David Kelley Reviews Atlas Shrugged Part 1

The Atlas Society - The Center for Objectivism ^ | February 24, 2011 | David Kelley

[Ed Hudgins]

“Midas Mulligan,” says the shadowy figure who accosts the prominent banker in Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged.

“Who’s asking?”

“Someone who knows what it’s like to work for himself and not let others feed off the profits of his energy.”

So begins Atlas Shrugged Part I, the independent adaptation by “The Strike” Productions, scheduled for theatrical release April 15, 2011.

The skeptics are wrong.

Ever since the project launched last April, skeptics have wondered how a film with a limited budget of $10 million, rushed production schedule, and lack of big-name talent could possibly do justice to the novel. Over a thousand pages long, with an intricate plot, epic scope, multi-layered mystery, a hero who does not appear until the final third of the story, and a complex philosophical theme, Atlas Shrugged has posed an insurmountable challenge to film-makers. The streets of Hollywood are littered with the ashes of prior efforts, some with much larger budgets.

The skeptics are wrong. The completed film was shown today for the first time in a private screening. It is simply beautiful. With a screenplay faithful to the narrative and message of the novel, the adaptation is lushly produced. The acting, cinematography, and score create a powerful experience of the story.

This film is going to turbocharge the debate over Rand’s vision of capitalism as a moral ideal.

Taylor Schilling is riveting as Dagny Taggart, the woman who manages the Taggart Transcontinental rail system with intelligence and courage while fighting interference from the president of the company, her incompetent brother James (Matthew Marsden), and his political cronies. Schilling is well-matched with Grant Bowler as steel-maker Hank Rearden. As the story opens, Rearden has just started producing a new alloy he invented; and Dagny is his first customer…

[9YearLurker]

Nice to read—the trailer looked great.

[PhilosopherStone1000]

I’ve seen the scenes that have been posted. I like the fact that the actors are no-name. Famous actors would have carried to much baggage into the film. I think the actress playing Dagney has pulled it off (again, based just on what little I’ve seen).

The combination of art deco and modern decor I think strikes the right balance for a book that was written in the late 40s but which speaks to conditions as they are today.

Can’t wait to see it.

[Night Hides Not]

The two trailers that have been released are GREAT! I'm thinking about taking 4/15 off, just to watch the movie. I'm also prepping my 9 YO son on the overall theme of Atlas Shrugged.

I picked up another copy of the novel over the weekend, and am reading it on my commute to and from work. The sheer volume of the book has been noticed by people who ride the bus with me, and I'm getting questions about the book.

As much as I enjoyed Atlas the first time through, the second reading has been even better.

I can't wait to wear my "Galt's Gulch, CO" emblazoned polo shirt to work next week. I am expecting numerous quizical looks and being asked "where in Colorado is Galt's Gulch?"

[OCCASparky]

I’m wondering if they didn’t start too far. And how the heck do they capture the relationships between Franconia, Dagny, and Rearden, among others? But from what I’ve seen of the trailer, it sure looks promising.

[FrdmLvr]

I read Atlas Shrugged in 1980, but wasn’t the opening line in the novel “Who is John Galt?” ? I’m going to have to dust off that copy and re-read it before April 15 - and I’ve seen the trailers (2) and they look great! It looks like it the screen writer and director have stayed true to Rand’s message.

[668 - Neighbor of the Beast]

I watched a clip last night on youtube, where Rearden presents Lillian with the bracelet, and Rearden’s brother asks for an anonymous handout for his progressive buddies who don’t want Rearden’s contribution public.
Call your local theater, ask them if they’ll be showing it. Otherwise, plan on a long drive. :(

[OCCASparky]

skeptics have wondered how a film with a limited budget of $10 million, rushed production schedule, and lack of big-name talent could possibly do justice to the novel.

Because they don't believe in what Rand had to say. These folks do. And that might be the best testament to her legacy and that of John Galt.

[jpsb]

Lord of the Rings was a difficult movie to make, Atlas Shrugged will be even harder to pull off. But the Trailer does look great, I will definitely be watching this movie.

[Second Amendment First]

Thanks for posting. I haven’t been to a theater in many years, but I’ll definitely see this one.

[netmilsmom]

>>I’m also prepping my 9 YO son on the overall theme of Atlas Shrugged. <<

I bought the Spark Notes for the book.
I’m not happy with the sexual escapades of Dagney. I know that Rand thought this was important, I don’t.

The books message, otherwise, is too important for students to miss. We will see the movie. I will watch it on the internet first so I know how to present the sex in it.

[Outlaw Woman]

I’ve seen the trailers and have been reading about Atlas Shrugged from FReepers. I haven’t read the book but looking forward to seeing this film very much. It looks like a well produced movie and very ‘gripping’.

I thought we had the book posted here but it was only a synopsis of each chapter and then discussion so I’m hoping the local library has it.

[Billthedrill]

One thing that will make life easier for the director and cast is that very often the novel reads like a screenplay because Rand was a highly competent screenwriter, good enough to be hired by several big-name directors to clean up other writers’ scripts. There are downsides to that - it proved very cumbersome to craft a philosophical manifesto in those terms, which is why Galt’s speech comes across as artificially interminable. But the rest of it should translate nicely. Looking forward to it.

[Blue Ink]

Hollywood is not supporting this project.

Lots of big-name actors and producers over the years have tried to make Atlas, but either they couldn’t get the rights to the book or couldn’t get the studio to greenlight it. Every actress in Hollywood was interested in playing Dagney Taggart.

So now here come a bunch of outsiders throwing away a choice role on some no-name, as well as making a very political film of the stripe Hollywood reserves the right to tell everyone what the party line is. How dare they?

I’m guessing they’re going to have trouble finding distribution — getting and keeping their film in theaters, along with necessary advertising. No award nominations. No interviews on morning chat shows.

It isn’t enough that this film be good. It has to be amazing to have a chance.
I wish the producers all the luck in the world, and I can’t wait to see it.

[Night Hides Not]

With a PG-13 rating, I'm not worried too much about the sex aspect. My son recently became an uncle at the ripe old age of 8, so we've had to do some educating in that area.

When it comes to cinema romance, he's a normal boy...he goes "Ewwwwwwwwww!", and covers his eyes until I advise him it's over. LOL!

[Night Hides Not]

I predict it will achieve similar success to “Passion of the Christ”, and will make enough money to fund more generous budgets for parts 2 & 3.

[PATRIOT1876]

Sounds like it will be a great movie.

I bet we’ll have lazy loafers protesting it in Wisconsin...

;-)

[lonevoice]

Okay...now I’m excited!

[r-q-tek86]

Ping

[r-q-tek86]

I picked up another copy of the novel over the weekend, and am reading it on my commute to and from work.

Check out Publius and Billthedrill's threads when they ran the FReeper Bookclub on AS. Great discussion.