Posted on 02/11/2007 2:15:16 PM PST by saganite
Ayn Rand is one of the most controversial writers in modern American literature, known for her tireless advocacy of the right to selfishness and her hatred of big government. She has been derided and loved in equal measure and her books have sold millions of copies, attracting followers as diverse as banker Alan Greenspan, President Ronald Reagan and architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
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. Now that is to change. The latest attempt to film Atlas Shrugged is set to star Angelina Jolie in the role of Rand's railroad heiress heroine Dagny Taggart. Unlike past efforts, this one seems likely to succeed. A two-hour screenplay is almost complete and filming is to start this year with release in 2008. It is being written by Randall Wallace, who wrote the Mel Gibson epic Braveheart, and is backed by Lion's Gate Entertainment.
Atlas Shrugged is one of the most controversial books in modern literature. It is a passionate defence of Rand's belief that the world is best served when individuals act entirely in their own rational self-interest. Or, to put it more bluntly, they act selfishly. Rand, who died in 1982, founded the objectivist school of philosophy and still has millions of followers. Atlas Shrugged and another novel The Fountainhead promote her views. In financial circles Atlas Shrugged has been dubbed 'the bible of selfishness'.
(Excerpt) Read more at observer.guardian.co.uk ...
As things stands he would be my choice as well. But you should never underestimate Hollywood's ability to utterly screw up the best intentioned project.
I've never heard of him, but the picture posted here is definitely "John Galt-ish".
But knowing Hollywood, since they've already pre-ordained Jolie and Pitt as the main characters, with my luck they'll cast another hack like Ben Affleck to play John Galt.
:o)
Thanks for the ping. Of course I'm falmiliar with this, but watch no TV and no movies made since the 50s, so I'll gladly miss this one.
Hank
Ayn Rand was right - everyone has the right to be selfish - and die alone and hated.
If you're implying she died alone and hated you're very wrong.
Then perhaps she wasn't selfish. What I said was those who live selfishly die alone and hated.
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