Angelina Jolie in "Atlas Shrugged"

[Pipirr]

Personally, I never read it and don't really know what the fuss is all about.

But the forums are where I first heard about Ayn Rand, so, if anybody is interested, rumours of a movie of the book "Atlas Shrugged" are floating around.

Angelina Jolie is apparently a RandFan, and sought out backers for the movie.

 

[Walter Wayne]

Her most famous book, Atlas Shrugged, has long been a target of Hollywood producers and attracted such big names as Faye Dunaway, Raquel Welch and Sharon Stone. But each project collapsed in the face of turning a 1,200-page philosophical novel into a watchable movie.

I would have thought such a project would collapse because there are only so many times you can give a "looters of the world" speech before you realize the same ten pages are being repeated again ... and again ... and again ...

I skipped several hundred pages to Dagny's "crash", and am told I didn't miss anything. At the time it certainly didn't prevent me from discussing the book with anybody.

 

[TragicMonkey]

And I thought Battlefield Earth would always hold the record for being the absolute worst book made into an even worse movie. I fear Atlas Shrugged is so very bad that making it into a movie would result in a product so absolutely awful it break the limit of absolute crappiness and implode, creating a rip in space-time and result in the destruction of the universe. Which, having harbored Ayn Rand's works, pretty much has it coming.

 

[NoZed Avenger]

And I thought Battlefield Earth would always hold the record for being the absolute worst book made into an even worse movie. I fear Atlas Shrugged is so very bad that making it into a movie would result in a product so absolutely awful it break the limit of absolute crappiness and implode, creating a rip in space-time and result in the destruction of the universe. Which, having harbored Ayn Rand's works, pretty much has it coming.

So you're ambivalent about it?

 

[TragicMonkey]

So you're ambivalent about it?

Actually, I hope they do make a movie of it, and Angelina Jolie stars. Then when it flops horribly, it will wreck her career and remove her from the tabloid headlines in favor of more interesting people. Who cares about her and her collection of children? When I'm in line at the supermarket, I want to read about Kirstie Alley's weight issues, and whether Nick is seeing anybody and is Jessica upset about it, and maybe about Donkey Boy or something good like that.

 

[Pipirr]

And I thought Battlefield Earth would always hold the record for being the absolute worst book made into an even worse movie. I fear Atlas Shrugged is so very bad that making it into a movie would result in a product so absolutely awful it break the limit of absolute crappiness and implode, creating a rip in space-time and result in the destruction of the universe. Which, having harbored Ayn Rand's works, pretty much has it coming.

I laughed so hard the milk came out of my nose!

 

[Spindrift]

This would be one of the times where about the only way to make a good movie is to change it so much that you wouldn't realize what the source material was.

 

[bobdroege7]

This would be one of the times where about the only way to make a good movie is to change it so much that you wouldn't realize what the source material was.

So its possible to make a hugely successful movie ala "Starship Troopers"

 

[a_unique_person]

So its possible to make a hugely successful movie ala "Starship Troopers"

I'd love to see Paul Verhoeven direct Atlas Shrugged. He'd have a lot of fun.

 

[Brainiac]

I've read Atlas Shrugged twice. I see everyone ridiculing the book, but to me it's a fascinating book with some fantastic characters and interesting ideas.

I can see Angelina Jolie as Dagny Taggart. I'll be very interested to see who is cast as John Galt, Hank Reardon, and Francisco D'Anconia. In my mind Francisco D'Anconia is one of the most interesting fictional characters I've ever read about. He appears to be a rich and irresponsible playboy who is squandering his family's wealth and running the family business into the ground, but as you learn more about him you realize that he is actually very brilliant and highly motivated. I hope his character doesn't get short shrift in the movie.

Is the book waaaaaaaay too long? Yes. Ayn Rand was obviously being very self-indulgent when she wrote it, and I'm guessing that she already had enough clout because of her previous success with The Fountainhead that her publisher didn't have the balls to stand up to her. But if you are willing to wade through the chaff, the wheat is well worth it.

 

[HistoryGal]

I've read Atlas Shrugged twice. I see everyone ridiculing the book, but to me it's a fascinating book with some fantastic characters and interesting ideas.

It's what I call a brilliant book, badly written. Even my most ardent objectivist friend said he's never really completely gotten through the Galt soliloqy.

