Affleck proved himself a legitimate filmmaking force to be reckoned with -- yet again -- Argo is a tense, expertly crafted, masterfully acted adaptation of a harrowing true story. Some have dismissed it as too slow. Others have called it overrated. I call it deserving; deserving of every nomination, award and ounce of praise it receives. I wouldn't go so far as to call it the undisputed best picture of the year, but it certainly ranks among the best.
Argo features a faithful, notably filmic 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer with very little to criticize. There's some ringing to be found, sure, but nothing too severe. And the archive footage peppered throughout the film often amounts to a standard definition eyesore; forgivable considering any and every anomaly traces back to various late '70s, early '80s video sources. Which leaves us with an altogether sound, albeit purposefully subdued presentation, backed by striking desaturated colors, relatively lifelike skintones, smoky but satisfying black levels and finely tuned contrast. Grain is intact as well, without anything in the way of unevenness or errant noise, and detail is quite strong. Edges are nicely defined, textures are natural and reasonably well-resolved (even in intentionally aged or distressed shots that exhibit a fair bit of softness), and delineation is spot on. There also isn't any significant artifacting, banding, aliasing or crush on display, meaning Argo's Blu-ray debut falls perfectly in line with its theatrical presentation.
Warner's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track is more involving than I anticipated, and quite a bit more aggressive. LFE output brings weight and intensity to scenes that benefit greatly from both -- enraged crowds surge, violence erupts, tear gas canisters launch with heavy thooms, gunshots thunder, angry hands pound against passing vans, security personnel give chase and airplane engines roar to life -- and every low-end effect is bolstered by raw power and presence. The rear speakers do their part too, immersing the listener in those enraged crowds, cramped vehicles and escaping planes with pinpoint directional effects, convincing pans and a fully enveloping soundfield. Despite the prevailing chaos, though, dialogue remains clean, clear and diligently prioritized at all times, without a lost or buried line of any importance. Alexandre Desplat's score rounds out the soundscape, and is privy to the same meticulous prioritization and implementation as every other element, coming together to create a lossless experience that further blurs the line between fiction and reality.
Argo has some stiff competition for Best Picture at the 2013 Academy Awards, but numerous wins at the Golden Globes, BAFTA, DGA, PGA and SGA Awards (among others), all seem to point to an Oscar. Overlooked for a Best Director nod, Affleck -- the once B-grade actor turned fully fledged star and filmmaker -- will have to settle for a producer's statue, though, as well as the knowledge that, regardless of accolades or awards, Argo has been widely and rightfully hailed as one of the best movies of 2012. Thankfully, Warner's Blu-ray release is befitting a film of Argo's caliber. With an utterly faithful video transfer, an absorbing DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track and a generous selection of extras (including an audio commentary, three featurettes, a documentary and a Picture in Picture track featuring President Jimmy Carter and the Hostage Crisis houseguests themselves), Argo is a must-own for any filmfan, curious cinephile or Awards completist alike.
2012
Movie Only Edition
2012
Exclusive Bonus Content on Disc
2012
2012
Declassified Extended Edition | Photo Book | Poster | ID Badge | Map
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