The first official poster for Ben Affleck’s thriller Argo has finally been released.
The film opens next month and is already receiving heaps of praise – including Oscar buzz – following its appearances at both Telluride and Toronto Film Festivals earlier this month.
Based on true events, Argo chronicles the life-or-death covert operation to rescue six Americans, which unfolded behind the scenes of the Iran hostage crisis — the truth of which was unknown by the public for decades.
On November 4, 1979, as the Iranian revolution reaches its boiling point, militants storm the U.S. embassy in Tehran, taking 52 Americans hostage. But, in the midst of the chaos, six Americans manage to slip away and find refuge in the home of the Canadian ambassador. Knowing it is only a matter of time before the six are found out and likely killed, a CIA “exfiltration” specialist named Tony Mendez (Affleck) comes up with a risky plan to get them safely out of the country. A plan so incredible, it could only happen in the movies.
Take a look at the poster below.
Directed by Ben Affleck, the film features an impressive ensemble cast including the likes of Affleck, Alan Arkin (Little Miss Sunshine), John Goodman (The Big Lebowski), Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), Scoot McNairy (Monsters), Tate Donovan (Shooter), Taylor Schilling (The Lucky One), Richard Kind (A Serious Man), Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights), Clea Duvall (The Faculty), Rory Cochrane (Public Enemies), Christopher Denham (Shutter Island), Victor Garber (The Titanic), Zeljko Ivanek (In Bruges), Chris Messina (Vicky Cristina Barcelona), Michael Parks (Red State), Bob Gunton (The Shawshank Redemption) and Philip Baker Hall (50/50).
The film has received stellar reviews out of both Telluride and Toronto, causing most pundits to peg the film as a serious Oscar contender. In fact, Roger Ebert claimed the film already has the Best Picture Oscar in the bag. While that is most likely premature, it only adds to the film’s heat as we go further into Oscar season.
Warner Bros. will release the film October 12.