atlas shrugged, the movie

[cjsmall]

That was an excellent plot synopsis Robert.

--

Jeff

[Chris Grieb]

Robert, Thanks for the link. That is all great material. I going to learn how to do this link business.

[JanieJones]

For me, Dagny's choosing Galt is a problem: He is not fully fleshed out in the book or made concretely real in his background role plus the small section in the valley...you don't see him in sunlight and in shadow, in different circumstances or moods -- as opposed to the fully realized and thoroughly admirable, completely heroic, emotional and passionate, fully concretely real, vivid, larger than life, dramatic Francisco.

Her choosing Galt was a mistaken choice on Ayn Rand's part.

Is Francisco 'weaker' than Galt because he didn't lead the strike? Because he was torn between conflicts at some points? Because he was less "perfect" in some way? Was he less moral? Not as well 'integrated'?

No is the answer to each of those questions.

yes and compare that to her relationships with Hank and Fransisco. Rand really fleshes those out, more Hank than Fransisco, though. I love that scene where they are in the restaurant and then when they are walking out Hank keeps his arms to his sides cause he doesn't want to touch the outside world. Its pretty magical. I also felt Dagny's devastation at what Fransisco had become (or seemed to have become). It would be more realistic had she jumped from Hank to Fransisco, much more human. But she loved Hank and they were having pretty damn good sex even two years in. Its also the best part of the novel and to throw that away to the smug, wooden Galt makes no sense. Especially after the intense scene where Hank finds out that Dagny banged Fransisco years ago. For me, the book crumbles after that.

[Chris Grieb]

Janie,

When Atlas was being written the Brandens among others prevailed on Ayn Rand to flesh out John Galt. Miss Rand said she had to treat Galt like a god. Galt was prefect.

Dagny didn't jump into bed with Readan. I believe there was a gap of several years between the end of affair with Francisco.

[Steve Gagne]

I would classify AS more as alternative history or possible future history than fantasy. There were no magical elements in the story. All events occurred within the realm of physical law with the possible exception of running motors on static electricity. The atmosphere acts as a capacitor, but there is not enough current available to run motors or electronic circuits on a steady basis. Some form of generator which transforms heat into motion or the kinetics of photovoltaic generation is required. TANSTAAFL, especially in the realm of physical processes.

So with the exception of Galt's generator as a plot McGuffin(gimmick), the novel was not a fantasy at all.

Ba'al Chatzaf

Ummm...the motor was already developed back in the 60's. I saw a working model of it. Its fate was pretty much the same as what happened in the book, but at the hands of a different set of idiots (concrete-bound bean counters instead of socialist moochers). Not a fantasy at all.

[BaalChatzaf]

Ummm...the motor was already developed back in the 60's. I saw a working model of it. Its fate was pretty much the same as what happened in the book, but at the hands of a different set of idiots (concrete-bound bean counters instead of socialist moochers). Not a fantasy at all.

Please provide reference in the literature. Whatever it is you saw, it did not run on static charge.

Thank you.

Bob Kolker

[Judith]

I'd more go for Barry Pepper as Galt, he might be able to convey what Rand was trying to get at but I just didn't buy. Very rugged and manly and brilliant looking, plus he's also got pretty hair like Galt.

Hmmm. Rugged? Manly? He looks more like a gay vampire in that picture as far as I'm concerned, but maybe it's just the picture. As far as pretty hair, it's hard to tell until he washes it. Several times. He looks like he dipped his head in motor oil.

Maybe Kristin Scott Thomas as Dagny. Very beautiful, very classy, not a ho (like Jolie). I could also see someone like Cate Blanchett. She is also a great actress. For Dagny its probably also better to have a well known face but not some superstar that most of the audience has a pre-conceived notion about.

Is that Thomas or Blanchett? Whoever she is, I could certainly buy her as Dagny if she dyed her hair brown.

Since Hank Rearden is the sexiest, most heroic and ideal man ever he has to be cast properly. If this were 30 years ago Clint Eastwood would be a no brainer. Ed Harris circa Apollo 13 would have been an excellent choice too, but both are too old for the role now. Some might say Harrison Ford but he's too wooden and too Hollywood. Honestly, I'd go with Damian Lewis. A more blond, aged Damian Lewis would be perfect. Not only does he physically resemble Rearden, he's also a great actor. After seeing Band of Brothers I could see him easily taking on a heroic ideal man part.

(and whats not to like, Lewis as Rearden, standing alone surveying his mills, hands in his pockets, hair blowing in the wind. hehe gotta go cool down now).

I don't care for Eastwood in the role; Harris would have been perfect as you say. Ford has features that are way too round and soft. I'm not delighted with Lewis for some reason that I can't really articulate; he just looks kind of smug and smart-alecky in that picture, which is all I know of him. I don't consider Rearden to be an ideal man simply because of his madonna/whore complex; how could someone so intelligent be so stupid?

