Christiane Amanpour Anderson Cooper Ted Koppel Steve Kroft Cynthia McFadden Diane Sawyer George Stephanopoulos Brian

Williams
along with the cast

Ben Affleck Bryan Cranston Alan Arkin John Goodman

and producers

George Clooney Grant Heslov

invite you to join them at a special private screening of

Warner Bros. Pictures and GK Films'

directed by Ben Affleck screenplay by Chris Terrio produced by Grant Heslov Ben Affleck George Clooney

Tuesday, October 9th, 2012

#1 screening 6:00pm followed by dinner 8:00pm
(for dinner - you will be directed through Time Warner building)

or

#2 dinner 7:00pm followed by screening 8:30pm

(for dinner - enter under Jazz at Lincoln Center marquee)

Screening at Time Warner Room

1 Time Warner Center enter 58th Street btw 8th/9th Avenues

Dinner at Porter House Steakhouse 10 Columbus Circle, 4th Floor

On November 4, 1979, as the Iranian revolution reaches its boiling point, militants storm the U.S. embassy in Tehran, taking 52 Americans hostage. But, in the midst of the chaos, six Americans manage to slip away and find refuge in the home of the Canadian ambassador. Knowing it is only a matter of time before the six are found out and likely killed, a CIA exfiltration specialist named Tony Mendez (Affleck) comes up with a risky plan to get them safely out of the country. A plan so incredible, it could only happen in the movies. Runtime is 131 minutes, Rated R

COVERAGE AIRED ON:

Ben Affleck, Matt Damon

Grant Heslov, George Clooney Brian Cranston, Glenn Close

John Goodman

Michael Douglas

Richard Gere

Tate Donovan, Scoot McNairy

Trudie Styler, Sting

Tommy Hilfiger, Dee Ocleppo

Cynthia McFadden, Brian Williams Christiane Amanpour, Robert Woodruff Barbara Walters, Dan Abrams

Adam Driver

Zosia Mamet

Alex Karpovsky

Kate Upton

Ry Russo-Young, Benjamin Walker, Grace Gummer

Mariska Hargitay

Andy Mientus, Jeremy Jordan

Ari Graynor

Jerry Ferrara, Kate Cassidy

Bette Midler

Donna Karan

Hoda Kotb

Dagmara Dominczyk, Patrick Wilson Todd Williams, Gretchen Mol

Barry & Diane Levinson

Adam Arkin

Anthony Edwards

Joey Slotnick, Tom McCarthy

Bryant Gumbel

Matthew Settle

Carol Kane, Nanette Lepore

Alina Cho

Amy Sacco

Elizabeth Vargas

Jamie Colby

John Patrick Shanley

Lara Spencer

Liz Cho

Neil Burger

Rula Jebreal

Tony Gilroy

Tony Shalhoub

Tovah Feldshuh

Mike Nichols

Morley Safer

Steve Kroft

Ted Koppel, George Clooney

Michael Douglas, Oliver Stone, George Clooney

Cast photo

A Movie All the Stars Want to See

Wednesday, October 10,2012

NEARLY a decade ago, it was hard to find people in Hollywood predicting great things for Ben Affleck. Involved with Jennifer Lopez and appearing with alarming frequency on the cover of Us Weekly, Mr. Affleck was world famous but without a career to match. For me, that was probably the hardest thing to watch, his childhood friend Matt Damon said. The abuse he was taking. The public perception of him was so different from who I knew him to be. We would have these conversations at the height of the JLo thing where he would say, Im selling magazines but not movie tickets. Yet here was Mr. Damon on Tuesday night, standing by the bar at Porter House New York, the Time Warner Center steakhouse at Columbus Circle, for a dinner celebrating the release of Argo, Mr. Afflecks much-buzzed-about political thriller that opens Friday.

And there were more industry luminaries than you could count. In fact, organizers at the Peggy Siegal Company had so many people eager to see the movie, they wound up scheduling two screenings that evening, one at 6 and another at 8:30. Oliver Stone was taking his seat at a table opposite Sting, Trudie Styler and Brian Williams. A few feet away was George Clooney, who produced the film and was talking to Yahoos movie critic, Thelma Adams, about Mr. Affleck. Didnt he do a good job? Mr. Clooney was saying. Nearby was Barbara Walters, holding court. Based on the true story of a C.I.A. operative who helps six American foreign-aid workers escape from Iran in 1980 during the hostage crisis, the film recounts how they pretended to be a film crew scouting for a Star Wars-like knockoff to evade capture. It is a tale that stayed under wraps until the late 90s, when the details surrounding their return were declassified, but many attendees remembered the crisis well. My hair stood on end, said CNNs Christiane Amanpour, who grew up in Iran and was attending the University of Rhode Island during that time. It gave me goose bumps. And the tragedy is that the U.S. and Iran have never gotten over it. Ms. Walters had covered the upheaval for ABC News. I got the last interview with the shah of Iran, she said. I remember when he came to this country and everybody booed him. Of course, Mr. Affleck, now 40, doesnt remember much about this time. But then Mr. Clooney brought him the script, by Chris Terrio, and he said he was floored by it. He had taken this unwieldy story that was based on real events and turned it into a coherent three-act story, Mr. Affleck said, as he made his way toward his table. And he loved the story of a movie within a movie. I definitely knew the Hollywood side. At 8:30, more guests headed to a theater downstairs for the second screening. There in the back were Donna Karan and Sandy Gallin. Nearby, Mike Nichols, Bruce Weber and Liz Smith. After the film, Ingrid Sischy, the international editor for Vanity Fair, recalled the horrific newspaper photographs back then. Now were used to that, she said, but then they were shocking. And theyre imprinted on us.

A-list Argo bash

Thursday, October 11 2012
th

George Clooney and Stacy Keibler met up Tuesday night, continuing to crush rumors theyre headed for splitsville. Clooney was earlier seen arriving solo at a star-studded party for Ben Afflecks Oscar-buzzed Iranian hostage drama Argo. But the Ocean's Eleven star later dashed downtown to rendezvous with Keibler and pals Beth Ostrosky Stern, producer Grant Heslov and Curb Your Enthusiasm comic Richard Kind. Sources say Clooney wasnt originally scheduled to attend the premiere, but decided last-minute to support director and star Affleck, as did A-listers Matt Damon, Michael Douglas, Glenn Close, Sting, Oliver Stone, Mike Nichols and Kate Upton. Clooney, who produced Argo, told us he was originally set to star in it as well , but, I was doing Ides of March and gave this to Ben because we were ready to shoot . . . we felt really lucky he wanted to do it, and he did better than anyone could imagine. The Peggy Siegal Co. bash at Porter House served as an unofficial kick-off to Oscar season as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences hosted a separate party next door for new members which drew Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz, Steven Soderbergh, Michael Moore and Richard Gere. Craig and Weisz didnt leave each others side all night, a spy said. They held hands, chatting with everyone who approached them. Daniel even grabbed her a few times. Gere, meanwhile, only hung with the boys, a spy said, after the Arbitrage star had enraged an East Hampton husband Saturday night for whispering in his babelicious blond wifes ear. Also at the Argo bash were network news heavies Brian Williams, Barbara Walters, Cynthia McFadden, Hoda Kotb and Christiane Amanpour, as well as Neil Simon, Barry Levinson and Cyrus Vance Jr. The movie screens in DC, tonight, hosted by Canadian ambassador Gary Doer.

Oscar Fav Argo Attracts Massive Turnout of Movie and Media A-Listers in NY th
By: Scott Feinberg/Wednesday, October 10 2012

The film's George Clooney and Ben Affleck hosted the likes of Matt Damon, Michael Douglas and Bette Midler, plus Ted Koppel, Brian Williams and Barbara Walters.

Just one night after Lincoln dominated the New York film scene, one of its chief rivals for the best picture Oscar arrived on the east coast and had a huge night of its own. The Warner Bros. dramatic-thriller Argo -- which had its world premiere in Telluride last month and its U.S. premiere in Los Angeles last week, and will open nationwide on Friday -- had its first screenings in Gotham City on Tuesday evening. Two screenings of the film, which seemed to go over just as well here as they have everywhere else, were sandwiched around a dinner at the Columbus Circle hot-spot Porter House New York, so attendees either caught the flick before or after chowing down. All in all, the occasion, which was coordinated in partnership with The Peggy Siegal Company, drew an A-list crowd of movie stars and media personalities that was of a quality and quantity rarely matched at an east coast event of this sort. In attendance on behalf of the film, which revolves around a little-known aspect of the Iranian hostage crisis of 1979-1981, were co-producers George Clooney and Grant Heslov; director/star Ben Affleck; supporting actors Alan Arkin, Bryan Cranston, John Goodman, and Tate Donovan; and screenwriter Chris Terrio.

They were joined, from the Hollywood side of things, by Matt Damon, Affleck's childhood best friend with whom he wrote Good Will Hunting (1997) and won an Oscar 15 years ago; Wall Street compadres Oliver Stone and Michael Douglas, who chatted together in a booth; Glenn Close; Barry Levinson, the Oscar-winning director whose horror film The Bay is now playing at the New York Film Festival; Bette Midler, who rarely hits the social circuit anymore; Girls stars Alex Karpovsky and Zosia Mamet; writer-director Oren Moverman; and actors Adam Arkin (Alan's son and Clooney's former costar on E.R.), Bob Balaban, Golden Age beauty Arlene Dahl, Peter Riegert, and Patrick Wilson. Representing the New York media were former Nightline anchor Ted Koppel (archival footage of whom appears in Argo, alongside that of Diane Sawyer); NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams (who dined next to Clooney); The View co-host Barbara Walters; 60 Minutes reporters Steve Kroft and Bob Simon; ABC News reporters Dan Abrams, Cynthia McFadden, Brian Ross, and Bob Woodruff; CNBC's Jim Cramer; gossip columnist Liz Smith; and News Corporation advisor Joel Klein. A few other guests didn't quite fall into either of the above categories, including rock star Sting and fashion mogul Tommy Hilfiger.

