Speaking of the 70s

[Guinevere]

We saw Argo last night, finally. Great movie, enjoyed every second of if. Like Zero Dark Thirty, you know the outcome but are wracked with tension anyway. The humor in the movie is also well done and funny. The editing is spot on (same editor for Argo and ZDT), and the soundtrack/score added the right notes.

Ben Affleck absolutely deserves recognition for this work, and I think it's become my personal front runner for the Best Picture nod (although I have not managed to see Lincoln yet). I also loved Affleck's look in the film. He wears the 70s well, for a man not born until 1972. I tried to convince the Swede last summer more sideburns would look good on him (aka Bradley Wiggins), and I'm going to renew my efforts after seeing this film.

I was not yet a teenager when this all went down, and I remember the hostage crisis and the release very well, but I don't recall the events surrounding these six at all, so I also enjoyed learning about them.

[Scooter]

The movie is almost complete fiction. It is a slap in the face to Ken Taylor, the then Canadian ambassador to Iran, and the other Canadian embassy staff who were risking their lives to give refuge to the six Americans and then to get them out of the country. The role of the CIA in the affair was overblown beyond belief. So they came up with the idea to use a movie production as a front for the escape, so what? There were a dozen other scenarios that could have been carried out credibly, it's not as if the choice of cover had any real effect on the outcome. Tony Mendez was in iran exactly a day and a half. And in the original end credits, which were changed after a public outcry, they had the unmitigated gall to suggest that Taylor's role had been exaggerated at the time, and that he didn't really deserve the honours he received from the U.S. government afterwards. Of course, he was not even extended the courtesy of being used as a consultant during the making of the film, which makes perfect sense, since they were producing a work of fiction and couldn't have cared less what actually happened.

In short, it's U-571 set in Iran, another disgusting display of Americans' jingoistic belief in their own superiority, who god forbid would ever need the assistance of one of its closest allies, and made at the expense of the real heroes of the affair. And, of course, because it says so in a Hollywood movie, this is the version of history that future generations will come to believe.

Enjoy it as a well made film, by all means. But don't pretend that it bears any relationship to the truth.

eta - one of the responsibilities taken on by the CIA was the production of forged Iranian visas. An error was made in the dating due to ignorance of the Iranian calendar, which would have had the six departing Iran before they arrived. The visas would have been spotted as forgeries in an instant had the error not been noticed by, of course, a Canadian embassy officer. Of course that story could not be told in the film; otherwise it would have been the story of how Tony Mendez almost got six Americans killed if a Canadian hadn't been there to pull his ass out of the fire.

[Guinevere]

UNtwist your panties, Scooter, it was a movie, and a damned good one. I got no sense of insult to the Canadians. And I looked up the facts after I saw the movie -- something I routinely do. Can you name me a single movie that actually is definitively historically accurate? Of course not, because its about entertainment (and not insults, sheesh).

If the Canadians want to flim the "true story" of what happened, go ahead and film it, I'm it could be a very good movie as well.

[Sean]

I can see where Scoot's coming from Guin. American filmmakers do not like to give credit to non-Americans when they can twist the facts to make Americans the heroes. It's got bugger all to do with definitive historical accuracy and everything to do with thie ridiculous belief that American audiences will only accept a hero if he too is American and that the movie will not be financially viable without said hero..

And yes, it is very insulting (whether intentionally or not) to the people whose roles in history are ignored, played down or rewritten for an American character. If it is just for entertainment then a disclaimer should be shown right at the start stating clearly that the facts have been distorted to satisfy the flag-waving, chest-thumping elements. If it is presented as a true story then they should tell the true story.

[Scooter]

If it is just for entertainment then a disclaimer should be shown right at the start stating clearly that the facts have been distorted to satisfy the flag-waving, chest-thumping elements

And the producer should not go on the talk show circuit repeating "This is a true story, this actually happened" as Affleck has gone around doing. Nor should a postscript be displayed at the end of the movie stating that the distortion had occurred in how the events had been reported in real life, which is what Affleck did until protests forced him to change it to the begrudging acknowledgement of Canadian involvement it was replaced with in general release.

I have to wonder if the Brits made a movie claiming that they had won the Battle of Guadalcanal, or even better, had managed to suppress the American Revolution, whether most Americans would be sitting back saying "relax, it's just a movie", or whether there would be howls of protest heard from Anchorage to Miami. Of course, no one will ever know the answer to that question, because no filmmaker except an American would see that as acceptable.

It would be interesting to hear what the six rescued Americans thought of Affleck's version of the events. I find it difficult to believe that no one sought them out to ask them, so the only conclusion I can draw is that no U.S. news outlet would dare report their comments for fear of offending the American sense of superiority.

[Gob]

Well there was that British movie which portrayed the D-day landings as if there were only British forces at the beachead. What was it called again? "Saving Private Brian," that was the one.

