Canadian actor Victor Garber, left, playing Canadian Ambassador to Iran Key Taylor, greets Ben Affleck, who plays CIA operative Tony Mendez. Photo: handout.
Some critics said director Ben Affleck distorted Canada’s role in “Argo” story
The thriller “Argo” that features a story about Canadian efforts to rescue six American hostages from 1979 Iran won best picture from the Academy Awards – and the Oscar was presented by a surprise guest beamed in by video from the White House.
It’s the first best picture winner not to be nominated for best director since 1989′s “Driving Miss Daisy.” But despite the omission of director Ben Affleck – or perhaps buoyed by it – “Argo” emerged as the Oscar favourite, winning top honours from the directors, producers, screen actors and writers guilds.
Affleck and fellow producers George Clooney and Grant Heslov accepted the award Sunday night.
Among the other eight nominees, Steven Spielberg’s “Lincoln” was perceived as the biggest competition to “Argo.” The other nominees were “Life of Pi,” ”Silver Linings Playbook,“ ”Zero Dark Thirty,“ ”Les Miserables,“ ”Amour,“ ”Beasts of the Southern Wild“ and ”Django Unchained.”
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Michelle Obama made a surprise appearance at the Oscars opening the envelope that contained the name of the Best Picture winner, “Argo.”
Appearing via streaming video from the White House, Mrs. Obama said all of the nominees demonstrated that “we can overcome any obstacle.”
She said that message is “especially important for our young people” and thanked Hollywood for encouraging children “to open their imaginations.”
The first lady was introduced by Jack Nicholson, who noted that the Best Picture trophy is usually announced solo.
Mrs. Obama wore a silver, art deco-inspired gown by Indian-born American fashion designer Naeem Khan. It was the same dress she wore for the Obamas’ dinner with the nation’s governors at the White House Sunday night.
Ken Taylor, former Canadian ambassador to Iran, protected Americans at great personal risk during the 1979 Iran hostage crisis. Taylor kept the Americans hidden at his residence and the home of his deputy, John Sheardown, in Tehran and facilitated their escape by arranging plane tickets and persuading the Ottawa government to issue fake passports. He also agreed to go along with the CIA’s film production cover story to get the Americans out of Iran.
Affleck has been criticized for downplaying the Canadian role in rescuing the hostages. Former President Jimmy Carter has said that the Canadian government and diplomatic officials were responsible for 90 per cent of the strategy and execution of the plan.
Affleck thanked Canada in his acceptance speech, just days after Taylor suggested he do so.
Taylor had said it would be appropriate for Affleck to mention Canada’s role in the 1979 rescue of six U.S. embassy staffers that is depicted in “Argo.”
Flanked by co-producer George Clooney, Affleck threw kudos to his fellow nominees, especially “Lincoln” director Steven Spielberg and the real-life CIA agent who inspired his film.
“Tony Mendez, who let us do his story, thank you,” Affleck said after Michelle Obama announced the top prize.
“I thank everyone in the movie, on the movie, who worked on the movie, did anything with this movie,” Affleck continued, as the star-studded crowd chuckled.
“I want to thank Canada, I want to thank our friends in Iran living in terrible circumstances right now. I want to thank my wife, who I don’t normally associate with Iran.”
With files from Cassandra Szklarski and Canadian Press.