Ben Affleck Can Complete the Friday New York Times Crossword Puzzle, and Other Factoids from the Argo Screening th
By: Bennett Marcus/Wednesday, October 10 2012

When George Clooney got too busy with another film to helm his pet project Argo, he and producing partner Grant Heslov had no hesitation in soliciting Ben Affleck. We called up Ben, sent it to him, and he said he wanted to do it, which we were really happy about because it meant he liked the screenplay, Clooney told VF Daily at a Peggy Siegal Company screening on Tuesday. We wondered whether Afflecks relative lack of experience, with only two small-budget films under his belt, gave Clooney and Heslov pause. Are you kidding? I mean, he hasnt done a bad film, the fucker, Clooney said, laughing. This is a big step forward in scope for me, and initially it was really daunting, Affleck said at a post-screening dinner at Porter House in Manhattan. I mean, Gone Baby Gone was very small. The Town was a little bit bigger, but with some action elements. This was really spreading myself over continents; it had three competing tones that needed to be unified; I needed to honor the underlying truth to the story, he said. I was terrified going into it. And the circa-1979 mop of hair and scraggy beard he sports in the movie were all his. Some people thought it was not my hair, but it was, in fact, itchy and annoying, and grayer than I wanted it to be, Affleck said. As funny as it looked, he says the process of

growing it was equally comical. It was when it was, like, halfway grown out that it looked a little bit like a young Justin Bieber; I think people thought I was going through a midlife crisis. His thick beard was not a hit with his young children. My kids are too young to know Justin Bieber, and the beard drove them crazy, Affleck said. They kept begging me to shave it; they would only kiss me on my nose or my forehead. I mean, theres nothing like putting your face towards your children and watching them recoil, he added with a laugh. Clooney, who lived through the 1979 era and claims he himself sported the shag look, had no sympathy. I had bad, bad hair, as you know, he told us. Ive had some of the worst hairstyles ever, and proud to say it. The movie, based on a true story about the Iran hostage crisis, is a taut thriller with some comic relief from John Goodman and Alan Arkin. You cant have tension that is just sort of aimed at the audience like a fire hose throughout the whole movie; theyll reject it, Affleck explained. Its too muchnobody wants to feel that much tension. So the balance is in turning up the tension and then letting out the air a little bit. Bryan Cranston, who plays a C.I.A. officer in the movie, said that despite the tense plot, the set was relaxed when the cameras werent rolling. Between takes, Affleck would unwind by doing the New York Times crossword. I was so jealous because hes filling it in, and I thought, Son of a bitch! Cranston told us. And so I got a New York Times crossword puzzle as well, and just start filling in letters in any random order, but just so he saw me filling it in. Cranston would stand nearby, but not so close that Affleck could see his puzzle. Id look at his, like, Oh yeah, I got that, too. I kind of flashed him mine, and then walked away, Cranston said, laughing. Because obviously, he couldnt see it, or hed know Im a fraud. Affleck admitted he enjoys solving crosswords. I do them sometimes to sort of relieve stress, or if I have a lot of anxiety, Ill pick them up, he said. We pointed out that the Times crosswords get more difficult as the week goes on. Sunday is O.K. Saturday is whats really hard, Affleck said. Sunday I finish if its early in the month. Friday I finish. Saturday I never finish, he added. So would he call himself a whiz at puzzle solving? I wouldnt say Im a whiz, he said. Bryans good.

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon.

Michael Douglas, Oliver Stone, and George Clooney.

Bryan Cranston and Glenn Close.

John Goodman.

Ari Graynor.

Mariska Hargitay.

Bob Dalan and Bette Midler.

Barbara Walters and Dan Abrams.

Grant Heslov and Tate Donovan.

Liz Cho.

Matt Damon & Ben Affleck Have An Argo Red Carpet Reunion th
By: Perez Hilton/Wednesday, October 10 2012

How do you like them apples?! A long time bestie reunion took place on the red carpet Tuesday night! One of everyones favorite bromances was put on display at the Argo premiere in NYC last night, where Matt Damon showed up in support of Ben Affleck! Check out the SUPER cute pic of the bros together again (above)! Its crazy to think that its been FIFTEEN years since the two starred on the silver screen together in Good Will Hunting!!! Both actors have definitely come a long way since then, with Ben starring in AND directing Argo, which is set for release in theaters on Friday! But some friendships last a lifetime! Thank goodness theirs is one of them! P.S. - We miss your hair, Matt. When's that coming back?

Ben Affleck on Why He Gotthto Look Hot in Argo

By: Jennifer Vineyard/Wednesday, October 10 2012

Ben Affleck was at not one but two dinner parties hosted by the Peggy Siegal Company last night to celebrate his film Argo. The movie tells the outrageous real-life story of how CIA agent Tony Mendez (Affleck) rescued six Americans trapped in Iran during the 1979 hostage crisis: He pretended they were part of a Canadian film crew scouting locations for a crappy sci-fi movie. (The six were otherwise holed up at the home of the Canadian ambassador.) Vulture spoke with Affleck about ripping off movies and why the entire cast looked like their real-life counterparts except for him. Have you ever gotten a movie idea from watching a movie, like how Tony got the rescue idea from Planet of the Apes? I haven't done a movie that I haven't ripped off from another one! [Laughs.] This movie, we ripped off All the President's Men, for the CIA stuff, a John Cassavetes movie called The Killing of a Chinese Bookie, which we really used as a reference for the California stuff, and then there was kind of a Battle of Algiers, Z/Missing/Costa-Gavras soup of movies, that we used for the rest of it. To me, that's a healthy way to work, to get everybody on the same page. Obviously, we're not remaking those movies, but I just would show them to our cinematographer, our actors, to go, "Here's the tone." I actually find it quite helpful. Everyone else looks just like their real-life counterparts, although you don't look a

lot like Tony Mendez, even with the beard ... John Goodman looks just like the real guy [John Chambers], right? It's incredible. And the houseguests, too. I'm the only guy who doesn't look like the guy he's playing, but you know, I wasn't about to fire myself. But that's why I did the hair and the beard. [Laughs.] The hair wasn't the worst; the beard was the worst. My kids were hounding me, like, every day, "Dad! Shave!" Every day. I was like, "Just put up with the beard." With the six people trapped in the house, the houseguests, how did you achieve the sense of claustrophobia? Did you stick them in a room to live together for a week? Are you a Cianfrance-type director that way? Yeah, we put them in the house, and we took away the Internet, took away their computers and phones, took away the TV, and we gave them stuff from that period so they would have to actually talk to each other. I wanted them to be familiar with each other, and I wanted you to see that familiarity. [Other reporters ask what he think he's accomplished and what he still wants to do.] This is the best professional experience of my life. This is the movie that I'm proudest of being associated with. But there are a still a ton of people I want to work with Benicio Del Toro, Emma Stone, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Bradley Cooper, Christian Bale, Leonardo DiCaprio. I've not acted in a movie yet with George [Clooney] Ocean's 14! [Laughs.] By any standard in the world, I'm really fortunate, and I'm really happy to find myself where I am.

Actors are Affleck Puppets

Friday, October 12 2012
th

Ben Afflecks fast becoming one of Hollywoods hottest directors, but the star admits he has one area of improvement behind the camera: mouthing actors lines. That is a rather unfortunate tendency, Affleck told us at a Peggy Siegal Co. premiere of his latest film, Argo, this week. I sometimes will slightly lip-move along with the lines of the actors. The first time I did that was on The Town. During one of Jeremy Renners close-ups, he was like, Can I talk to you for a second? Youre mouthing my lines. It was like, OK, Ill stop doing that. Then Blake [Lively] said I did it to her . . . Its a problem, and Im working on it, he joked. But Argo star Bryan Cranston added that Affleck might need to keep practicing. [In a scene] at the end, I could see [Ben] mouthing my lines. I went, You are doing the thing. And he went Oh, [bleep]. Sorry. He gets so into [it] that he mouths. Affleck attended a DC premiere of the film Wednesday with his wife, Jennifer Garner.

Based on a True Story: Broadcast Legends Remember the Iran Hostage Crisis th
By: Jordan Zakarin/Wednesday, October 10 2012

Ted Koppel, Barbara Walters and other top journalists give their insights on one of America's darkest hours, as well as the secrets no one else knew. Ted Koppel, in his archive-preserved youth, makes a cameo appearance in Argo, the new Iran Hostage Crisis-based drama from director Ben Affleck. But during the actual run of events in 1979-80, the trauma that gripped the nation and introduced America to political Islam, Koppel was the star. And it was something he could have never predicted. When Iranian revolutionaries stormed the gates of the United States Embassy in Tehran and took 52 Americans hostage, the Syracuse University graduate was serving as Diplomatic Correspondent for ABC News. Koppel, speaking to The Hollywood Reporter at an event for Argo in Manhattan on Tuesday, recalled getting a call from the network's assignment desk on the Sunday of the hostile takeover, and not quite wanting to come in to work right away.

