"Argo," October 12th (Warner Brothers):
Don't look now, but Ben Affleck is in danger of becoming a respectable filmmaker.
After writing, directing and starring in hit "The Town," Affleck directs and stars in "Argo," the unusual true story of how the U.S. government rescued six people during the Iran Hostage Crisis in 1979.
Though a combat rescue mission failed, the government secretly teamed with Hollywood to produce a fake movie, allowing them to pretend that a group of the hostages were actually film location scouts.
Alongside Affleck, who stars as the CIA agent behind the plan, "Argo" also has a really strong cast of character actors, including Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin and John Goodman.
Though Affleck has only directed fairly somber adult thrillers so far, "Argo" looks to be much closer to "Ocean's 13" than "Gone Baby Gone."
Even based on real events, the premise is so absurd it's hard to take seriously, and "Argo" promises a sense of humor as it tells the story of the CIA's creative hoax.
With another interesting story, Affleck seems to have found his niche, helping repel all those jokes about him letting Matt Damon do all the heavy lifting when writing Oscar winner "Good Will Hunting."
The trailer for "Argo" can be viewed at the movie's official site.
Box office potential:
Though Affleck's "Gone Baby Gone" put up modest box office numbers, his 2012 crime-thriller "The Town" was a big commercial hit.
Also with an R-rating, "Argo" will be looking to find a similar adult demographic, though it might be a tougher sell with much less action than "The Town."
Still, "Argo" should have a fairly small budget and it won't have to do too much at the box office to be considered a hit, particularly in the typically slow month of October.
Affleck is starting to earn a solid reputation as a filmmaker, which should help get "Argo" off the ground even if it has a fairly low ceiling.
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June 12, 2026 17:14 ET Major central bank action was the focus this week in economic news. The European Central Bank became the first major central bank to move in response to the rising inflationary pressures in the backdrop of the conflict in the Middle East. In North America, the U.S. inflation and trade data as well as Canada’s central bank decision gained attention. The Chinese trade data was the main news in Asia.