I can see Angelina Jolie as Dagny Taggart.

Blech. But that's JMHO. I'm no fan of hers.

How about Antonio Banderas as D'Anconia? Too old, perhaps?

HG

 

[Katana]

It's what I call a brilliant book, badly written. Even my most ardent objectivist friend said he's never really completely gotten through the Galt soliloqy.

As a big fan of the book, even I can't disagree with this. I have re-read it and enjoy the characters every time, but I have never been able to get through his speech again. I get it already!

Blech. But that's JMHO. I'm no fan of hers.

How about Antonio Banderas as D'Anconia? Too old, perhaps?

HG

No to Jolie. Then again, I don't know who would be good enough to pull her off.

I wonder whether Liam Neeson might make a nice Hank Reardon.

Kevin Spacey as James Taggart?

Antonio Banderas as Francisco is not bad at all.

Robert Downey Jr as Cuffy Meigs?

Edie Falco or Cate Blanchett as Lillian Reardon?

Geoffrey Rush as Mouch?

Paul Giamatti as Mr. Mowen?

William H. Macy as Eddie Willers (too old?).

Christopher Plummer as Hugh Akston?

Jack Black as Philip Reardon?

Christian Bale as John Galt?

Just some thoughts.

Having said all of that, I hope that this film is never made.

 

[hgc]

I like Angelina Jolie, and I hope she dodges this sticky booger. It will be her Battlefield Earth.

Just look at The Fountainhead, a dreadful movie. Rand wrote the screenplay and had complete control over all revisions. This movie makes Gary Cooper and Patricia Neal look ridiculous.

 

[HistoryGal]

As a big fan of the book, even I can't disagree with this. I have re-read it and enjoy the characters every time, but I have never been able to get through his speech again. I get it already!

Exactly.

Cate Blanchett as Lillian Reardon?

Ooh - how about Cate Blanchett as Dagney? I like that casting!

And, assuming he can pull off an American accent, Joseph Fiennes for John Galt.

Having said all of that, I hope that this film is never made.

Me, too.

HG

 

[sackett]

Old Annie Rand calls for CGI treatment. It's a fake book, so make it with fake sets and actors.

But you guys quit slanging Angelina. You don't know her the way I do. Ooooh, what she can do with those LIPS!

 

[Overman]

The book is important to read. It does present some very different views from what preceded it, but you need to protect workers, and you could tell she was pretty angsting against growing up under communism.

I think the most drastic effect of this book is that it spawned the long winded cheap crap romantic novel industry. Whenever you read the words "and she could tell by the look on his face that..." skip ahead 25 pages. I have no clue how Dagny could tell 25 pages of crap from the look on his face, but this happens about every chapter.

I would go Harrison Ford as Rearden

 

[boooeee]

Ooooh, what she can do with those LIPS!

Tell her bodyguard to put you in a headlock?

 

[sackett]

Now Boooeee, jealousy is unattractive even in the handsomest of posters.

Some pretty unlikely books have made good movies. Strange as it may sound, I've never seen a bad Henry James movie. Yes, Henry James, the hippomotomus trying to pick up a pea. Maybe only really good people tackle The Master, but somehow his dialogue and situations come alive on screen.

Not that there's any real comparison between James and Ann Rind. Or any comparison at all. Literature is not to be confused with self-indulgent nattering.

 

[Darth Rotor]

Angelina Jolie is apparently a RandFan, and sought out backers for the movie.

From Ayn Rand:

'There is a level of cowardice lower than the conformist. It is the fashionable non-conformist.

Sounds a bit like Angelina Jolie. It seems like the "fashionable non conformist' is related to "iconoclast without a cause," who is at least superior to "iconoclast without a clue."

A two hour screen play/film of Atlas Shrugged will be a trick to pull off. I hope it is a success. I'd like to see that story put to film effectively, as it will give CT'ists even more stuff to talk about.

I read the Galt speech when I was in 8th grade. That was painful then, and I have little stomach for it now.

I had a little Ayn Rand joke in 1990, right before Desert Storm.

Q: "Who is John Galt?"
A: Saddam Hussein, if he succeeds in keeping Kuwait.

DR

 

[Merko]

I think they should start with The Fountainhead instead.

There are too few movies nowadays where the hero is a rapist and terrorist.