Argo

Argo recreates the true story of a CIA rescue mission that sounds like something only Hollywood could come up with. As we soon find out, there's a reason for that.

Director Ben Affleck recreates the historical events with clear attention to detail and non-flashy casting. A montage of photos during the closing credits shows us how much the actors looked like their subjects (which was really just the filmmakers showing off). But I didn’t mind; for the previous two hours I felt like I dropped right into 1979.

And Affeck’s throwback approach is crafted like the smart, tense, heart-stopping films of that time period too. It would sit nicely on a shelf with All The President’s Men. 

Simply put: Hold on tight for one of the best movies of 2012.

Award potential: Hollywood saves the world? Oscar is gonna love this. Nominations and some wins for Best Picture, Best Director, Supporting Actor (Alan Arkin), Original Screenplay and other technical awards. Affleck will surely be nominated for Director, but it’s unlikely he will be recognized in the acting category.

The ten buck review: Worth ten bucks.