"I reminded them at that time, that about six months previously, there had been a similar incident at the embassy, and the ambassador had come out, talked to the crowd, everybody went home and it was over in a number of hours," he remembered. "So I said, do you really want me to come in? Because this thing will be over by the time I get in.' I was wrong." Indeed, the crisis would launch the network's "America Held Hostage" special program, which eventually turned into Nightline in 1980, which he anchored for 25 years. Argo focuses in on the unlikely efforts to save six American workers who had escaped the embassy during the raid, and were hiding out at the home of the Canadian Ambassador. As the film mentions, several journalists had become aware of the hidden faction; Koppel was one of those reporters. Koppel explained: "I got a call from the Secretary of State, saying, 'I understand that youre going to put this story on the air tonight. And I cant tell you not to do it, but I would ask you not to, because it seems to us inevitable that if you put it on the air, that the Canadian Embassy would probably be taken, and that the Americans that escaped from the US Embassy would probably be killed.'" Ultimately, he decided not to go with the report. "The only time in more than 50 years that Ive ever killed a story," he said. Barbara Walters was also with ABC News at the time, and played her own historic role in covering the crisis, even if she wasn't clued in to the breakaway hostage situation that Koppel would end up spiking. "I remember I was the last one to interview the Shah of Iran," she told THR. "I went up to see him and took a polaroid picture. He was hated in his country, and he then went to Panama. He was very ill, and he died. I remember the Iran Hostage Crisis, I remember how he was hated when he came here. And I still see the Shahs widow and her son. They live in Virginia." Several journalists who were not working at the time -- or at least, in the political/diplomatic field -- also reflected on their experiences during the crisis. "I grew up in Iran. The revolution changed my life," Christiane Amanpour, CNN's Chief International Correspondent, said. "I happened to have been at university in the United States during the hostage crisis. It was not a pleasant time. It wasnt nice being Iranian on campus in the US, but I never hid that I was Iranian, and I actually tried to show Americans who were justifiably scared that actually theres another side to Iranian people, as well." As for what she would do if faced today with a situation similar to what Koppel faced, she said, "It depends. I mean, listen, I dont know the whole story of this, so Im really looking forward to seeing it. Clearly, if it was about saving peoples lives, and being

worried about their security, youd have to have a whole other conversation with yourself." Bryant Gumbel, who joked that as a sportscaster at the time he was "more concerned with the Steelers and Cowboys," largely agreed. "I guess it would depend on whether somebodys life was in danger, and whether or not it really compromised somebodys well-being," he told THR. "Look, journalists kept secrets for years in times of war, and I think we can all feel proud that they did, but I dont think anybody would jeopardize somebodys life just to get a scoop." ABC News legal analyst, former MSNBC honcho and Mediaite founder Dan Abrams echoed his colleagues, as well. "I think you deal with it very carefully. I think that organizations for a long time have withheld information that they think will jeopardize American citizens," he explained. "And I think that would probably be a case where the media would have to move very carefully... Its one of these totality of the circumstances situations, but I think that if theyre in the process of an escape, I think its the medias obligation to withhold that information. One of those very, very rare situations."

Men About Town th

Wednesday, October 10 2012

Reunited and it feels so good! Matt Damon shows his support for pal Ben Affleck Tuesday at the New York premiere of the star's latest directorial effort, Argo.

Ben Affleck Gets Over His Fears to Screen Argo in Manhattan th

By: Nigel Smith/Wednesday, October 10 2012

Actor-director Ben Affleck was all smiles and nervous energy last night at a snazzy event in honor of his latest and most ambitious film, "Argo," in Manhattan. "I wanted to direct it because it was a real challenge," he said of his CIA tale. "I had this anxiety [when I started out]. But I liked the thrill, the danger, the prospect of it." The night, hosted by The Peggy Siegal Company, attracted the likes of Affleck's friend Matt Damon, George Clooney, John Goodman and Glenn Close.

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon: Argo NY Premiere! th

Wednesday, October 10 2012

Ben Affleck is dapper at the premiere of his upcoming film Argo on Tuesday (October 9) in New York City. The 40-year-old actor was joined by his close friend Matt Damon, producer George Clooney, and stunning supermodel Kate Upton. Patrick Wilson, Jerry Ferrara, Michael Douglas, and Sting were also spotted at the premiere. Mark your calendars, Argo is opening in theaters this Friday (October 12). We cant wait! Also pictured: Ben Affleck arriving at the CBS Studios for an appearance and suiting up for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart earlier in the day in New York City.

Kate Upton Keeps It Classy In Black & White th

Wednesday, October 10 2012

Even though Kate Upton looked mod at the Argo premiere, her outfit of choice is questionable! On Tuesday, the bodacious model walked the red carpet in New York City ahead of the screening of Ben Affleck's new film Argo, wearing a black and white blouse, black skinny pants and clogs. We're loving her Cartier necklace and Chanel satin clutch, but we can't say the same for the rest of her outfit. It's about time for the boobilicious Kate to return. She's much more fun!

George Clooney On Innocence of Muslims Makers: Freedom of Speech Means 'The Idiots Get To Have Their Say' th
Wednesday, October 10 2012

This idea came to me before I actually saw Argo on Tuesday night, but now that I have seen Ben Affleck's gripping, well-directed film, I can't let it go. When I learned about the plot of the movie in which a CIA agent (Affleck), a Hollywood make-up artist (John Goodman) and a movie producer (the wonderful Alan Arkin) gin up a fake movie to rescue a group of diplomats trapped in Iran during the hostage crisis it struck me that Argo was the inverse or the flip side of another fake movie that got a lot of press this past summer: Innocence of Muslims. Argo is about the power of film harnessed for humane reasons specifically, to extract American diplomats who would have probably faced grisly, public executions had they been caught after slipping out of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran when it was taken over by militants in 1979. Innocence of Muslims is about the dark side of that equation. It's the power of film still potent even when the so-called movie is little more than a collection of half-assed scenes cobbled together and thrown on YouTube misused to incite violence and stoke mistrust and anger between Muslim nations and the United States. Argo, which is based on a true story, is about saving lives. Innocence of Muslims was linked to violent attacks on the U.S. Embassy in Libya on Sept. 11 that left four Americans dead, including Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens. When I saw George Clooney, who is one of Argo's producers, at a private screening and dinner for the film at the Time Warner Center on Tuesday night, I ran my idea by him. Was there any lesson, I asked, to be learned from the controversy and the tragedy

that Innocence of Muslims provoked? I'm not a big fan of asking celebrities their opinions about international or national affairs, but I've come to admire Clooney's political activism and his understanding of the way the world really works, as well as his humanitarian spirit. (In March, he was arrested outside the Sudanese embassy in Washington for protesting the country's blockage of food and aid to its own starving people.) After listening to my take on Argo and Innocence of Muslims, Clooney suggested that I was making a bit of a leap, but he did answer my question. For one thing, he said, "I'm not quite sure that those diplomats did die as a result of that movie. It seems more like that was a coordinated effort by Al Qaeda" to make a statement on the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on U.S. soil. But getting to the root of my question, Clooney told me: "Freedom of speech means you have to allow idiots to speak, and thats the unfortunate thing." "This guy clearly wanted to create problems," he continued referring to Nakoula Basseley, the Egyptian immigrant who appears to have masterminded the making of Innocence of Muslims. Clooney added that he saw part of the YouTube video: "It made me mad and Im not Muslim," he said. "It made me mad for the quality of film that it was, more than anything. But the simple truth is that in order to make [democracy] work, the idiots get to have their say, too. And thats unfortunate."

Matt Damon: I thBlame My Grey Hair on My Daughters

Wednesday, October 10 2012

When Matt Damon looks in the mirror these days, he knows exactly whos responsible for his changing appearance. I point out all of the gray and I say to my daughters, You did this and you did this and you did this, the father of four joked to PEOPLE Tuesday during a dinner for Argo hosted by the Peggy Siegal Company at Porter House steakhouse in New York. They really think its funny. Damon doesnt mind it, though even if the studios do. They dyed the gray out for We Bought a Zoo, but I was like, I like my gray hair, he said. Im proud of it. Now sporting a buzz cut for an upcoming role, Damon will have to weather the N.Y.C. winter clean-shaven. But its okay, he said. Ive got a beanie.

Last Nights Parties th

Wednesday, October 10 2012

Argo Screening and After-Party Hosted By The Peggy Siegal Company Where: Time Warner Room Who was there: Guests included Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Adam Driver, Alex Karpovsky, Barbara Walters, Dan Abrams, George Clooney, Ari Graynor, Bette Midler, Cynthia McFadden, Brian Williams, Donna Karan, Glenn Close, Michael Douglas, Oliver Stone, Mariska Hargitay, Other Details: The cast and crew of the new thriller Argo stepped out in NYC last night for two private screenings with a dinner party to follow.

Matt Damon Says Its Unlikely Hell Be Bourne Again

Wednesday, October 10 , 2012
th

The odds of Matt Damon returning to the big screen as Jason Bourne are looking longer than ever judging from a conversation I had with the actor on Tuesday night. Damon, who's still sporting a shaved head for his work on the sci-fi thriller Elysium, was part of the starry crowd that turned out for a special private screening of Argo, which was beautifully directed by his bud and Good Will Hunting co-writer Ben Affleck. During a dinner at the Porter House steakhouse in the Time Warner Center, I asked Damon if there had been any movement on reports that he could reprise his role after Jeremy Renner's portrayal of Aaron Cross in The Bourne Legacy, another agent in the Robert Ludlum-created universe, this past summer. "There has not been any movement," Damon told me, explaining that though "I've always been open to it as long as Paul Greengrass directs, I don't think he's going to do it." Damon laughed when he said this, as if, perhaps, he was downplaying how Greengrass really felt about The Bourne Legacy, or perhaps because he had his own falling-out with Gilroy who has been a writer on every Bourne film and directed Legacy over the script to the third movie, The Bourne Ultimatum. Asked why Greengrass was loathe to return to the franchise, Damon said that although he hadn't seen Legacy yet, "from what I understand, it kind of relives [The Bourne Ultimatum] from a different perspective." (Legacy is meant to take

place concurrently with the events of the third movie, and Jason Bourne is referenced.) "What that means, because they use our actors and characters, is that whatever they said [in Legacy] is true and so we'd have to acknowledge it in any Bourne movie that we'd do. And that makes it really tough," Damon said with another laugh, noting: "I don't think we can do the Dallas it-was-all-a-dream scenario . I don't think the audience would go for that after they paid money to see a movie." "I'd really love to do another one because I love the character," Damon said, but then he pointed out another issue that would make it "a real struggle to extend the franchise": Bourne's search to "find his identity" was what drove him through the first three movies. Now that he has answered that question, Damon said, "where do you go next?"

