Posted on 04/29/2011 7:52:41 PM PDT by Clintonfatigued
The relative box-office success of the independent film "Atlas Shrugged," based on the bestselling Ayn Rand novel that features the character John Galt, has reportedly surprised Hollywood insiders who took a pass on the script. It shouldn't have.
The box-office results show that cinematic clashes between self-made industrialists and government bureaucrats fit this moment in American history snugly, addressing both tea party sentiments and polls that show growing pessimism about the direction of the country.
QUIZ: How much do you know about the tea party?
"Atlas Shrugged: Part I" (Parts II and III are reportedly in the planning stages) cost $10 million and wrapped in 26 days. Last weekend when it opened, it reported a respectable $5,640 per-theater take, with a Duluth, Ga., theater leading the way with more than $25,000 in receipts. In all, the movie earned $1.7 million in 244 theaters the first weekend, enough to warrant further distribution.
With no studio backing for a public-relations blitz, co-producers John Aglialoro and Harmon Kaslow pushed the movie out through various "Randian" fan networks and tea party channels, including Dick Armey's FreedomWorks. Despite critical panning (Washington Post columnist Michael Gerson called it a "model of mediocrity") and some admittedly two-dimensional characters, the movie seems to have struck a chord among at least some concerned Americans.
“People are hungry for what these characters are saying,” Mr. Aglialoro told The Washington Times. “They’re telling the government, ‘Just leave me alone. Let me hang onto my life and pursue my passions and rational self-interest.' That’s what will benefit society.”
For their part, critics see "Atlas Shrugged" as a dangerous balm "for conservatives, free marketeers, predatory capitalists, and people who hate the government and the poor," in the words of Huffington Post columnist Jonathan Kim.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Not a great movie, in terms of cinetography, and it probably helps to have read the book through first — but I am glad I saw Part I, and hope to see Parts II and III.
I saw it 3 hours ago —great movie!!
The actor for Reardon was especially good.
I think a viewer would only get a full appreciation for the book if all THREE installments were seen.
After I lobbied my local theatre, they brought it here.
I was the youngest in the audience.
I should add that I watched it at just about the worst time, considering date & traffic, so only a dozen of us were in the theater in a liberalsville center — but it garnered near-universal applause at the end.
This is an old article with old information.
There isn’t going to be any more parts made.
I’m trying to decide how to memorialize my ticket stubs.
They need to be commemorated somehow.
I’m thinking that it’ll do very well on DVD. They haven’t ruled out doing sequels, although it seems less likely. The “mainstream” critics are doing their best to deep-six the movie.
Your information too is out of date.
The fat lady hasn't sung yet.
The trailer looked fantastic, just wish they’d hurry up and go DVD and screw the critics and theater owners who are out to trash the thing.
You believed the LA Slimes ? LOL !
“They’re revitalizing me with their outrageousness.” Aglialoro went on to state he had been “misunderstood” when he said the critical drubbing the film took “influenced him to abandon the second and third films in the Atlas Shrugged franchise.” He confirmed that he has ”no intention to go on strike.”
Article is two days later than the one you linked:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2712243/posts
That’s a relief! I think the first film will do very well with DVD sales, and the second and third will make their money back (at least). He’s performing a real service by putting this up on the screen.
I just found an article just after you mention it still being on. I think Aglialoro realized he shot himself in the foot by saying there wasn’t going to be another one. After hearing that, I would have not seen it. I am sure others wouldn’t too. He had to backtrack I think so at least make a little more money.
In reality, I think the other parts will not be made because there isn’t money to do so. Even if they are made, the cast is going to be different.
The ideal way to shoot multipart pictures is to do it all in one shot with the same cast. Unfortunately, it takes a lot of money to do it this way.
http://www.altfg.com/blog/movie/atlas-shrugged-sequels-ayn-rand-john-aglialoro/
I am confident.
The book sells well, even after all these years.
Mr. Aglialoro and I may not agree on business matters, which is probably a good thing for his business. But since he was willing to risk a large amount in the first movie, having made much of it back would seem to indicate that persevering to the finish would be the wisest course.
“When you’re going through ... (a devilishly difficult place) ... keep on going.”
atlast scrubbs, has nothing to do with the tea party, atlast scrubbs is a liber-turd thing.
*Cleanup on aisle three!*
We should all email Trump - he could drop the money for the production of the other 2 and get them out soon - It would be chump change to trump.
If he's sincere about his concern for the country and business - he should bankroll this - and see that there's enough money to get it the distribution it should have -
Maybe email Ted Nugent too - he could drop some money into it without hurting his bottom line.
Maybe we should email all the conservative millionaires we can think of - Clint Eastwood - and ???
We can't let the enemy win this.
I hope Aglialoro won't really give up so soon! That's not what Reardon or Tagget etc would do...
And get it on netflix - needs good PR still
The movie has got me interested in the book. I know it would take me forever to read.
Now I can go to bed happy -
Excellent movie and enjoyed it alot.
Pray for America
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