Best Picture

The film I decided to watch for Best Picture was Argo. It is about the troubles and efforts of rescuing 6 American hostages from Iran. The plan, created by CIA Tony Mendez, to get these people out of Iran was risky and consisted of the production of a fake movie. This film is based on true events. 

Though a serious and dangerous movie plot, the mood would be subtly lightened with small comedic lines. When first pitching the idea of the movie production as a cover to save the 6 Americans, Mendez was asked if there were any other better bad ideas and he stated that that was the best bad idea they had. Although it is a situation of life or death, when this was said, the mood was lightened because they were referring to the solution as a bad idea. Another spoken line that lightened the mood was when Mendez said that the only thing between their heads and a gun was his story. It was a bit harsh, but its funny how its a story that could save their lives. The fake movie is their only hope of escaping. 

I feel that the film was composed well, beginning with a montage with storyboard pictures of the movie as well as clips as the narrator explains the history part of the film setting the stage for the actual film. Certain techniques they used to transition from one scene to another were quite clever. One that really stood out was  when they were having the script reading for the press and the camera follows the waiter and the waiter passes a t.v. showing what is happening in Iran and the scene transitions to Iran. Another thing I thought really helped with the feeling of the movie was the camera movement. The shakiness of the camera gives the feeling that they are not standing on stable ground and with any wrong step they take, it could all go down. For this is why I Argo will take home the award for Best Picture.