My Rating: 3.92/4 (aka Must see)

One line summary: The dramatized true story of how the CIA secretly used Hollywood to extract six Americans from Tehran in 1979.

The Deets: This is the film where everyone probably said oh wow, that guy Affleck can direct a serious, fun, well-paced movie and “The Town” wasn’t a fluke. It’s about the power of storytelling; a scary true story about six Americans working at the embassy in Tehran who escape an angry mob and hide out until the CIA (Affleck) arrive to attempt an improbable extraction. The movie is really three narratives in one: The group in Iran, the Hollywood plot (with the genius casting of John Goodman and the late Alan Arkin), and the CIA operations (led by a passionate Bryan Cranston). Affleck hits all the notes just right – with tinges of humor, a perfectly placed Led Zeppelin tune, the late 70s outfits, and an almost sappy family thread. Most remarkably, we all know what’s going to happen and they still manage to add realistic tension in the moments leading up to the escape. And of course it wins the Oscar, proving that the magic of Hollywood can save the world.

Perfect for: If you’re into Affleck – as a director or actor – and if you like suspenseful period dramas.

Where to watch: Looks like you gotta rent it, and you definitely should.

Food pairing: This one will go well with a trio of tacos.