Ben Afflecks Argo Dazzles Oscar Bait for Certain!

Thursday, October 11th 2012

"IS THAT your best bad idea?" "That's the best bad idea I've had today!" So goes one of the many surprisingly funny exchanges between Ben Affleck and Bryan Cranston in Ben's astonishing, riveting, hugely entertaining and mostly-historically accurate movie "Argo." This is the true tale of six Americans who managed to escape the U.S. Embassy in Iran during the Shah-toppling revolution of 1979. (Fifty-two other Americans were held hostage at the Embassy for 444 days.) The six justly nervous people who escaped the wrath of the mobs were holed up at the private residence of the Canadian ambassador and his wife. Argo reveals the hilariously implausible plot to free them. How? To pretend the Americans are Canadian filmmakers, and spirit them away after their "film location" duties are complete. The operation is led by CIA operative Tony Mendez (Affleck). He is both supported and opposed by his boss, Jack O'Donnell (Bryan Cranston -- whom you may recognize as the star of AMC-TV's Breaking Bad.) Maybe any filmmaker could have created something reasonably entertaining from this material. But only Ben Affleck, I think could have brought forth such a seamless, wildly nerve-wracking, uproarious and amusing crackerjack entertainment. This is Affleck's third directorial effort. His first two, Gone, Baby Gone and The Town, were critically acclaimed, but they don't hold a candle to Argo. I have to agree with Ben's great friend, Matt Damon. He was there at the screening all evening to give Affleck support. He said, "Argo is the greatest thing he's done yet." (Matt's head was shaved, again. He scraped it off for Elysium, but just as it was growing back, he was needed for retakes. "Oh, it's only hair!" said Matt, good-naturedly.)

ARGO takes its audience on a roller coaster ride from which one thinks recovery is impossible. he film's first 10 minutes are astonishingly intense, as the American Embassy is stormed. It appears to be actual footage but it isn't. Then, quickly, we are in Hollywood, where schlocky producers Alan Arkin (absolutely brilliant) and John Goodman (absolutely charming) get on board with the CIA to publicize a "fake movie." They are going to try to convince the Iranians

that such a movie is truly happening. At one point, arguing over casting and cost (of something that will never exist) Arkin snaps, "Listen, if I'm going to make a fake movie, I want it be a fake hit!" The back and forth, between L.A. yuks and very real terror in Tehran (along with real vintage news clips of people hanging from lamp-posts) shouldn't work. But it does. I have rarely seen such accomplished filmmaking. Certainly not this year, so far. The acting, from top to bottom is flawless, from Cranston to Victor Garber to Tate Donovan to Chris Messina to Clea Duvall to Zeljko Ivanek to Richard Kind. Every role, no matter how brief, is indelibly played. Affleck, handsomely sporting a dark beard, is rather stoic, but so, too, was the real Mendez. The cinematography is breathtaking. The period aspects of 1979/80 are expertly captured. And the last 15 minutes? Bring oxygen; it is that intense! Yes, of course, some dramatic license is taken -- that's why they call it a movie. Ben Affleck has made a real "movie-movie" that leaves its audience wrung out, exhilarated and misty-eyed. Bravo. Prepare for the Oscar, kid. (He already won one with Damon for screenwriting Good Will Hunting. Then he descended into tabloid hell. Now he's back as a movie-making mensch.)

THERE was a party. Two parties, in fact, one for each of the two screenings seated dinners before and after. At one point, the parties overlapped. It seemed the entire world was there. Just a few: Columnist Joe Klein...former NY school chancellor Joel Klein... Bette Midler... Patrick Wilson... Ted Koppel... Deborah Norville... Bryant Gumble (very trim)... Anthony Edwards... Steve Kroft... Christiane Amanapour... Mariska Hargitay... Saul and Gayfryd Steinberg... Richard Kind... Jeremy Jordan (star of Broadway's Newsies)... Brian Williams... Liz Cho... Alina Cho... Michael Douglas... Blaine Trump, Bruce and Nan Weber... Donna Karan... Bob Woodruff... Steven Soderbergh... Barbara Walters... Adam Arkin... Bob Balaban, et, al. Had a great talk with one of the producers of Argo -- the amazing George Clooney -- and sent love to his dad who he says has recovered well from the stroke that beset him down in Georgetown some months ago. (This was after he and George were arrested at a sit-in protest in front of the Sudanese Embassy in Washington, D.C.) One of the hosts, ABC's Nightline correspondent Cynthia McFadden had quite a table -- it boasted among others Ben Affleck, George Clooney, Oliver Stone, Brian Williams, Sting. To have been a fly on that tablecloth would have been hearing the conversation between Stone and Sting. The latter was poured into a pair of black jeans. When somebody commented on the firmness of his gluteus maximus, back came back the reply: "Sting is simply not a mortal. We have to accept that."

Living Landmark Harry Belafonte was also there along with Mike Nichols, the intellectual's intellectual Ingrid Sischy, Vanity Fair's Beth Kseniak and her writer guy Walter Owen, MGM's onetime star Arlene Dahl, Tommy Hilfiger and his purse-designing wife, Dee. One wag quipped, "If a bomb dropped here tonight, Obama would definitely not be re-elected!" Bryan Cranston, so great-looking in a beautifully tailored suit, said: "I know my role on Breaking Bad is the best character I will ever play. Ever. And I fully embrace it. I'm not all 'Oh, will I ever live up to this again?' Because I won't! It's an actor's dream and I am awake in it and loving it." Peggy Siegal put this triumph together, natch. She wore a short red woolen suit and was last seen twirling and showing it off to Bette Midler. (Peggy and Mr. Clooney also had a 'hair moment' when posing together. He messed her do. She messed his salt and pepper thatch. They patted each other's hair down after. Cute.) As for Argo -- which eventually became the catch-all phrase "Argo'n'fuck'yourself!" -- I don't know when a film has so moved me before. It is terrifying to re-live those days. The fact that this all happened in my lifetime is quite amazing. In the wake of the recent attack on the Libyan Embassy and murder of our ambassador and three other Americans, Argo is also a cautionary tale that clearly hasn't cautioned anyone. The more things change, the worse they become, in the Middle East for Americans and everybody else.

Is That Your th Best Bad Idea?

Thursday, October 11 2012

IS THAT your best bad idea? Thats the best bad idea Ive had today! So goes one of the many surprisingly funny exchanges between Ben Affleck and Bryan Cranston in Bens astonishing, riveting, hugely entertaining and mostlyhistorically accurate movie Argo.

This is the true tale of six Americans who managed to escape the U.S. Embassy in Iran during the Shah-toppling revolution of 1979. (Fifty-two other Americans were held hostage at the Embassy for 444 days.) The six justly nervous people who escaped the wrath of the mobs were holed up at the private residence of the Canadian Ambassador and his wife. Argo reveals the hilariously implausible plot to free them. How? To pretend the Americans are Canadian filmmakers, and spirit them away after their film location duties are complete. The operation is led by CIA operative Tony Mendez (Affleck). He is both supported and opposed by his boss, Jack ODonnell (Bryan Cranston whom you may recognize as the star of AMC-TVs Breaking Bad.) Maybe any filmmaker could have created something reasonably entertaining from this material. But only Ben Affleck, I think could have brought forth such a seamless, wildly nerve-wracking, uproarious and amusing crackerjack entertainment. This is Afflecks third directorial effort. His first two, Gone, Baby Gone and The Town, were critically acclaimed, but they dont hold a candle, to Argo. I have to agree with Bens great friend, Matt Damon. He was there at the screening all evening to give Affleck support. He said, Argo is the greatest thing hes done yet. (Matts head was shaved, again. He scraped it off for Elysium, but just as it was growing back, he was needed for retakes. Oh, its only hair! said Matt, goodnaturedly.)

Ben Affleck A List Argo Premiere th

By: Roger Friedman/Wednesday, October 10 2012

What to do when everyone on the New York A list wants to see a movie thats already had a Hollywood premiere and is opening nationwide in three days? Why, have a double dinner and screening back to back at the Time Warner Center and Porter House Restaurant. Thats what Warner Bros. and the Peggy Siegal company did last night and it was quite the scene. Especially the Porter House, which is cheek by jowl with the Stone Rose in the TW Center, and where the motion picture academy was having a get to know you night for members who wanted to meet new president Hawk Koch. The fourth floor hallway was kind of in celebrity gridlock as numbers of stars poured in and out of both restaurants. But the centerpiece was Argo, Ben Afflecks terrific thriller that opens on Friday. And imagine this scenario: Affleck, bff Matt Damon (with a shaved bald pate), the movies producers George Clooney (with girlfriend Stacy Keibleryes tabloid hounds, they are still together!) and Grant Heslov, not to mention John Goodman, Alan Arkin, Bryan Cranston, Tate Donovan, and Scoot McNairy all from the Argo cast. Then mix in Michael Douglas, who stopped by after the academy event, and took a private booth with his legendary flack Allen Burry and director Oliver Stone. Plus Sting and Trudie Styler dined with NBC Newss Brian Williams, Bob and Lynn Balaban, Iris Love, Christiane Amanpour, and Ted Koppel, New York Times editor in chief Jill Abramson, People magazines Larry Hackett, and Lara Spencer of Good Morning America, not to mention Bryant and Hillary Gumbel, Liz Smith, ABCs Cynthia McFadden, Barbara Walters and movie mogul Charles Cohen with wife Clo.

