Hey, didn’t old ex-governor Schwarzenegger say we can use Hollywood to solve some of our government problems? You know, he spewed that nonsense at his new think tank at USC. Well, if you believe this movie, it looks like he was exactly right.

         Just about everyone remembers or is aware of the US hostages taken from the Iranian embassy in 1979 and held for over a year. But do you remember the six who escaped the mob and got sanctuary at the Canadian embassy and eventually, the home of the Canadian ambassador to Iran?

         This is their story – I guess. Ben Affleck directs and stars in this film which is “based on a true story”. If it seems I have some doubts, I don’t, but I can tell some events in the movie were “jazzed up” for that Hollywood effect.

         Ben plays the part of Tony Mendez, a CIA agent who specializes in getting people out of places they really, really need to leave. He meets up with his direct boss, played by Bryan Cranston and they head over to the State Department to brainstorm about how to get the six out of Iran.

        This is easily where the movie is strongest- the careful attention paid to government officials trying to solve a problem. I love the ideas floated – especially one about the group just bicycling out. Tony pitches the Hollywood idea – let’s fly in under the phony pretense of filming a movie in Iran and smuggle the six out as part of the film crew. The bad script chosen is called “Argo”, a poor man’s “Star Wars”. The key is the need for desert “moonscapes” to simulate another planet and Iranian officials just might go for it.

         The two guys who get the most fun parts here are John Goodman and Alan Arkin as the Hollywood insiders tapped to sell this scam. Goodman is a make-up specialist and Arkin an aging producer, and once they go all in, the plan is a go. Well, except some in our government still have their doubts. It is a weird idea.

         Oh, and some of the hiding embassy staff have their doubts too – but that is understandable. They might figure you wait it out and take your chances, but it appears the rebels now in charge of the government have figured out some of the employees escaped, so maybe you go when you get the chance.

         As a tense drama with a crazy pretense, “Argo” is a winner. Plus, the late 70’s look and style is all there, complete with archived TV footage of the reporting (remember “Nightline” every night on this with Ted Koppel?). This is a one of a kind story, even if details have been amped up to please the crowd.

        However, they over did it. Here goes- while it’s okay to have one guy among the six who argues the plan with Tony, but then he just happens to be the one that saves them all, to the narrow, and I mean narrow, final escape. Yes, it’s eye rolling and over the top. Plus, when it looks like the movie’s over, well, sit tight. There are enough victory laps taken to fill another movie. Given all that, maybe I’m the only one bothered by the overdone sentimental stuff – I still give “Argo” a solid “8”. It’s a crowd pleaser, but “Best Picture”?