“Argo Extended Edition”
(August 27, 2013 – Burbank, CA) – On December 3, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment will release “Argo Extended Edition” on Blu-ray, featuring an additional nine minutes of footage that delves deeper into CIA specialist Tony Mendez’s personal relationships with his wife and son. Based on the true story of the life-or-death covert operation to rescue six Americans during the Iran hostage crisis, the film also focuses on the little-known role that the CIA and Hollywood played. Ben Affleck (“The Town”) directed.
Available in Blu-ray (at $49.99 SRP) with UltraViolet* digital copy, “Argo Extended Edition” will be offered in time for holiday gift giving. This new edition includes three brand new special features: “Ben Affleck’s Balancing Act” and “Argo Declassified” featurettes; plus a mash-up entitled “Argo F*ck! Yourself.” In addition, there are collectible premiums of a one-sheet poster, map of Tehran, reproduction of Tony Mendez’s CIA ID card, and a 40-page book with behind-the-scenes photos, production notes, cast bios and more.
Jeff Baker, WBHE’s Executive Vice President and General Manager, Theatrical Catalog, commented, “We are very pleased to be collaborating with Ben and his team for a second time. This new edition of ‘Argo’ is even more enriched by the never-before-seen bonus footage and fascinating collectible memorabilia.”
“Argo” was one of the most honored and best reviewed movies of 2012. In addition to the Oscar presented to producers Grant Heslov, Affleck and George Clooney for Best Picture, “Argo” won the Golden Globe, BAFTA and Critics’ Choice Awards for Best Picture. The film earned two additional Oscars – for Best Achievement in Film Editing and for Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay – and was nominated for an additional four (Best Supporting Actor for Alan Arkin; Best Original Score, Best Achievement in Sound Editing; Best Achievement in Sound Mixing).
Affleck also stars in the film, leading an ensemble cast, which won the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award for Outstanding Motion Picture Cast Performance. Arkin was recognized with Oscar, Golden Globe, BAFTA Award, Critics’ Choice and SAG Award nominations for his performance. “Argo” also stars Bryan Cranston, John Goodman, Victor Garber, Tate Donovan, Clea DuVall, Scoot McNairy, Rory Cochrane, Christopher Denham, Kerry Bishé, Kyle Chandler and Chris Messina.
Screenwriter Chris Terrio won Oscar and Writers Guild of America awards for his screenplay, based on a selection from “The Master of Disguise” by Antonio J. Mendez and the Wired Magazine article “The Great Escape” by Joshuah Bearman.
Synopsis:
On November 4, 1979, as the Iranian revolution reaches its boiling point, militants storm the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, taking 52 Americans hostage. In the midst of the chaos, six Americans manage to slip away and find refuge in the home of Canadian Ambassador Ken Taylor. Knowing it is only a matter of time before the six are found out and likely killed, the Canadian and American governments ask the CIA to intervene. The CIA turns to their top “exfiltration” specialist, Tony Mendez, to come up with a plan to get the six Americans safely out of the country. A plan so incredible, it could only happen in the movies. Brand-New Special Features:
*UltraViolet allows you to collect, watch and share movies and TV shows in a whole new way. Available with the purchase of specially marked Blu-ray discs, DVDs and Digital Downloads, UltraViolet lets you create a digital collection of movies and TV shows. Services such as Flixster and VUDU allow you to instantly stream and download UltraViolet content across a wide range of devices including computers and compatible tablets, smartphones, game consoles, Internet-connected TVs and Blu-ray players. Restrictions and limitations apply. Go to ultraviolet.flixster.com/info for details. Learn about VUDU compatible devices at vudu.com. About Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Inc.:
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) brings together Warner Bros. Entertainment's home video, digital distribution and interactive entertainment businesses in order to maximize current and next-generation distribution scenarios. An industry leader since its inception, WBHE oversees the global distribution of content through packaged goods (Blu-ray Disc and DVD) and digital media in the form of electronic sell-through and video-on-demand via cable, satellite, online and mobile channels, and is a significant developer and publisher for console and online video game titles worldwide. WBHE distributes its product through third party retail partners and licensees, as well as directly to consumers through WBShop.com and WB Ultra. About Warner Home Video:
With operations in 90 international territories, Warner Home Video, a division of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Inc., commands the largest home entertainment distribution infrastructure in the global video marketplace. Warner Home Video's film library is the largest of any studio, offering top quality new and vintage titles from the repertoires of Warner Bros. Pictures, Turner Entertainment, Castle Rock Entertainment, HBO Video and New Line Cinema.###
On November 4, 1979, as the Iranian revolution reaches its boiling point, militants storm the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, taking 52 Americans hostage. In the midst of the chaos, six Americans manage to slip away and find refuge in the home of Canadian Ambassador Ken Taylor. Knowing it is only a matter of time before the six are found out and likely killed, the Canadian and American governments ask the CIA to intervene. The CIA turns to their top “exfiltration” specialist, Tony Mendez, to come up with a plan to get the six Americans safely out of the country. A plan so incredible, it could only happen in the movies. Brand-New Special Features:
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• “Argo Declassified” - Tony Mendez’s daring operation gets honored as part of the CIA’s 50th anniversary
• “Ben Affleck’s Balancing Act” - Balancing humor, politics, Hollywood and international intrigue as only Affleck and his team could do
• “Argo F*ck Yourself” - Ben Affleck leads an all-star review of “Argo”’s classic line
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• Picture in Picture: Eyewitness Account: Relive the takeover of the US Embassy in November of 1979 and the daring rescue mission in January of 1980 through the eyes of those that lived it.