I got a dinner seat with Grace Gummer and brother in law Benjamin Walker two hot young actors right now; Graces sister is Mamie, who is Bens wife and the girls are Meryl Streeps actress daughters. Watch for Ben in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof this winter on Broadway with Scarlett Johansson. And yes, Richard Gere and Glenn Close were there just to make this more complicated. Peggy Siegals rooster-ready Sally Hershberger hair cut was in extra high fluff as she and her indomitable staff kept seating all these people for steak dinners, then re-seating them as they moved to shmooze with friends, and get in and out in time to see the movie in the TW screening room. Which, lets face it, they loved. Argo is an old fashioned edge of the seat thriller with 1970s style political intrigue. What were Sting and Oliver Stone chatting about? How about Clooney with Ted Koppel? Ill tell you table after table was filled with interesting types. It was like a triple Vanity Fair party. Directors galore came to see how Ben Affleck did, including Barry Levinson, Oren Moverman, Neil Burger, JC Chandor, Steven Soderbergh and Tom McCarthy. More from media: Bob Woodruff, Elizabeth Vargas with star musician husband Marc Cohn, plus DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus, Frazer Pennebaker, Nan and Gay Talese, great Clooney friend actor Richard Kind, Deborah Norville, the affable Anthony Edwards (Clooneys pal from ER days), actor Patrick Wilson and the very legendary Harry Belafonte. Clooney, Keibler and pals were wooed over to Amy Saccos new club No. 8 on West 16th St. and were there well after midnight, running into Gina Gershonwho was celebrating publication of her book In Search of Cleo, with agent David Kuhn and editor Lauren Marino. (If you can get in, and I was lucky to this time, No. 8 has some seriously cool private rooms complete with actual turntables and hundreds of LPs, not to mention nooks and crannies.) It was around that time that Russell Simmons came on in with Stacey Dash, right after her Piers Morgan show appearance and endorsement of Mitt Romney. In the spirit of bipartisanship, no drinks were thrown, and the conversation was kept apolitical. But I had a nice talk with beautiful Clueless actress Stacey Dash, who is the cousin of Damon Dash and sister of Darien (once precariously in a deal with Michael Jackson). More on that in another item

Bryan Cranston on Being thThe Face of Meth

By: Jordan Zakarin/Wednesday, October 10 2012

Critical acclaim, a legion of fans, Emmy Awards: there are a lot of perks to being the star of Breaking Bad. One downside? Being, as Bryan Cranston calls himself, "The Face of Meth." Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter at an event for his new film, Argo, in which he plays a CIA officer helping to free Americans hiding from Iranian revolutionaries, Cranston joked about how his TV role lands him some unexpected column inches and web real estate. Thanks to his character Walter White, who is an ever-more-gruesome meth cooker, any time someone is arrested for possessing or deal crystal meth, it's Cranston's photo that ends up slapped on the article. "Its not exactly how I want to be known, but it is what it is," he sighed, laughing. "In fact, theres the real Walter White, who was a meth dealer, and its like, oh, great." The White he refers to is an Alabama man who made headlines in August when he violated his parole for a meth-cooking arrest from 2008. And, as expected, Cranston's face indeed appeared in many of the stories about the criminal. "Maybe I should have Heisenberg pay him a visit in prison," he joked, nodding to his character's dealer code name. "I have a way of getting rid of people I dont want around." Still, Cranston doesn't expect the meth conotations to follow him forever. "I think whats going to be good for me, by a lucky, fortunate set of circumstances, I had to shave my head because the character was going through chemotherapy," he said. "And by doing so, it gave me a specific look, and now, as you see, it grows back and it helps to change my look. So for an actor, I look for the opportunity to change and mix it up."

Warner Bros. and The Peggy Siegal Company Present A Special Screening of Argo
By: Colleen Kelsey/Wednesday, October 10 2012
th

Last night, Warner Brothers and The Peggy Siegal Company fted the premiere of Argo with a special screening at the Time Warner Room in New York. Directed by and starring Ben Affleck, the political thriller features Alan Arkin, John Goodman, and Breaking Bad's Bryan Cranston in an adaptation of events that occurred during 1979's Iranian Hostage Crisis. Produced by Affleck, Grant Heslov, and George Clooney, Chris Terrio wrote the screenplay based on Joshuah Bearman's 2007 Wired article, "How the CIA Used a Fake Sci-Fi Flick to Rescue Americans from Tehran," an account of "The Canadian Caper" how six Americans found refuge in the home of a Canadian ambassador, and faced with the immediate danger of exposure, a CIA agent (played by Affleck) hatched a risky extraction plan to deliver these Americans home safely. Given the historical context of the film, Interview couldn't help asking a few guests if, given the opportunity, they could be in any adaptation of an event throughout history. "That's a doozer of a question!" said Girls' Zosia Mamet. "The opportunities are endless, but, probably something from the Prohibition era la Roaring '20s. I love an old-school noir-heist movie. They were a bit grittier back then. I'm a sucker for the '20s!" Mamet enthused. We also caught up with For A Good Time, Call... and Celeste and Jesse Forever's Ari Graynor, looking cozy and autumnal in a brown tweed cape and knee-high

black boots. "I would love to do a film about the suffragettes," Graynor said. "I'm surprised no one has explored that yet. Maybe that will be my next role!" Other attendees included CNN's Christiane Amanpour, Adam Driver, Bette Midler, Bob Balaban, Rula Jebreal, Alex Karpovsky, CBS News' Morley Safer, Barbara Walters, John Patrick Shanley, Mike Nichols, Glenn Close, Matt Damon, Donna Karan, Ingrid Sischy and Sandy Brant, Brian Williams, Bruce Weber, and Kate Upton. After the screening, guests relocated to Porter House New York for dinner with the cast.

Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston Chat Argo At Glittering NYC Premiere

Wednesday, October 10 2012
th

Tuesday night was a celebrity bonanza at the Time Warner Center in New York's Columbus Circle for the New York premiere of director/star Ben Affleck's acclaimed Argo. Stars Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, John Goodman as well as producers George Clooney and Grant Heslov were just part of the cortege of A-listers and New York glitterati who dined at the Porter House Steakhouse where Affleck held the spotlight in the bar talking to folks. Guests were divided into two screenings of the Toronto and Telluride film festivals world premiere based on the true story about a CIA agent (Affleck) who rescues six Americans hiding in the Canadian embassy at the dawn of the Iranian hostage crisis that began in November 1979. ML caught up with actor Bryan Cranston as well as Affleck at the event. Between chatting with a parade of well-heeled well-wishers including best pal Matt Damon, Oliver Stone, Sting, Ted Koppel, Brian Williams and more, Affleck gave a little insight on what motivated him to take on the project, telling ML he decided to make Argo happen because it was a fascinating story that was also a challenge, admitting to some fear in the beginning. "I wanted to direct it because it's a challenge directorially," he told ML. "It has three competing challenges: It's a comedy, it's a nail-biting thriller and it's a CIAintrigue spy story. I thought if I can execute that and combine those elements and execute them, unify them and tell something that is true and maintain the integrity of the truth of the stories then I could do something quite special. It's the favorite thing I've ever been involved with." In the movie, actor Bryan Cranston plays Jack O'Donnell, Affleck's boss at the CIA who is overseeing the operation to rescue the six Americans hiding in the Canadian Ambassador's residence after a daring escape into the streets of the Iranian capital

soon after the American embassy was overrun by angry mobs with the acquiescence of the country's new ruler Ayatollah Khomeini. Cranston said he received the Argo script from his agent and that Affleck and producer Grant Heslov had specifically asked for him to read it. "I thought, 'Oh that's flattering.' And I thought, 'Please God, let the story be as good as the offer,'" he told ML. "And it was quite frankly even better. The story is fantastic. It's true, important and the screenplay by Chris Terrio is great. What I took away from this and what I think what audiences will is that it's a simple story about people being selfless and doing things for all the right reasons - just to save other human beings. There's no greater noble effort than this." Ahead of production, a fellow actor touted to Cranston the chance to work with Affleck who in turn put a plug in for Affleck's work ethic and being an all-around great guy. Events such as Tuesday night's are meant to showcase Oscar contenders in their best light. And the Peggy Siegal Company, which hosts a number of these dinners and parties tied to screenings, is front and center in organizing events for titles hitting the awards circuit. "I got a tip from Jon Hamm, who said, 'You're going to love working with [Affleck].' And I went, 'Oh good,'" said Cranston. "As an actor turned director he's one of the best and just as a director in and of itself, he's terrific. He's a kind and a thoughtful man. And he's willing to do the work. People only see the finished product, but he's very passionate about stories." "I didn't want to make a story that was partisan right before the election," Affleck said to ML about Argo and the audience he hopes will come to see it when it opens this weekend. "I want a movie that the Repubicans I know and am friends with can go see. I do not want a movie that could be politicized internationally vis-a-vis, Iran. I went to great pains to just tell a factual story with out being didactic or tell the audience what to feel."

Matt Damon Has a Small Part in Terry Gilliams The Zero Theorem
Wednesday, October 10th 2012

Last night, Matt Damon was on hand to toast to his good friend Ben Affleck's upcoming film, Argo. And so, when Vulture approached Damon, we were all ready to talk fake scifi movies and Oscar odds ... but we first had to address his appearance: Why was his head shaved again? This led to a revealing bit about a "small part" he's shooting in Terry Gilliam's The Zero Theorem, which stars Christoph Waltz as a computer genius on some sort of meaning-of-life quest. Herewith, the complete conversation, which eventually did veer into Argo and Oscar territory (he thinks The Town was "snubbed," by the way) as well as his Liberace movie, Promised Land, Elysium, and more. Happy birthday! The last time I saw you at the Contagion premiere, your head was shaved, but that was for Elysium. Reshoots? I shaved it again this morning. There are two extra days of shooting that we have to do next week, and not to bore you with this, but I had to shave it because I have to do a wig fitting. I'm going to do three days with Terry Gilliam, and now that I have to shave my head, I need to do a wig for Terry's movie.

