Atlas Shrugged's Makers Speak! Q&A w producers & actor

[srpenquino]

Avalon, NJ is beautiful. No toxic waste. Very wealthy community. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

[howedesign]

Gee, Atlas Shrugged bombed. The "Free Market" works!

[Jigssaw1989]

Is there a way i can see this movie in europe ?! (and dont tell that i dont have to see it because i am living it :D )

[ronwandell]

I saw it, I liked it. It is a movie and not the book but that is the way movies are.

I think it will do a "Firefly" thing that it will do well financially when the Blue Ray comes to market.

[KeithMcElwain]

There is a reason that Atlas Shrugged is still #2 best seller of all time!!

[howedesign]

@KeithMcElwain There's also a reason lots of people stop along side the road to see a train wreck.

[werstiii]

Loved the book. Disappointed in what was left out of the movie. Why didn't they include Francisco's Money Speech, why no flashback to Francisco and Dagny in younger days, and set-up the love triangle between Dagny, Henry Rearden, and Francisco. That would have changed the whole tone of the movie and made us care so much more about the three characters.

[indylaw06]

Buh, the Collectivists don't like our movie - it's a conspiracy by the liberal drive-by elites to suppress Ayn Rand! It couldn't be because our movie is a steaming, poorly produced pile of shit, based on a steaming-pile-of-shit book, made to bilk the mass of Randroid "individuals" and Tea Party cultists out of their hard-earned dollars.

Face it, regardless of what you think of Objectivism or Ayn Rand, her fiction reads like love letters written by two autistics with traumatic brain injury.

[allencrider]

@indylaw06 It isn't a conspiracy. Next time, maybe it should be made by professionals == rather than moochers who got their seed money from political numbnuts.

[whxonix]

these guys should be shot, they are human parasites with no brains. get some dignity - my gosh, US would totally destroy this movie.

[whxonix]

they ought to be working with bernanke

[whxonix]

these guys are taking the piss - - - like they were making an advert for some sun tan lotion ...

[whxonix]

ayn rand must be turning in her grave

[goodgirlkay]

Thank God this movie bombed. There is a God, and Ayn Rand and all her followers cannot defeat his philosophy of love. Any Christian on this page, please support a morally right movie like Soul Surfer and leave this tripe, that won't even make a profit, to the Godless followers of Ayn Rand who believe selfishness is a virtue and charity is folly. Ayn Rand's philosophy is nihilistic poison, no man is an island and Jesus himself said that the poor are Blessed, Happy Easter!

[b07rivera]

Guys, I suggest you check out the spill dot com website and look into the audio review of Atlas Shrugged. While usually enjoyed their movie reviews, seeing that they are the average, egocentric, spoiled "professional" reviewers, they and the commentators below the audio review completely butcher this film. Flood them and spread the Libertarian views onto the mainstream.

[Wizardess]

No black leather jacket!!!!

Nick, what happened?

{^_-}

[blogegog]

Crap! We're supposed to dislike James Taggart. But the guy who's playing him seems awesome! *grumble*

[spamsponge]

I'd rather watch a four hour movie with intermission in the theater than wait a YEAR between episodes. Oh well, it was still good.

[mustang607]

The main problem with Atlas Shrugged is its anti-big government message. This message is extremely dangerous to the growing masses dependent on big government for their very existence. It must be attacked as a matter of their survival.

[thomaserossi]

Thank you Reason.TV for posting this. I might not be able to see the movie because I'll have to drive so far in the Communist Democracy of California but I've been anxious to hear about it. Again, thank you!

[mustang607]

Audiences love it. Hollywood critics hate it.

So predictable.

[JackBlair2]

@mustang607 Hollywood hates the Bible, too... so "AS" is in good company.

[Anakha13]

Three or four million more for Wyatt's Torch was absolutely worth it.

[Reckless3057]

No musicals! NNOOOO!

[NefariousBanana]

If you want a good objectivist movie, watch Iron Man 2, not this pigshit excuse for a movie.

[ObjectivistAesthetic]

@NefariousBanana There is no such thing as an Objectivist movie.

[NefariousBanana]

@ObjectivistAesthetic then what the hell is Atlas shrugged, then?

[ObjectivistAesthetic]

@NefariousBanana The book is a work of Romantic Realist fiction. Objectivism is a philosophy and deals only with broad abstractions (fundamental concepts), it can't dictate artistic decisions (how the book ends, plot twists, quantity and type of characters, etc.). A work of art may have Objectivist themes (like Atlas) but it's not Objectivist art--that doesn't exist. I can elaborate when I have more time if this interests you.