As for Fransisco, beats the Hell out of me. I think an unknown sizzling Spanish actor, someone exotic, intense and brilliant. Anyone but Antonio Banderas.

The only actor I could ever begin to visualize in that role is Armand Assante with blue contacts sometime when he was about 20 years younger than he is today.

Judith

[Chris Grieb]

Judith,

The only thing I have seen Barry Pepper is 61*. He played Roger Maris. It is the story of Maris's going after Ruth's home run record. Pepper was very good. Pepper's hair is very short in this movie. I think we have to think outside the box on Galt so I would at least give a Pepper a screen test. One of the idea offered was a search for Galt like the search Scarlett O'Hara of Gone with the Wind.

[Judith]

Judith,

The only thing I have seen Barry Pepper is 61*. He played Roger Maris. It is the story of Maris's going after Ruth's home run record. Pepper was very good. Pepper's hair is very short in this movie. I think we have to think outside the box on Galt so I would at least give a Pepper a screen test. One of the idea offered was a search for Galt like the search Scarlett O'Hara of Gone with the Wind.

You could well be right, Chris. I'm just a grumpy middle-aged woman who doesn't see many films and is judging on the basis of a single picture.

Judith

[JanieJones]

The comment about his hair was kind of a joke cause I found Rand's obsession with describing it kinda odd. If someone mentions a man having nice hair I tend to get scared cause I think of Sully in Doctor Quinn Medicine Woman.

That was Thomas.

Barry Pepper was also in 25th Hour and Saving Private Ryan and he was excellent in both.

Lewis is not really smug or smart alecky, if you watch Band of Brothers you'll see he's quite the opposite. Ed Harris is just a bit too old at this point even though he's still very sexy. teehee.

[Laure]

I wonder if an older Rearden might actually be better. I mean, it might be more plausible that Dagny would leave him for Galt if Rearden were much older than Dagny -- it'd be more of a temporary relationship. Plus, I always envisioned Lillian as being pretty old. (Harrison Ford's my pick, although I do think he's a little past his peak.)

[JanieJones]

who do you guys see playing Jim? I could see Kevin Spacey doing it but he too would have been better 10 years ago before he became almost of parody of great roles.

[Chris Grieb]

One thing that should be a consideration. The budget may not be enough for more than one big name. Watch for bit players in movies. Also look at soap operas and TV series. We must not fear unknowns.

[Brant Gaede]

If I were 20 years younger, I could play James Taggart. I'd be very good.

--Brant

[Judith]

who do you guys see playing Jim? I could see Kevin Spacey doing it but he too would have been better 10 years ago before he became almost of parody of great roles.

Alec Baldwin or Nicholas Cage.

Judith

[Steve Gagne]

Please provide reference in the literature. Whatever it is you saw, it did not run on static charge.

Bob

I didn't see any literature. What I saw was an electric motor with enhanced antifriction bearings, with a funny-looking blower tube on it and no power supply, running and putting out large quantities of cold air. No battery. No fossil fuels. No backup.

I'm not a physicist so I couldn't provide anything like the math it took to make it work.

But when I asked about it, I was told it didn't take any esoteric theories like "nonlinear transport of electric current" or "Vander Waal's Forces" to explain it. More just principles of advanced fluid dynamics and basic high school chemistry.

steve

[Laure]

Jim Taggart? Philip Seymour Hoffman.

[Steve Gagne]

Jim Taggart? Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Excellent.

[cjsmall]

Jim Taggart? Philip Seymour Hoffman

That's a good pick, but I see Hoffman as more the physical embodiment of Orren Boyle in my mind.

[Bidinotto]

My "Atlas" cast -- with links to photos.

Enjoy.

[Aggrad02]

Bidinotto,

Morgan Freeman as Hugh Ankston is brilliant. I didn't see it coming, but once I did I got goosebumps.

Edited June 4, 2007 by Aggrad02

[Chris Grieb]

Freeman is a great choice for Atkson.

I don't know the name of young woman who played Will Smith's wife in Independence Day but I think she would be good as Cheryl Taggart.

[John Dailey]

Chris:

~ I'm tempted to agree re JT's wife, but, I think such a 'color' dif 'twixt the two would be a distraction calling for a ('cinematic') explanation...nowadays, anyways. Yes, in a certain warped sense, she'd be regardable as a 'trophy' wife, maybe even reinforcing his ostensibly 'liberal' (aka hypocritical) views, but, unless Taggart was played by Fishburne or Spike Lee (which would raise more 'distractions', literarily speaking), I don't think such would work. --- I stress 'nowadays' (elsewise, yes: good idea); pity.

LLAP

J:D

[John Dailey]

An aside, re the 'skin-color' angle:

~ I think, whatever other changes might be (for whatever reasons) 'required', that Angela Bassett would make a really great 'Dagny.' I'd be surprised if AR would have disagreed. Of course, this is moot.

LLAP

J:D

[Chris Grieb]

John; I don't see the problem. Angela Basset has Dagny would be a big problem. JT as the phony he is would of course latch on Cheryl.