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 ...
I fear you may be right.
Pitt is too facially insubstantial an actor to play Galt. I have always thought Liam Neeson would be perfect, but he has aged. Gary Cooper was far from ideal as Howard Roark in "The Fountainhead" film, because he lacked energy and passion as an actor. Who has both the physical presence and acting gravitas to play Galt?
I don't remember Mrs. Rearden. Been too long since I read the book. But I am a big fan of Reese Witherspoon. She always seems to play strong women with admirable characteristics. Women with a moral compass, who fight for what they want/believe. Oh yeah, and she's charming and beautiful. Does that sound like Mrs. Rearden?
Randall Wallace is well-known as a Conservative. "Atlas" is a well-known diatribe against liberalism and governmental control.
He also wrote the screenplay for "We Were Soldiers".
I liked the "Blasters" cameos
Wow. Jolie and Pitt just went up a few notches in my book.
The movies never end up with the same message as the books.
They'll mess with this one, too.
"I'll pass, Randian economics are Darwinistic economics."
The only ones that work...
The problem with your point of view is that it assumes that people are one dimensional - selfish only.
Another important quality shared by most humans is "empathy" or compassion. The ability to relate to what others may be going through. This is what creates charities, volunteerism and caring for your family, friends, and neighbors.
These two qualities are separate but not inconsistent. In fact one could even argue that compassion derives from selfishness - it feels good to give. But before you can give you have to have.
What would you think of Hugh Jackman as Galt?
Braxil works beautifully at trnscending time
ping
Rutger Hauer as Ragnar Danneskjold.
I know, randian economics/philosophy is also heavily utilized by gasp *satanists*....
In the marketplace of ideas though Ayn Rand has stood up to the test of time, so the movie should have an audience, I just won't be attending.
Besides, in today's America, literacy is rare, and I do wonder how many people have sat down and read the whole book?
I can seeit now
"Junior what are you doing?"
"I'm listening to Chingy and reading Rand mom"
"Oh okay"
BWAHAHAHa yeah riiight...:)
Now, THAT is funny. I too really enjoyed Atlas Shrugged, though it IS a hard slog to get through at times. Often times it is way over-wrought, but the central theme resounds with much trith. Were that the world would birth a John Galt to work the magic.
I saw Reese Witherspoon play Rebecca in Vanity Fair, and she carried it off splendidly. That character is the same kind of scheming social climber as Mrs. Rearden.
I'd rather just have a sequel to Sky Captain.
Christopher Walken as Dr. Potter, Science Minister?
Perhaps, however I do not recall any tales of Rand serving food at a soup kitchen though....
Now for me the real question is how much, if at all. the govt should be responsible for the care and maintenance of it's citizenry.
with a almost 3 trillion dollar budget, perhaps America herself has reached that point..
I was thinking DeNiro, but he doesn't have the face for it. Galt -- at least in my mind -- is kind of a "pretty boy," at least when he's young. But life chips away at him with a dull chisel, and every strike shows on his face. It doesn't change him INSIDE, but his visage is a register of "every blow that cut him down." That's why I suggested Scott Glenn. He's not a great actor, but that face ...
Galt has a kind of quiet virility, a cross between someone like Greg Kinnear and Bruce Willis. With pain etched across his brow ...
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