‘Atlas Shrugged’ will come to theaters in 2011
Friday, July 30, 2010 at 11:09AM It’s hard to believe, considering all the past rumors about translating Ayn Rand’s iconic novel into a film. But Big Hollywood said ‘Atlas Shrugged’ will be released in theaters in the second half of 2011. Seeing this news sent me on a search to learn more about the film.
Screen snip from Mike Wallace's interview with Ayn Rand (1959). This photo is linked to the page at YouTube where you can view both parts of Wallace's exchanges with Rand.The Internet Movie Database already has an 'Atlas Shrugged' page in place, so it appears many of us will see the film we’ve longed for since discovering Rand’s provocative philosophy of objectivism and her fiction. The minute I saw mention of the film on Facebook, I headed to IMDB to see who would play the role of Dagny Taggart. Taylor Schilling will fill those shoes, and at first glance, she strikes me as perfect physically for the part.
I’ve written before about the challenge of casting Dagny and frankly, couldn’t think of a single A-lister fit to play the part. Dagny, in my opinion, has no equal in all of literature up to Rand’s time (perhaps now, but not in the 1950s). She was a fierce businesswoman who actually enjoyed sex (not just traditional sex, either) and who advocated for women to have choices long before that was fashionable. Dagny is at the heart of the novel and she’s one of the most complex female characters ever drawn. So I, for one, am very glad lesser known actors have been chosen for Dagny and other characters. That isn't to say the actors are not experienced; all who are playing major roles have solid credentials.
Big Hollywood said the novel will come to the screen in a trilogy similar to the manner used for ‘Lord of the Rings,’ and of course that makes sense because of the manner Rand constructed her novel.
I glanced quickly over the actors chosen for the other roles and my first impression is that they all look like the characters Rand drew so well.
I noticed one article said Robert Redford once expressed an interest in playing the part of John Galt if the book were adapted. Rand would roll over in her grave I am sure if Redford had ever been able to do that and all I can say is I’m glad the movie didn’t get made when Redford was young. He is of course a complete polar opposite to Galt.
It is hard to believe one of the most ambitious novels for a reader to take on would finally be made into a film. Until I read the story at Big Hollywood, I assumed it would be done of a piece. So I think it was very wise to do a series rather than a single film. Too much would have been lost otherwise. That, by the way, is why some major characters like Ragnar Danneskjöld are missing from the first film credits listed at IMDB.
One critic mentioned Rand’s allure for Tea Party supporters. Fact is, Rand intrigues all manner of people. She was a free thinker and a woman unafraid to state her views openly during a time when most women wouldn’t. I think regardless of the film’s success, leftwing critics will probably not appreciate the movie in a manner that free thinkers will. [I do not classify the extremist faction of any political ideology as free thinkers.]
It’s strange how many Tea Party ‘experts’ there appear to be in left-leaning media and the generalizations these pundits put forth when in truth, their whole approach is based on fear because left-leaners love the big government model Tea Partiers do not approve of, in part because they bear the loss of resources and freedom as a result of that model. Put bluntly, the Tea Party is the opposite of the Nanny State, one reason for the excess racism and venom directed at Tea Party supporters.
Whatever the outcome of the film, at first glance I like the choices of the characters and I like the formatting. The film should certainly resonate with audiences in 2011 as the presidential election begins to draw near. I’ve often said, “We are living ‘Atlas Shrugged.’” Because we are—the mandated sacrifice part of it anyway.
(Commentary by Kay B. Day/July 30, 2010)
Reader Comments (2)
At a 5M$ budget, this movie will make 5X that just from loyalty to Rand, maybe with promo help from Beck and Stossel. I love the bitter post on Salon by an obvious leftist, unable to hide his ideological venom.
Leftists cannot begin to appreciate Rand because she frightens them. I've seen some leftwingers attempting to sound intellectual make some really dumb statements about her work.
I am really looking forward to the movie--best, KBD/editor, TUSR