[Lord Jim]

I can see where Scoot's coming from Guin. American filmmakers do not like to give credit to non-Americans when they can twist the facts to make Americans the heroes.

You mean like:



Where no Americans actually participated in the historical "Escape" having all been moved to another camp before it was launched?:

The film was to some extent a work of fiction, based on the real events but with compromises made for purposes of commercial appeal, serving as a vehicle for its box-office stars. While many of its characters were fictitious, most were amalgams of several real characters and many were based on real people. There were no escapes by motorcycle, or aircraft.

The screenwriters increased the importance of the roles of American POWs; the real escape was by British and Empire personnel, none being American.[1][2] While Americans in the POW camp initially helped build the tunnels and worked on the early escape plans, they were moved to their own compound seven months before the tunnels were completed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_ ... %28film%29

But it's still a classic flick....

[Scooter]

If the Canadians want to flim the "true story" of what happened, go ahead and film it, I'm it could be a very good movie as well.

Actually, someone already did, and didn't feel the need to exaggerate the role of any one person at the expense of all of the others who had a hand in the rescue, a lesson that Mr. Affleck might have learned had he not been intent on playing the golden boy hero in his own production.

[Gob]

Just watched the documentary on Escape from Iran. I just have to say how proud my brothers and myself are of what our Dad John Sheardown did for the American Hostages. He is the best Dad a daughter could ever have. I was up in Ottawa for the Canada awards and met a few of the hostages over the years. I have heard so many stories about the 3 months they all spent as house guests. Chris Wiggins played my Dad to a tee... Just wanted to say how much I enjoy seeing the movie when it comes on. I am very proud of my father he is a great man . Thankyou for allowing me to send this message. How proud I am of being Canadian .Sincerely Jacqueline Sheardown Hunter

i wonder how she feels about the new version?

[Guinevere]

Y'all need to take a big chill pill and ditch the huge chip on your shoulders. It's a Hollywood movie for chrissakes.

[rubato]

Y'all need to take a big chill pill and ditch the huge chip on your shoulders. It's a Hollywood movie for chrissakes.

You have to remember that the little countries get offended very easily when their occasional successes are not adequately praised, its like a women's studies class of 19th century history.


(heh heh heh heh)


yrs,
rubato

[Lord Jim]

Oh dear...

I find myself in agreement with rube....

Though I wouldn't have put it exactly that way....

ETA:

I suppose it's tough enough living in the shadow of a Super Power, without the additional indignity of feeling that you're not getting your props....

[Gob]

"Saving Private Brian," that was the one.

Every time I hear the title of that movie, it brings back the title of the prono version; "Shaving Ryan's Privates".

[Gob]

I suppose it's tough enough living in the shadow of a Super Power, without the additional indignity of feeling that you're not getting your props....

It's American kids I feel sorry for, it's like Santa and the tooth fairy all over again......

[rubato]

I suppose it's tough enough living in the shadow of a Super Power, without the additional indignity of feeling that you're not getting your props....

It's American kids I feel sorry for, it's like Santa and the tooth fairy all over again......

American kids have an even worse problem. They think they're special because of what someone else has done. The smart ones understand that we are born in obligation to those before us who sacrificed for us and paid for the world we were born into, but the stupid ones outnumber them and chant "We're number one We're number one" and think they can have the world their grandparents paid for, without paying taxes themselves.

yrs,
rubato

[Sean]

Y'all need to take a big chill pill and ditch the huge chip on your shoulders. It's a Hollywood movie for chrissakes.

Would anyone be interested in funding my film?

It's going to be an epic based on the true story of the American War of Independence where the magnanimous Sir William Howe decides to leave America to it's own devices as he is sick and tired of listening to George Washington act like a whiny little bitch. It will tell how the British Army crushed the revolution in a matter of hours but decided that America really wasn't worth the effort. I'm thinking Hugh Laurie for the role of Howe and Britney Spears as Washington but I'm open to suggestions for actors to play the hero Benedict Arnold...

[Lord Jim]

but I'm open to suggestions for actors to play the hero Benedict Arnold...

I'm thinking Adam Sandler....

[Guinevere]

History is written by the victors.

So some Brit said ...

[Lord Jim]

It's going to be an epic based on the true story of the American War of Independence where the magnanimous Sir William Howe decides to leave America to it's own devices as he is sick and tired of listening to George Washington act like a whiny little bitch. It will tell how the British Army crushed the revolution in a matter of hours but decided that America really wasn't worth the effort. I'm thinking Hugh Laurie for the role of Howe and Britney Spears as Washington but I'm open to suggestions for actors to play the hero Benedict Arnold...

Sean, I think your treatment has potential, but it lacks imagination...

I'd cast Dame Edna as George Washington....

[Guinevere]

Hahahahaha, Liam Neeson was just introduced at the Academy Awards as the "quintessential American hero." Laughing my ass off.