You're doing The Zero Theorem? I'm just doing a very small part in it. Someone finally gave him money to do this one, thank God. It's with Christoph Waltz and Tilda Swinton. I'd do anything for Terry. It's been ten years since I last worked with him. I wrote Terry this whole e-mail, because we had this whole conversation about what the character would look like, because the story takes place in the future, but he had a specific look that he wanted, but then I had to [points to shaved head], and I said, "Terry, what should we do?" And he said, "Actually, we can take advantage of the fact that your head is shaved. Why don't we change your hairline?" So he mocked up a picture and sent me a real receding hairline, with white spiked hair. "We might as well take advantage of the fact that you're bald and really do something, present you in a way you've never been seen before." White spiked hair like punk rock or Graydon Carterstyle? Graydon Carterstyle. But we'll see when I get there. They're making the wig now, and I saw the hair sample they've got to get it to London and send it. It's, like, gray-white. He's supposed to be my age, and it's supposed to be a believable hairline, but a few inches back to here [points to an area much further back]. Still believable that it could be mine, and then they'll fine shave my head all the way down. Terry's so visual, you know, which I love. It makes it very easy to work with him. He always knows exactly what he wants. Do you think the sci-fi Argo the film within the film is filmable? Judging from the table-read scene? Probably not. [Laughs.] Not that I'm not morbidly curious and wouldn't want somebody to try, but I hope they wouldn't sink too much money into it. Maybe with the new way to distribute movies, there's a way to make it make sense. How do you think it compares to Elysium? Hopefully Elysium is a really unique and nonderivative, exciting, futuristic actionscience-fiction movie. The thing about making movies, you always feel you're one step away from making Argo, the movie within the movie. What is much rarer is when you make Argo. That doesn't happen very often, and it only happens when there is a great director and a lot of really wonderful people who do their best work and make it happen together. I'm so proud of Ben. We don't get a chance to see each other a lot, but we'll get a minute somewhere in here to catch up. He's doing a lot of press over there, which is good. There's already talk of an Oscar nomination for him for this one. I hope so! I think he deserves it. I really do. I'd be shocked if it's not one of the Best Pictures. It really is. And they snubbed him last time. The Town was great, and Gone Baby Gone was wonderful, too, so hopefully that means something. Since you sometimes don't know, can't know, how a film is going to turn out just from reading a script, how do you separate the bad Argos from the good Argos? It's tough. Really, you're looking for as much information as possible, but at the end of the day, it's an educated guess. I just take the math out of it and bet on the director, and

if I like the director's body of work, chances are I'm going to like the movie that they make, and I think that's the safest way to do it. When younger actors ask me, "You've been around for a while; you've got a good track record," I tell them that: Work with the best director you can, and chances are you'll do okay, over time. It doesn't prevent you from sometime being in a great director's worst movie, you know? [Laughs.] That can happen. That ever happen to you? Yeah, yeah, but certainly none that I would ever mention! [Laughs.] But you know, I live in New York, so people aren't shy about coming up to you and telling you what they think about your career. And so I've certainly, when a movie's come out, had people come up and say, "What the hell were you thinking? That movie was terrible!" And I usually say a version of what you just said, which is, "Look, we don't get to see the movie before we make it!" [Laughs.] It's always a crapshoot. There's always an element of risk, and sometimes that's part of the gig. Well, if you're doing Zero Theorem, that's like your fourth sci-fi movie in two years if you consider Contagion to be sci-fi. Is that a direction you want to continue going in? I've always done it on a one-off basis. I've never looked at any trend. I'm interested in making good movies with great directors, and that's it. It's all problem-solving, you know? The problems are just slightly different in different genres, but it's really basically the same thing. Even if you compare big budgets with small budgets, it's still all the same. You and Ben are producing The Whitey Bulger Project. Where are you with that? We're waiting ... Terence Winter is a brilliant writer, and he's doing a draft right now that we're waiting for. I'm really curious to see it. I think the world of him. He's a wonderful writer, so we'll see we'll see if there's a movie there that we all think is worth telling, that would be different than other things that have been made in the same genre, and then, yeah. It's so hard making movies because so much has to happen for these things to come together, but I really hope that one does. For Promised Land, you were going to direct, but you handed it over to Gus Van Sant. Is that a load off? In terms of things like Promised Land, there's a huge buy-in there, because we wrote it, John [Krasinski] and I are starring in it and producing it as well, so it doesn't feel like less of a commitment. It feels like more of one. But, yeah, I think Ben and I are, with our production company now, are gearing up to do that [meaning, produce more films they aren't actually in]. I wouldn't count it out. So I think we're about to start doing more of that, but we haven't yet, up to now. I mean, I've executive-produced things like documentaries, but I haven't just produced a film yet. Producing is a real trade. I know in this business, people will take a credit if they can get it, but I want to treat it like a real thing. Because we know so many great producers, we wouldn't want to take advantage of it.

Since Michael Douglas is here, did you guys finish the Liberace movie Behind the Candelabra for HBO? Because they were waiting before for Michael to feel better ... Yeah, and then I pushed it actually because it conflicted when they wanted to shoot, so that was part of the reason it got pushed a year, but we finished. Michael and I are both here, and my kids are in school here, so we wanted to do it in the summer. It turned out great. I'm really proud of it. It doesn't come out until May, and it's going to Cannes first before it airs on HBO. Since you play his lover, did you have any interesting love scenes with Michael? A lot of interesting love scenes with him, yeah! [Grins.] But you know, look: We knew what movie we signed up for, and it's a really interesting, the dynamic between the two characters, and a lot like a marriage. So we had a lot of experience, both of us, in that regard, so it's really unique, just the power dynamic between them and the craziness of their lives. I mean, he was the biggest performer in the world, and what that did to their dynamic, and at the same time, they're like an old married couple. There are fights, you know, because they battled endlessly, because Scott had a drug problem and they really fell out in large part because of that. And it had a really tragic end there. I've never seen a relationship like that portrayed before, so hopefully people will like it. I'm really proud of it. I think it's really interesting! Maybe people will disagree, but I'm really proud of it.

Ben, Matt, And George Hit the NYC Premiere of Argo! th

Wednesday, October 10 2012

Just in case you had any doubt over whether Ben Affleck and George Clooney have still got it, here's a picture of the silver foxes looking particularly fine at the premiere of Argo in New York. The former E.R. hunk worked as a producer on the politically charged CIA thriller, which Affleck himself directed and stars in. The pair will debut the movie in the UK as part of London Film Festival next week.

George Clooney, Ben Affleck, Michael Douglas Fete Political Thriller Argo
Wednesday, October 10 2012
th

COLUMBUS CIRCLE A thrilling political season has created a great appetite for a political thriller. Argo, Ben Afflecks highly anticipated new movie, premiered at the Time Warner Screening Room Tuesday night for an audience packed with bold-faced names from the film and media worlds. Affleck pals George Clooney and Matt Damon joined film co-stars John Goodman, Tate Donovan, Bryan Cranston and guests Michael Douglas, Glenn Close, Bette Midler, Kate Upton, Sting and Trudie Styler. In addition, news personalites Dan Abrams, Steve Kroft, Hoda Kotb, Lara Spencer, Alina Cho, Morley Safer and more turned up for the screening. Argo is based on the true story of the rescue of six U.S. diplomats from Tehran during the Iran hostage crisis, under the guise of making a Hollywood film.

BEN, MATT, AND GEORGE HIT THE NYC PREMIERE OF ARGO!

Ben Affleck had his best buds Matt Damon andGeorge Clooney for support at last night's NYC premiere of Argo, which is out Friday. The trio made the rounds at the debut, held at the Time Warner Screening Room, and then moved the fun times on to the Porter House restaurant. They had the company of other friends like Michael Douglas, Oliver Stone, and Ted Koppel. The screening also brought out celebs curious to see Ben's latest like Kate Upton, Sting, and Richard Gere. Ben and George, along with George's longtime work partner Grant Heslov, actually produced the picture together, and they were able to toast the finished project along with the film's stars Bryan Cranston, Tate Donovan, and Scoot McNairy.

Just Like Old Times! Matt Damon supports best friend Ben Affleck at Argo screening th
Wednesday, October 10 2012

Theyve been the best of friends for years, and even appeared together in 1997 movie Good Will Hunting together. And 15 years on, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck showed they are still as chummy as ever. Matt Damon, who married in 2005 and now has three children with wife Luciana Barroso, attended the Time Warner Screening Room in New York City to support his pal who has a leading role Argo. The 42-year-old flung his arm around Affleck who was there to promote the motion picture with Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin and John Goodman. Theres no doubt, Ben who also married in 2005 and has a trio of kids with Jennifer Garner would have appreciated his presence at the star-studded event. Earlier in the day Matt was spotted squeezing in some time with his youngest daughter Stella, who turns two on October 20. George Clooney who was spotted leaving his hotel en route to a star-studded screening and dinner was happy to sign autographs for fan.

He helped to produce the flick which was directed by Affleck and was sure to make a prominent appearance at the gathering for the film. It follows a CIA 'exfiltration' specialist who concocts a risky plan to free six Americans who find shelter at the home of the Canadian ambassador, as the Iranian revolution reaches a boiling point. The screening for the flick, out on Friday, was also attended by Michael Douglas, Trudie Styler and Sting as well as Richard Gere.

George Clooney & Ben Affleck's "Argo" NYC Screening Night th

Wednesday, October 10 2012

Teaming up for another promotional spectacle, George Clooney and Ben Affleck were front and center at a New York City screening of their new film Argo on Tuesday night (October 9). Held at the Time Warner Screening Room, the "Ocean's Eleven" dreamboat acted as lead producer on the flick while the "Good Will Hunting" hunk directed and starred in the drama/thriller.Also on hand at the Big Apple event were Michael Douglas, Tate Donovan, Richard Gere, Bryan Cranston, Grant Heslov and Scoot McNairy, with the fellas greeting press before taking seats inside the venue's cinema room. Due in theaters October 12, Argo is about A CIA 'exfiltration' specialist who concocts a risky plan to free six Americans who have found shelter at the home of the Canadian ambassador.

