Will Conservatives Make ‘Atlas Shrugged’ A Hit?

The Wall Street Journal ^ | April 15, 2011 | Anthony Kaufman

[presidio9]

After more than 50 years, Ayn Rand’s seminal novel and ode to free market capitalism “Atlas Shrugged” is finally hitting the big screen this weekend, in the first of a planned trilogy of movies. Independently produced and distributed by entrepreneur John Aglialoro, chairman of UM Holdings Inc, the film “Atlas Shrugged, Part 1″ was budgeted under $10 million and includes a cast of little-known actors (newcomer Taylor Schilling stars as the powerful female industrialist Dagny Taggart).

At one time, Algialoro, who optioned the book’s rights 18 years ago, had struck up a partnership with Lionsgate Films to make a version of the movie, possibly as a TV miniseries for the new EPIX cable outfit. But when the project dragged on without getting the green light, Algialoro turned to entertainment attorney and executive producer Harmon Kaslow to get the film made quickly before the rights to the book reverted back to the Ayn Rand estate. Shot in just 26 days and completed several months later, the entire film’s creation, from green light to this week’s release, took about a year, according to Kaslow.

Reaching out to conservative organizations such as the Cato Institute,

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While advance interest in the film may be high among the film’s conservative base, reviews have been terrible. For example,

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[scott7278]

The 1:45pm showing was nearly full, and there was lots of applause at the end. I think it’s a sleeper.

[max americana]

alrighty bro, I;ll drink to that!

[presidio9]

How do you know Roddenberry was a Rand disciple when the entire series is all about multi-culturalism and the Federation is compared to the United Nations?

No doubt a future Rand might have anticipated?

[max americana]

If it includes the 3-breasted hookers like in Total Recall, OK, I’ll make an exception.

[presidio9]

Now that I think about it, the last 20mins of a taped “Red Eye” are on FNC right now on the east coast.

[presidio9]

Personally, I never got that “three breast vs. two hands” thing. And the actress was a total pig.

[I see my hands]

While discussing sinful Rand, her imperfect works and their flawed adaptations the right plods righteously. When discussing Gore's pile of crap the left uses the opportunity to demean, demonize, destroy and marginalize the people and ideas of freedom. They try to kill their enemies.

I guess next year every freaking commercial will be on about individual responsibility like they are now about _***** (I can't even say the word anymore), yeah.

[streetpreacher]

Ayn Rand was as anti-God as any liberal.

[streetpreacher]

Not that it takes away from her message or book. Just sayin’.

[Lancey Howard]

Seen it. I’m old.

[dixiechick2000]

Atlas screens are expanding next week. It doesn’t show here until next Friday. Despite what folks have said on this thread, I’m really looking forward to seeing it.

BTW, I’ve found two venues here in the Portland, Oregon metro area, and both are premier locations.

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

Ayn Rand was as anti-God as any liberal.

Her real complaint about religion was the "witch doctor" not God. The witch doctors are the real ones who pull the strings. God in her mind was simply there for the witch doctors to use.

[dixiechick2000]

LOL! I’m old, too...but I guess that makes my grands “old” as they have seen it, as well.

“It’s A Wonderful Life” is one of the best sleeper films ever. It wasn’t anywhere near being a hit when it was released.

BTW, I’m old, but not old enough to have seen it in it’s original release. ;o)

[Crooked Constituent]

Saw the movie last night. It was awful. One star out of five.

[LiveFree99]

Ayn Rand once said to William F. Buckley Jr., “You are too intelligent to believe in God.” She was an open and proud God-hating atheist.

[dalight]

Well... I hate to trouble you with alternative opinions, but the fact is that the split between viewers and critics on this couldn't be wider. The people who have seen this movie liked it on the whole and this has held for the whole weekend. 10% fresh by the LSM critics and 85% fresh by viewing public.

Their marketing plan is right on the money and coming into this weekend, Fandango had Atlas Shrugged as 3rd in their sales list with only 299 theaters. That is huge because most major films hit 2500+ theaters.

On Box Office Mojo, 77% of viewers are ranking this movie an A. The first night's box office was approx. 683,000 est. or $2280/theater. That puts it near $2.3 Million this weekend in only 299 Theaters.

If this holds, expect the release to expand next weekend. Think "Blare Witch Project" with an LSM suppression field and tea partiers cheering. Who knows where this goes..

[org.whodat]

Only if it is an x rated move about the porcupine abilities of the author.

[TheConservativeBanker]

I saw the movie yesterday. Loved it. Although it showed some traces of not being a “high budget” mega production, it should please most open minded viewers who don’t depend on critics to tell them what they will like and not like. If your movie tastes mirror Roger Ebert’s, then don’ frustrate yourself. If we want more conservative movies to be released, then we should support the ones we have, even if they don’t meet the “standards” of Hollywood’s “finest”.

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

Wasn’t “The King’s Speech” in only a few theaters to begin with?

[lowtaxsmallgov]

“Many people (like me, for example) enjoy movies but do not enjoy today’s movie theater experience.”

LOL, for me it’s the office - I enjoy going out to see a movie, it is the “least worst” movie choice that we are usually faced with that I don’t enjoy!