Argo has recently won the Best Film award at the Golden Globes, The SAGs, the BAFTAs, and the Oscars. So the big question is: is it any good?

The answer, thankfully, is yes! It's not perfect and takes liberties with the actual historical truth (including one that impugns poor li'l New Zealand!) but if you're after a smart, tense and funny thriller that sheds light on what really was a rather extraordinary true-life hostage rescue then look no further.

Argo tells the story of a small group of Americans who were hidden in Iran after the 1979 coup. Many will remember the 60 or so hostages held by Iran when the American embassy was overtaken in the wake of the revolution which saw the Shah ousted and fundamentalist law returned to the country. They were eventually released, but a small group had escaped capture and were hidden by the Canadians.

The escape plan involved setting up a fake movie, and smuggling out the group as film employees. Affleck plays the main CIA agent responsible for the operation. He's pretty deadpan as an actor but it's the direction and script that really carry the film, managing an extraordinary blend of taut thriller and Hollywood comedy. Arkin and Goodman supply the latter as producers brought in to create a convincing cover for the operation; real events provide the former.

I'd be amazed if anyone doesn't enjoy this film. It's rare example of a movie getting everything right – storytelling at its best.