Ben Affleck directed and stars in Argo, an tense and funny dramatic thriller that is especially interesting because it's based on fact... Naomi Rossdeutscher

Photo by: KEITH BERNSTEIN of BEN AFFLECK as Tony Mendez in "ARGO," a presentation of Warner Bros. Pictures in association with GK Films, to be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.I missed the screening in the cool cinema with excellent sound and picture and I had to make do with an inferior cinema where the sound was so shocking I text the management during the film and followed up with an email later - they still haven't responded - incredible. It's no wonder there was only three other people there. But even under these circumstances the film was excellent, if only I could have sat back and enjoyed the experience instead of leaning forward in an effort to hear the dialogue.

WHAT'S IS ABOUT?

In 1979, Tony Mendez, a CIA "exfiltration" specialist struggling with family issues, comes up with a crazy plan and risks his life to rescue six Americans hiding at the Canadian Ambassador's home, after militants stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and took 52 Americans hostage. The covert life-or-death operation was made public in 1997 when declassified by President Clinton.

Photo by Claire Folger. BEN AFFLECK as Tony Mendez and BRYAN CRANSTON as Jack O'Donnell in Warner Bros. Pictures' and GK Films' dramatic thriller "ARGO," a Warner Bros. Pictures release.The film hooked me as soon as I saw Affleck's character was the smart and compasionate guy in the room, willing to put his own life on the line. The script is cleverly written by screenplay by Chris Terrio. The building tension and carefully placed humour was a key factor for me - when the tension went into overdrive in the last quarter and sped to the finale with inter-cutting scenes between Washington, Hollywood and Tehran, I realised I was holding my breathe and almost laughed out loud in relief.

I loved the 70's styling, the cool sideburns, wide collared corduroy suits, bell bottom pants and the use of pattern and brown - what a mad creative time in fashion.

Photo by CLAIRE FOLGER. KERRY BISHÉ as Kathy Stafford, SCOOT McNAIRY as Joe Stafford, TATE DONOVAN as Bob Anders, RORY COCHRANE as Lee Schatz, CLEA DuVALL as Cora Lijek and CHRISTOPHER DENHAM as Mark Lijek in "ARGO," a presentation of Warner Bros. Pictures in association with GK Films, to be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.

The cast was fabulous and included John Goodman, playing John Chambers, the charismatic special effects makeup artist who created the apes in the Planet of the Apes films and Mr Spock's ears and secretly helped  the government when in crisis. It was also a delight to see Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) and Alan Arkin  playing a fictional producer based on an amalgam of real people.

Keep an eye out for Scoot McNairy, in the above photo he's second from the left, at the back. I remember him from the UK creature film MONSTERS. He's a really interesting actor.

"LAWLESS is rich with captivating performances and a sense of humour that balances out the seriously violent bits." ...Naomi Rossdeutscher

'Boardwalk Empire' has been fabulous for a while now, then there was 'Underbelly Razor,' soon we'll have Baz Luhrmann's version of 'The Great Gatsby' and recentlyI enjoyed 'Lawless' - the Prohibition era is really getting some heat and I wonder if that will help me get my Prohibition script produced? When researching the era there are things that beg to be in a script but the films are all varied and compelling in their own way. My script is full of music, mystery, romance and of course crime, you could say it's a dash of Gatsby, Boardwalk Empire and The Usual Suspects, but my lead character is a sassy female fighting for freedom and was inspired by Nina Simone's song 'I shall be released.' Maybe you'll get to see it soon... or maybe it will remain locked in the bottom drawer... we'll see.

LAWLESS

This American gangster story, based on the book "The Wettest County in the World" by Matt Bondurant, is a fictional account of his paternal grandfather Jack and grand-uncles Forrest and Howard's run for the American Dream during the Prohibition-era, in the mountains of Franklin County, Virginia.

In the beginning, the three bootlegging siblings, known as the infamous Bondurant brothers, are prospering until Franklin County's bootlegging is threatened by the arrival of a lethal and corrupt Special Deputy from Chicago (Guy Pearce), which leads to violent confrontations that escalate to a grand shootout, in true Western/Prohibition style.

There's violence and liquor, romance, comedy and beautiful cinematography. The on screen photography reminded me of a scene in another film of this genre, 'Bonnie and Clyde' and many archival photographs of the time.

Photo: Richard Foreman, Jr. SMPSP © 2012 The Weinstein Company. All Rights Reserved

An unusual choice of lovers for Robert Pattinson

"If you want something a little different and are willing to go with it, then this is the movie for you" ...Naomi

Robert Pattinson. Photo by Caitlin Cronenberg

Robert Pattinson plays Eric Packer, an uber wealthy, intuitive man of the world, who spends his days doing business in a limousine, drifting through city streets while staff, lovers and a doctor come and go as ordered. His day quickly spirals out of control when he loses massive sums of money and his life is threatened by an unknown source.