Actor director and star of the much acclaimed movie “Argo” Ben Affleck spoke after receiving top gongs for best picture and best actor categories at The Golden Globes. The film was the surprise hit of the evening but in this writer’s humble opinion was well deserving of recognition. Although the awards are usually seen as a reliable indicator for The Oscars, Argo is not considered to be the favourite.
There had been a suggestion that Iran is planning a movie of their own telling the story from the other side in regard to the 1979-81 hostage crisis on which “Argo” is based. Affleck described the news as a “badge of honour”.
"You have to understand, this is a sort of Stalinist regime in this place that is extremely repressive,"
"It's governing a nation full of millions of wonderful, amazing people, so to be part of this movie Argo that seems to have kids up and paying attention – so this Stalinist regime feels the need to sort of push back somehow, I think is a tremendous badge of honour."
Director Ataollah Salmanian told the Iranian news agency MNA that he was working on a movie which is to be called The General Staff, designed as an "appropriate response to the a historic film Argo".
The director said he hoped to secure funding from the Art Bureau wing of the Islamic Ideology Dissemination Organisation.
Affleck denied he was disappointed at his failure to pick up an Oscar nomination for best director. Argo remains in the running for best picture and has also been nominated in six other categories. He added:
"A few days ago, I woke up and the movie I directed and produced and starred in was nominated for an Academy Award as best picture," "If you can't be happy with that, your prospects for a life with happiness are very, very limited."
He added: "I would have been really disappointed if the movie hadn't been nominated. But it was, and I feel really happy and proud. This story you are talking about speaks to why, which is [that] the movie has had echoes out there in the world that are really profound. I think that's the most important thing."
Whatever the outcome of the Oscars it is fair to say that Affleck as a director is producing very credible work and he is maturing with every project. He deserves his moment in the sun.
Via The Guardian