[Grutch]

Sure the movie is being panned for content, but lets get to grips with reality here. The quality of the movie is utter shit. What a fiasco! What a shame this was such a loser production.

[JackBlair2]

Mardsden studied JON EDWARDS to get Jim right, LMAO.

[yakyakyak69]

The Fed & IRS corrupt crony politicians with power to borrow, debase & spend to buy “support” from Special Interest Groups, Unions, “Too Big to Fail” Corporations, the Military-Industrial Complex & Wall Street cartel.

Central Banking w/Fiat Debt-Currency & Fractional Reserve Banking gave birth to histories most evil political trends via central economic planning despotism.

Central Banking = Corrupt Political Cronyism

Watch: “Money As Debt Full HQ Video” here on YouTube

End The Fed!

[Tnat1on]

I live in Lithuania and no cinema here shows this film. Americans are so lucky to be able to see it...

[Odinshi]

How can I watch this video without leaving Norway? :(

[Odinshi]

I mean the movie, this video is on youtube ;)

[JackBlair2]

@Odinshi DVD soon, hopefully.

[mmille10]

I understand how you got the "third overall" idea (only 3 new movies introduced this past weekend, "Atlas" being one of them), but Atlas Shrugged came in 14th out of the top 20 grosses for last weekend, at $1.7 million. Rio got $39 million, and Scream 4 got $18.7 million. What I've heard of Ayn Rand's ideas I like, but I feel the need to add some clarity here.

[LibertyDownUnder]

@mmille10, 3rd on the 'per screen' count, not overall.

[AlfiePotts]

@mmille10 It came third in dollars earned per theater over the launch weekend. It played at 299 theaters wheareas the others played at 1000's. Dollars per theater it came in just under the other 2.

[mmille10]

@AlfiePotts

Alright. Cool. Someone mentioned that they were hoping to do a gradual rollout, where they'd gradually expand the showings to more and more theaters if it was successful in its limited release. Hopefully that'll happen.

[NAGGERNUTZ]

Forget the movie, read the book. I guarantee if it doesn't give you a different outlook on life, you're brain dead. Conservative or liberal.

[bentothetenthpower]

@NAGGERNUTZ

How can you be so stupid and empty-headed? There is no single text that can enlighten the masses. There are many different paths to the same destination.

[NAGGERNUTZ]

@bentothetenthpower - As if anyone cares what you think.

[bentothetenthpower]

@NAGGERNUTZ

Which is exactly what I was telling you. How could anyone care what somebody so slavishly devoted to a single world view thinks?

[NAGGERNUTZ]

@bentothetenthpower - OK, you've trolled the video. Don't read the book. Don't see the movie. Remain ignorant. Cherry pick everything you read. Keep your tunnel vision. Now go away.

[bentothetenthpower]

@NAGGERNUTZ I have read the book. It was nothing special. I have also read The Fountainhead. Not very interesting either.

In no sense am I trolling, I am actually very serious about this. Ayn Rand was an interesting thinker, but she was, and is, not the bloody messiah.

So, in closing, please expand your horizons a little bit, not where books are concerned, but with real people.

A person can fail to share your views about a school of thought, and still be relevant to your experience on earth.

[NAGGERNUTZ]

@bentothetenthpower - Read them again. You may have missed something. Have a great day.

[blogegog]

@NAGGERNUTZ I pretty much agree with Rand on the capitalism front, but that book is so frickin' boring! And what's the deal with her protagonist's disgust with sexual desire? It's creepy. Is she projecting it onto him? I've been halfway through the book for over a year now. I'd love to find out who Galt is (I'm hoping it's an island where everyone is a capitalist), but it seems that there is always something better to do than read that book.

- read other books

- stare aimlessly

- feed pet..

[NAGGERNUTZ]

@blogegog - Dude, I don't know you, so I can't comment on your lifestyle or your reading comprehension skills. All I can say is, it's probably one of, if not the greatest book I've ever read.

[blogegog]

@NAGGERNUTZ finding a book to be boring has very little to do with reading comprehension, so the attempt at insult was a failure. But more importantly, there was no need to attempt to insult me. As I said, I tend to agree with Ayn, except for her position on sex.

It's great that she made the book. It's just that the dialogue seems to last forever and be extremely repetitive. Especially when any antagonist is involved. And LONG!