BRIAN WILLIAMS
Wednesday, October 10th 2012

Brian Williams attends the "Argo" screening at the Time Warner Screening Room on October 9, 2012 in New York City.

Boys night as George and Ben team up to present their CIA thriller
Wednesday, October 10 2012
th

George Clooney and Ben Affleck have both walked the red carpet with their other halves lately to present their joint project Argo. But there were no sign of glamorous plus ones at a New York screening of the CIA thriller this week as the boys teamed up to promote their new project. George's statuesque girlfriend Stacy Keibler was nowhere to be seen, and Ben's wife Jennifer Garner was probably at home looking after their daughters Violet, six and three-year-old Seraphina and seven-month-old son Samuel. No, tonight was strictly boys night. Ben was also thrilled to be supported at the unveiling by his best pal Matt Damon his childhood friend who he collaborated with on the script for Good Will Hunting. The friends, who grew up together in Boston and shared a flat, shared a hug at the screening. In the past, Ben has spoken about how lucky he feels to still be close to his childhood buddy.

"It's a different kind of satisfaction being around your friends, the friends you grew up with," he said. "They have kids, have barbecues and that kind of deal. That is really satisfying, too. It's one of the nice things about having friends for a long time." Ben and his family regularly go on holiday with Matt and his wife Luciana Barroso and their three biological daughters plus Luciana's daughter from her first marriage. At the premiere Ben, George and Matt were joined by Hollywood big hitters Richard Gere, Michael Douglas and Oliver Stone. There were some ladies present, however. Trudy Styler attended with her musician husband Sting. They were joined by Bette Midler and Glenn Close. George produced Argo, and passed the script on to Ben, who directs and stars in the thriller, which is based on a true story. It has already generated Oscar buzz and recounts a joint effort by the CIA and the Canadian government in 1979 to rescue six Americans from Tehran in Iran after the US embassy was taken over by Islamist militants.

Bette Midler Attends Ben Afflecks Argo Premiere In New York th

Wednesday, October 10 2012

Others in attendance were Matt Damon, George Clooney, John Goodman, Sting, Richard Gere, Michael Douglas, Barbara Walters, Oliver Stone, and others. This was a different kind of screening in that it was a double dinner and screening back to back at the Time Warner Center and Porter House Restaurant.

The A-plus list steps out to fete Ben Affleck and George Clooney for Argo th
Wednesday, October, 10 2012

Do what I tell you to do and everything will be fine," Ben Affleck answered when I asked how Affleck the director and Affleck the actor get along during the making of his Oscarbound "Argo." Affleck warmed to the topic and continued, "I am in great sync with myself. But the actor in me wants the next part, and first we have to promote this film." And promote Affleck did, at a star-crammed Peggy Siegal-produced double dinner and screening at Manhattan's Porter House Steakhouse. I saw the film over the weekend at the Hamptons International Film Festival and was wowed. Affleck's third picture as a director is a humor-laced, fact-based drama about the daring rescue of six American foreign-service workers stranded in the house of the Canadian ambassador during the Iran hostage crisis in 1979-80. Affleck plays a CIA extraction expert who pretends to be scouting locations for a cheesy Hollywood sci-fi film called "Argo" as a cover to remove the Americans posing as a film crew. I told George Clooney, whom I first met at the premiere of "Good Night, and Good Luck" in 2005, and who produced this film with partner Grant Heslov (standing nearby), that "Argo" is a genuine crowd pleaser. I said it reminded me of the smart political thrillers of the '70s, like "Three Days of the Condor." Clooney replied, "It's like 'The Parallax View,' the films of Alan Pakula. Affleck goes to a new level as a director in this one." John Goodman, sipping soda at the bar beside veteran actor and Academy member Peter Riegert ("The Good Wife"), had this to say about Affleck's direction: "He knows his onions," which is an old-school American way of saying that Affleck knows his subject, knows what he's doing. Goodman knows what he's doing, too. In "Argo" he plays John

Chambers, a Hollywood make-up artist best known for crafting the masks for "Planet of the Apes." Also there was friend of Ben (and joint Oscar winner for "Good Will Hunting") Matt Damon, with a freshly shaven head. He's going back into two days of reshoots for the futuristic sci-fi film "Elysium" -- and that required a few more bald-hair days. Clooney couldn't resist the temptation to get the feel of the new-mown scalp, rubbing his hand up and down Damon's head and commenting that it was smooth one way and stubbly the other. Show and tell over, Damon mentioned that he was looking forward to the release of the small-town drama "Promised Land," which he co-wrote with John Krasinski from a Dave Eggers story. The pair co-star with Frances McDormand, and Gus Van Sant directs for a December 28 limited release. The overall atmosphere was that of a Halloween party where guests were asked to dress as their favorite star. Besides Affleck, Clooney, Damon, and Goodman, "Argo" costar Bryan Cranston was in the house. Other bold-faced names included Trudie Styler with Sting, Tony Shalhoub, Harry Belafonte, Patrick Wilson with Dagmara Dominczyk, Brian Williams, Barbara Walters, Glenn Close, Liz Smith, and Deborah Norville, to name a few. As if that weren't enough, right next door, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was holding an even more exclusive cocktail party, hosted by newly elected president Hawk Koch. I slipped in and caught actress Rachel Weisz talking to director Steven Soderbergh (the subject was his kidney stones) while her husband, Daniel Craig, looked on. Craig and I had had dinner together when he was at Sundance promoting "Layer Cake" with director Matthew Vaughn in 2004. I told him that I remembered returning to my office, then Us Weekly, and saying that Craig was going to be big. I got no traction. Then along came Bond. Oh well. By then they knew he was big. We mentioned Craig's little upcoming film, "Skyfall," but concentrated on Weisz's possible Oscar run for her starring role in Terrence Davies' "The Deep Blue Sea." Chatting nearby were Vondie Curtis-Hall and "Law & Order" star S. Epatha Merkerson, who has a role in the Oscar-buzzed "Lincoln," by Steven Spielberg, which has begun to screen this week. Michael Douglas and Melissa Leo were also making the scene. Honorary Oscar-winner (2013) D.A. Pennebaker ("Don't Look Back," "The War Room") and his wife, Chris Hegedus ("Startup.com," "The War Room"), were leaning on the bar beside Michael Moore ("Bowling for Columbine") in a documentary-film cluster. The 2013 Academy Awards ceremony, to be hosted by Seth MacFarlane on February 24 in Hollywood, is over four months away, but the season is clearly in full swing here in New York City.

LIZ SMITH: IS THAT your best bad idea? ...

Ben Affleck's, Dazzling, Dizzying, Oscar-Worthy "Argo" Knocks Out New York. And Peggy Siegal puts on not one, but two parties to celebrate Ben's triumph. by Liz Smith Thursday, October 11, 2012 IS THAT your best bad idea? Thats the best bad idea Ive had today! So goes one of the many surprisingly funny exchanges between Ben Affleckand Bryan Cranston in Bens astonishing, riveting, hugely entertaining and mostlyhistorically accurate movie Argo.

This is the true tale of six Americans who managed to escape the U.S. Embassy in Iran during the Shahtoppling revolution of 1979. (Fifty-two other Americans were held hostage at the Embassy for 444 days.) The six justly nervous people who escaped the wrath of the mobs were holed up at the private residence of the Canadian Ambassador and his wife.

Tony Mendez.

Argo reveals the hilariously implausible plot to free them. How? To pretend the Americans are Canadian filmmakers, and spirit them away after their film location duties are complete. The operation is led by CIA operative Tony Mendez (Affleck). He is both supported and opposed by his boss, Jack ODonnell Ben Affleck as Tony Mendez in (Bryan Cranston whom "Argo." you may recognize as the star of AMC-TVs Breaking Bad.) Maybe any filmmaker could have created something reasonably entertaining from this material. But only Ben Affleck, I think could have brought forth such a seamless, wildly nerve-wracking, uproarious and amusing crackerjack entertainment. This is Afflecks third directorial effort. His first two, Gone, Baby Gone and The Town, were critically acclaimed, but they dont hold a candle, to Argo. I have to agree with Bens great friend, Matt Damon. He was there at the screening all evening to give Affleck support. He said, Argo is the greatest thing hes done yet. (Matts head was shaved, again. He scraped it off for Elysium, but just as it was growing back, he was needed for retakes. Oh, its only

hair! said Matt, good-naturedly.)

Ben and Matt at the screening of "Argo."

ARGO takes its audience on a roller coaster ride from which one thinks recovery is impossible. The films first ten minutes are astonishingly intense, as the American Embassy is stormed. It appears to be actual footage but it isnt. Then, quickly, we are in Hollywood, where schlocky producers Alan Arkin(absolutely brilliant) and John Goodman (absolutely charming) get on board with the CIA to publicize a fake movie. They are going to try to convince the Iranians that such a movie truly is happening. At one point, arguing over casting and cost (of something that will never exist) Arkin snaps, Listen, if Im going to make a fake movie, I want it be a fake hit!

John Goodman and Alan Arkin. The back and forth, between L.A. yuks and very real terror in Tehran (along with real vintage news clips of people hanging from lamp-posts) shouldnt work. But it does. I have rarely seen such accomplished filmmaking. Certainly not this year, so far. The acting, from top to bottom is flawless, from Cranston to Victor Garber to Tate Donovan to Chris Messina to Clea DuVall to Zeljko Ivanek toRichard Kind. Every role, no matter how brief, is indelibly played. Affleck, handsomely sporting a dark beard, is rather stoic, but so, too, was the real Mendez. The cinematography is breathtaking. The period aspects of 1979/80 are expertly captured. And the last 15 minutes? Bring oxygen; it is that intense! Yes, of course, some dramatic license is taken thats why they call it a movie. Ben Affleck has made a real movie-movie that leaves its audience wrung out, exhilarated and misty-eyed. Bravo. Prepare for the Oscar, kid. (He already won one with Damon for screenwriting Good Will Hunting. Then he descended into tabloid hell. Now hes back as a movie-making mensch.) THERE was a party. Two parties, in fact, one for each of the two screenings seated dinners before and after. At one point, the parties overlapped. It seemed the entire world was there. Just a few: Columnist Joe Klein ... former NY school chancellor Joel Klein ... Bette Midler ... Patrick Wilson ...

