UK: Ben Affleck talks directing, family life and dodges question about award season as he promotes his new movie 'Argo' at the London Film Festival

Record ID: 790054

  • Title: UK: Ben Affleck talks directing, family life and dodges question about award season as he promotes his new movie 'Argo' at the London Film Festival
  • Date: 17th October 2012
  • Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (OCTOBER 17, 2012) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) GOODMAN, ASKED ABOUT THE FILM'S OSCAR BUZZ, SAYING: "I think about what I will be eating when I am watching it (The Oscars) at home." Reporter: "What will you be eating?" Goodman: "I'll eat popcorn with some sort of topping, maybe a pizza and a chihuahua." VARIOUS AFFLECK ON THE RED CARPET (
  • Embargoed: 1st November 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: United Kingdom
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Reuters ID: LVABKTO2TU6YF37DTZWXRPCWQ7R5
  • Story Text: Hollwood A-lister Ben Affleck took to the red carpet on Wednesday (October 17) bringing 'Argo' - a film he acted in and directed - to the BFI London Film Festival.
    The political thriller is based on the true story of an unusual rescue mission which took place during the 1979 Iran hostage crisis.
    Back in the director's chair for a third time, Affleck revealed it was challenging to make a film about real life events: "It's very hard you have two responsibilities - you have to make the best movie possible as a director but you also have to maintain true to the spine of the story, I had to remember that it's not a documentary you want to tell the trust of the story but make it really exciting and fun and funny for an audience to watch otherwise they will never see the movie and no one will care." Affleck told Reuters Television.
    The 40-year-old also stars in the movie. Affleck takes on the lead role of Tony Mendez - the CIA operative who managed to sneak six American diplomats out of Iran during the infamous hostage crisis.
    "Well it's funny, Tony Mendez resonates completely with me, with the exception of risking my life and being hero, the rest I can really get behind." Affleck revealed.
    Mendez managed to pull off his operation by disguising the diplomats as a Canadian film crew making a fictitious film called "Argo." He worked with Hollywood to make the production as believable as possible.
    Actor John Goodman plays one of Mendez's film industry collaborators.
    After initially joking about Affeck 'shoving' people around on set, he was full of praise for Affleck's ability as a filmmaker: "I think he is gonna have a massive career in that field." He said.
    Meanwhile 'Breaking Bad' star Bryan Cranston who plays Mendez's boss was equally complimentary: "When I saw 'Gone Baby Gone' and I thought wow he knows how to tell a story and then 'The Town' was terrific and now this takes it to a whole other level, he is going to be a very important director in Hollywood for a long time to come."
    Following a strong opening weekend in the US and with award season just around the corner, there is speculation about what attention 'Argo' might receive from the Academy.
    However the stars were not willing to talk about Oscar buzz, when asked if he thinks about it, Goodman joked: "I think about what I will be eating when I am watching it (The Oscars) at home."
    While Affleck deflected the question saying: "I am very excited, look at this the London Film Festival have you ever seen better than this? This is amazing!?"
    After signing autographs in a packed Leicester Square in London, the team headed into the theatre.
    "Argo" is set for release in the UK on November 7.
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