Apologies if I pissed you off. Didn't mean to.

[NAGGERNUTZ]

@blogegog - Dude, I didn't insult you and wasn't trying to. I said I can't comment on your reading comprehension skills. If I wanted to insult you I would have told you that your reading comprehensions skills suck. I'm sorry if you took it that way. It's sometimes hard getting your point across when typing comments. My apologies. At least you aren't posting negative comments like some of the morons here who refuse to read the book but like to tear it down.

[blogegog]

@NAGGERNUTZ Great! But... just so you know, saying "I can't comment on your xxxx" is just a passive-aggressive way of saying that you disapprove of someone's 'xxxx'. I'm sure you already knew that though.

At the risk of being anti-Randian, I wish you well :).

[Liface]

@NAGGERNUTZ False choice fallacy, nice. Nah, I'm pretty sure it's complete shite. 

[NAGGERNUTZ]

@Liface - Um, I have no idea what you're talking about, but whatever...

[Darkwizzrobe]

Suddenly I want to see Atlas Shrugged the Musical haha

[JackBlair2]

@Darkwizzrobe Could happen. "Titanic" was made into a musical.

[waremi51]

0:16 looks like bill nye in the front row

[kasyapa]

wonderful anecdotes and insights. the story of this film's making tells us how to make meaningful film on a limited budget. thank you!

[RFBertram]

Bravo... you guys are on a roll. Hope it makes folks read the book!!!

[Beljora]

I'm glad they didn't include the Concerto... It's easy for Rand to describe an American Concerto of 'defiance and rebellion' without 'agony or sorrow' with a whistleable tune (that excludes the minimalists!), but what movie composer is going to live up to that?

I guess they could have turned to past pieces... possibly Aaron Copland... but that would have seemed hollow and plagaristic when Halley claimed them as his own. But then, even big-budget films have done this... I usually cringe.

[ObjectivistAesthetic]

Ayn Rand would be rolling in her grave.

[JoeJC]

@ObjectivistAesthetic why?

[ObjectivistAesthetic]

@JoeJC Libertarians (whom she hated) trying to benefit from her labor, an absolutely botched job of making "Atlas" into a movie, etc. 

[JoeJC]

@ObjectivistAesthetic What's the difference between a libertarian and an objectivist?

[ObjectivistAesthetic]

@JoeJC That's a great question. The answer is a lot actually. Libertarians share many (not all) political beliefs with Objectivists but the reasons as to why are completely different. Objectivism is a philosophy which includes many, many other, philosophical ideas (such as atheism, selfishness, views on art, etc.), but Libertarianism is only a political philosophy with little or no agreement between members on those other philosophical issues (eg., many Lib's are religious, but no O.ists are.)

[JoeJC]

@ObjectivistAesthetic hmmm ok. I thought Rand would have embraced libertarians with open arms.

[ObjectivistAesthetic]

@JoeJC "For the record, I shall repeat what I have said many times before: I do not join or endorse any political group or movement. More specifically, I disapprove of, disagree with, and have no connection with, the latest aberration of some conservatives, the so-called “hippies of the right,” who attempt to snare the younger or more careless ones of my readers by claiming simultaneously to be followers of my philosophy and advocates of anarchism." -Rand

[libertarianjury]

@JoeJC Google search "we're all libertarians now nathaniel branden" -there's your thoughtful answer. Rand was a contrarian who wanted credit for the ideas of Sam Adams, Thomas Paine, John Lilburne, etc... But you can't patent freedom, because it's my freedom, too, and I aim to claim it! Her disagreement with libertarians was all ego and zero reason. It's the same with Hayek: he basically didn't like the word. ...What a terrible reason to lose ground to people like Joe Biden and Harry Reid!

[richardcadbury]

Objectivists can be very hard to please. This is hardly surprising, given that a heroic perfect accomplishment is the standard against which all attempts are to be judged.

[ccassler3]

I was so disappointed by the movie. They did not build the characters at all, Francisco did not give his awesome speech at the party, the lady that played Dagny was terrible, they did not explain anything, and it just looked cheap all around. Please do not make a part two. If you're not going to do it right, don't do it at all. I would think Rand was a nutjob if I had seen the movie without reading the book.

[KaraDeAwesome]

@ccassler3

The speech occurs at a party in Part II of the book. And I liked it, people are exaggerating its weaknesses. I really hope they will make Part II with a lot larger budget and more time to iron out a good script.