Ted Koppel ... Deborah Norville ... Bryant Gumble (very trim) ... Anthony Edwards ... Steve Kroft ... Christiane Amanpour ... Mariska Hargitay ... Saul and Gayfryd Steinberg ... Richard Kind ... Jeremy Jordan (star of Broadways Newsies) ... Brian Williams ... Liz Cho ... Alina Cho ... Michael Douglas ... Blaine Trump, Bruce and Nan Weber ... Donna Karan ... Bob Woodruff ... Steven Soderbergh ... Barbara Walters ... Adam Arkin ... Bob Balaban ... Anne Eisenhower and Wolfgang Flttl, et, al. Had a great talk with one of the producers of Argo the amazing George Clooney and sent love to his dad who he says has recovered well from the stroke that beset him down in Georgetown some months ago. (This was after he and George were arrested at a sit-in protest in front of the Sudanese Embassy in Washington D.C.)

Tate Donovan, George Clooney, Bryan Cranston, Ben Affleck, Grant Heslov, and Scoot McNairy.

One of the hosts, ABCs Nightline correspondent Cynthia McFadden had quite a table it boasted among others Ben

Affleck, George Clooney, Oliver Stone, Brian Williams, Sting. To have been a fly on that tablecloth would have been hearing the conversation between Stone and Sting. The latter was poured into a pair of black jeans. When somebody commented on the firmness of his gluteus maximus, back came back the reply: Sting is simply not a mortal. We have to accept that. Living Landmark Harry Belafonte was also there along with Mike Nichols, the intellectuals intellectual Ingrid Sischy, Vanity Fairs Beth Kseniak and her writer guy Walter Owen, MGMs onetime star Arlene Dahl, Tommy Hilfigerand his purse-designing wife, Dee. One wag quipped, If a bomb dropped here tonight, Obama would definitely not be reelected!

Clockwise from top left: Mike Nichols; George Clooney ; Anthony Edwards; Michael Douglas; Bette Midler; Harry

Belafonte.

Bryan Cranston, so great-looking in a beautifully tailored suit, said: I know my role on Breaking Bad is the best character I will ever play. Ever. And I fully embrace it. Im not all Oh, will I ever live up to this again? Because I wont! Its an actors dream and I am awake in it and loving it. Peggy Siegal put this triumph together, natch. She wore a short red woolen suit and was last seen twirling and showing it off to Bette Midler. (Peggy and Mr. Clooney also had a hair moment when posing together. He messed her do. She messed his salt and pepper thatch. They patted each others hair down after. Cute.) The parties happened at Porter House Steakhouse in the Time Warner Building. Even if the movie had been a dog, the food was divine. But, oh, lucky night everything was divine!

Clockwise from top left: Sting and Trudie Styler; John Goodman; Bryan Cranston and Glenn Close; Barbara Walters and Dan Abrams; Christiane Amanpour and Robert Woodruff.

As for Argo which eventually became the catch-all phrase Argonfuckyourself! I dont know when a film has so moved me before. It is terrifying to re-live those days. The fact that this all happened in my lifetime is quite amazing. In the wake of the recent attack on the Libyan embassy and murder of our ambassador and three other Americans, Argo is also a cautionary tale that clearly hasnt cautioned anyone. The more things change, the worse they become, in the Middle East for Americans and everybody else.

Clockwise from top left: Tommy Hilfiger and Dee Ocleppo; Cynthia McFadden and Brian Williams; Mariska Hargitay; Alina Cho; Adam Arkin. Argo screening photographs courtesy of PatrickMcMullan.

TWEETS:
Patrick Wilson (@patrickwilson73) tweeted at 2:22p.m. on October 10, 2012 to 6,860 followers: @patrickwilson: Hey people...been AWOL running. And daddying while daggy d is rehearsing. Ummm... #Argo is awesome. Congrats to #benaffleck and crew.So good Bette Midler (@BetteMidler) tweeted at 1:54p.m. on October 10, 2012 to 299,460 followers: @BetteMidler: Have to single out John Goodman and Alan Arkin for their scene-stealing turn in #ARGO...worth the price of admission. Brad Aldous (@bradlicious) tweeted at 10:14 a.m. on October 10, 2012 to 289 followers: @bradlicious: Saw #Argo last night at the NYC premiere. Go see it! Scott Feinberg (@ScottFeinberg) tweeted at 10:03a.m. on October 10, 2012 to 5,610 followers: @ScottFeinberg: ARGO's Clooney and Affleck hosted the likes of Damon, Douglas and Midler, plus Koppel, Williams and Walters in NYC http://bit.ly/SLPObk Bette Midler (@BetteMidler) tweeted at 9:42a.m. on October 10, 2012 to 299,460 followers: @BetteMidler: Ran to screening of #ARGO last night. Terrific from start to finish; @BenAffleck's best so far. Alan Arkin killed. Nigel Smith (@nigelmfs) tweeted at 8:18a.m. on October 10, 2012 to 497 followers: @nigelmfs: Saw Argo. Gone Baby Gone is still Affleck's best. Just sayin'. Ted Hope (@TedHope) retweeted Vanessa Hope at 8:08a.m. on October 10, 2012 to 21,922 followers: @TedHope: RT @vhopeful felt #Argo could have used its own #ChenGuangcheng type of interview for an Iranian character, but it gets something of Iran

Ted Hope (@TedHope) retweeted Vanessa Hope at 8:06a.m. on October 10, 2012 to 21,922 followers: @Ted Hope: RT @vhopeful Jealous #Argo got "first as tragedy, then as farce" line about history into a movie before I could & movie itself reflects it Liz Cho (@LizCho7) tweeted at 8:01a.m. on October 10, 2012 to 2,380 followers: @LizCho7: Saw #Argo last night .. Amazing Philip Gourevitch (@PGourevitch) tweeted at 11:28p.m. on October 9, 2012 to 8,614 followers: @PGourevitch: Just saw screening of #Argo: terrifically gripping smart 1979-Iran hostage/CIA/Showbiz movie by &with @BenAffleck: treat yrslf when it opens Kate Upton (@KateUpton) tweeted at 10:53p.m. on October 9, 2012 to 560,739 followers: @KateUpton: Finally a really good movie is out!!! #Argo i loved it Michael Hogan (@m1keh0gan) tweeted at 10:37p.m. on October 9, 2012 to 3,581 followers: @m1keh0gan: "Argo" is the best movie about getting through airport security ever. Hoda Kotb (@hodakotb) tweeted at 10:14a.m. on October 9, 2012 to 151,120 followers: @hodakotb: #argo was amazing. what a movie! Alina Cho (@AlinaChoCNN) tweeted at 10:01p.m. on October 9, 2012 to 7,244 followers: @AlinaChoCNN: I'm no expert but I'm just going to say it:#argo will be on everyone's best picture list. Amazing film. Ben Affleck stars/directs... See it. Derek Blasberg (@DerekBlasberg) at 10:01p.m. on October 9, 2012 to 97,216 followers: @DerekBlasberg: The XX played at the @Chanel dinner. Stalked George Clooney and saw my favorite band play in a darkened black box. Not a bad Tuesday!

Hoda Kotb (@hodakotb) tweeted at 9:53a.m. on October 9, 2012 to 151,120 followers: @hodakotb: Omggggg @jmjewelry #argorocked http://instagr.am/p/QlfILDNYQu/ Dan Abrams (@damabrams) tweeted at 9:12p.m. on October 9, 2012 to 34,672 followers: @danabrams: Just went to a screening of #Argo. It may be my favorite movie of the year. Byron Pitts (@byronpitts) tweeted at 9:07p.m. on October 9, 2012 to 8,029 followers: @byronpitts: Just left a screening of #Argo. In Manhattan. Must see. @benaffleck brought his A game Mara Siegler (@MaraSiegler) tweeted at 8:22p.m. on October 9, 2012 to 494 followers: @MaraSiegler: Ben affleck chilling with matt damon at argo premiere @mikevilensky Hoda Kotb (@hodakotb) tweeted at 7:48a.m. on October 9, 2012 to 151,120 followers: @hodakotb: Guess who we ran into http://instagr.am/p/QlQvfmNYTy/ Jerry Ferrara (@jerrycferrara) tweeted at 7:32p.m. on October 9, 2012 to 148, 462 followers: @jerrycferrara: Just went to a screening of #argo with @MzKatieCassidy . I must say. Great film. Beyond well done. Great story and film making Katie Cassidy (@MzKatieCassidy) retweeted Jerry Ferrara at 7:32p.m. on October 9, 2012 to 87, 987 followers: @MzKatieCassidy: @jerrycferrara: Just went to a screening of #argo with @MzKatieCassidy . I must say. Great film. Beyond well done. Great story and film making Brian Brooks (@Brooksld) tweeted at 6:46 p.m. on October 9, 2012 to 726 followers: @Brooksld: #Ben Affleck, #Matt Damon, #George Clooney at Argo dinner Near Columbus Circle. Steak and salmon served.

Hoda Kotb (@hodakotb) tweeted at 6:18p.m. on October 9, 2012 to 151,120 followers: @hodakotb: #Argo Derek Blasberg (@DerekBlasberg) at 4:51p.m. on October 9, 2012 to 97,216 followers: @DerekBlasberg: Heading to a screening of 'Argo.' Not sure if I'm more excited to see the film, which is supposed to be amazing. Or stalk George Clooney. Ari Graynor (@AGraynor) tweeted at 4:44p.m. on October 9, 2012 to 8,518 followers: @AGraynor: Ok. I am in the same place as Bette midler. How do I play this???