• Feature length audio commentary with director Ben Affleck and writer Chris Terrio
• “Rescued from Tehran: We Were There” - President Jimmy Carter, Tony Mendez and the actual houseguests recount the real-life harrowing experience they endured.
• “Argo: Absolute Authenticity” - From characters to heart-stopping action, Ben Affleck’s eye and ear for hard-hitting realism and attention to exacting detail has become his signature as an A-list filmmaker.
• “Argo: The CIA & Hollywood Connection” - Director Ben Affleck and former CIA agent Tony Mendez give a firsthand view of the actual documents and cover story used to create the phony movie “Argo” that had all of Hollywood believing in.
• “Escape from Iran: The Hollywood Option” – “Escape from Iran” commemorates the 25th anniversary of the "Canadian Caper," taking us back to this startling affair through the direct testimony of the Americans who found sanctuary at the Canadian embassy in Tehran, and the Canadians who risked their own safety to shelter their closest neighbors.
• Argo Files:
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o “A Discussion with the Cast of Argo” - Ben Affleck joins Bryan Cranston, John Goodman, Alan Arkin, Clea Duvall and Rory Cochran for a live conversation about their experiences while making “Argo”
o “Tony Mendez on Tony Mendez” - Former CIA agent Tony Mendez shares additional details and stories from the mission
o “The Istanbul Journey” - Ben Affleck shows us why Istanbul was the ideal place to shoot “Argo”
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• “Argo” one-sheet Poster
• Map of Tehran
• Reproduction of Tony Mendez’s CIA ID card
• 40-page book premium featuring behind the scenes photos, production notes, bios and more
*UltraViolet allows you to collect, watch and share movies and TV shows in a whole new way. Available with the purchase of specially marked Blu-ray discs, DVDs and Digital Downloads, UltraViolet lets you create a digital collection of movies and TV shows. Services such as Flixster and VUDU allow you to instantly stream and download UltraViolet content across a wide range of devices including computers and compatible tablets, smartphones, game consoles, Internet-connected TVs and Blu-ray players. Restrictions and limitations apply. Go to ultraviolet.flixster.com/info for details. Learn about VUDU compatible devices at vudu.com. About Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Inc.:
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) brings together Warner Bros. Entertainment's home video, digital distribution and interactive entertainment businesses in order to maximize current and next-generation distribution scenarios. An industry leader since its inception, WBHE oversees the global distribution of content through packaged goods (Blu-ray Disc and DVD) and digital media in the form of electronic sell-through and video-on-demand via cable, satellite, online and mobile channels, and is a significant developer and publisher for console and online video game titles worldwide. WBHE distributes its product through third party retail partners and licensees, as well as directly to consumers through WBShop.com and WB Ultra. About Warner Home Video:
With operations in 90 international territories, Warner Home Video, a division of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Inc., commands the largest home entertainment distribution infrastructure in the global video marketplace. Warner Home Video's film library is the largest of any studio, offering top quality new and vintage titles from the repertoires of Warner Bros. Pictures, Turner Entertainment, Castle Rock Entertainment, HBO Video and New Line Cinema.