[ccassler3]

@KaraDeAwesome Oh, I really thought the speech was at the first party, but now that I look at the book it is near the beginning of part II. There were parts of the movie that were good, but you have to admit that someone watching this movie without reading the book would have no clue what is going on. They didn't say anything about Dagny growing up with Francisco. They just made him look like an old boyfriend from a year ago. They showed the dollar cigarette, but Dagny didn't even pick it up.

[KaraDeAwesome]

@ccassler3

I thought so at first too, but I brought my boyfriend along who never read it, and he was able to follow along and enjoyed it quite immensely. It was fasted-paced and rich, so it is not easy for everyone to catch everything, but a lot of it is there, you just have to catch it. I am hoping that they will start Part II with Dagny and Frisco's childhood. They set up Part I as more of a mystery, it allows for more developments to occur in Part II so more can be explained.

[lashkaretoiba]

You've convinced me there should be no more parts.

[lashkaretoiba]

You murdered the flash back scene of dagny and francisco's whole relationship. Thus, making francisco uninteresting and a nothing character. Good job.

[lashkaretoiba]

The movie didn't even make mention to Halley's Fifth Concerto? Dagny is obsessed with it in the book? Horrible.

[theylied1776]

Atlas Shrugged only grossed 1,686,347. this title of being the #1 movie per screen doesn't mean a thing, if you don't make your money back for production (which means you must make twice your production costs back) and show that you can make a profit, you're done.

Making movies is 90% business and 10% of an art form.

[KaraDeAwesome]

@theylied1776

? , you forget that it is only a 10 million film. They made back 1/5 of their budget on the 1st weekend. They will have no problem making double their budget.

[theylied1776]

@KaraDeAwesome Wanna Bet? for an "average movie" (30-80 million) 70% of the entire gross is made within the first two weeks. and this movie is in "very limited release" with no T.V. or print advertising at all. it'll be a miracle if this movie makes 8million.

Just to break even they would have to make back double the amount of production (20 million).

[lashkaretoiba]

If they cut out the Johns attack on religious mysticism. You know exactly what kind of people your dealing with here.

[lashkaretoiba]

There so going to fuck this up.

[lashkaretoiba]

If you didn't have the time you shouldn't of made it at all. This movie if done right has oscar written all over it.

[goingalt]

@lashkaretoiba I agree with the 1st statement. 2nd statement assumes that the Academy doesn't have a political agenda, which I think we can say it does have an agenda. 

[NefariousBanana]

@lashkaretoiba 7% on Rotten Tomatoes. That's lower than 2012, Batman and Robin, Pearl Harbor, and Transformers 2. I don't think it's oscar material, buddy.

[lashkaretoiba]

@NefariousBanana I said it could of been if done right, PAL!

[TheLegalImmigrant05]

By the way, I think the script completely butchered Rearden by not showing the internal conflict in how his relationship with Dagny began. Everything was rosy and easy, no intenral conflict. That means there can be no awakening in the future, which happens to be my favorite part of the book - the evolution of Rearden from a man burdened by guilt to the man who rejects the sanction of the victim.

[lashkaretoiba]

@TheLegalImmigrant05 totally agree.

[tjttzcspplt]

@TheLegalImmigrant05 I agree. His wife was a lot nicer in the movie. They should have shown how unsupportive she was.

[JackBlair2]

@TheLegalImmigrant05 I disagree - there were hints of it.

[JackBlair2]

@TheLegalImmigrant05 There were hints of it. Fear not, it will be handled just fine. There was already a hint of it at the dinner with Wyatt - recall when Hank made the toast to "The John Galt Line..." Dagny winced slightly as if she were thinking "Um, yes I've been meaning to tell you something about that..."

[Yesica1993]

@TheLegalImmigrant05 Having just finished the book (after seeing the movie) I have to agree.

[safewaysecurity]

From a film perspective the movie was terrible. Bad acting except the main actor and poorly organized and just bad in every category. I liked the movie because of the message but the film was terrible.

[TheLegalImmigrant05]

@safewaysecurity Sadly, I have to agree. The only character who sort of lurked through the bad acting was Rearden, but only just. Everyone else was bad, bad, bad. Bad photography, bad sets, they even used one and the same limo in like 4 or 5 different scenes with different people. Meh.

[lukewarmstormed]

@safewaysecurity

I agree this movie sucked. I'll stick with the book until they get better actors and directors.