Movie Review: Should You See Atlas Shrugged?

Updated: The main reason you should see this movie, the NY Times refused to review it and MSNBC and others refused to run advertising on it. Which means there must be something in there worth seeing.

While generally a big fan of Ayn Rand, I have to admit I still haven’t quite made it through the gargantuan of a book that is Atlas Shrugged. I was pretty stoked to see the movie, though, when I heard that Atlas Shrugged Part I was being made. There couldn’t be a better time in history for the message.

As a very low budget film and reading the ultra negative mainstream entertainment media reviews, I lost interest pretty quickly. At the end of the day, however, I think it’s important to support efforts like this and hopefully see more successful and higher budget films get made, plus audience reviews were much more positive. So I finally decided to see it.

Is the film worth seeing? I’d say yes. It has all kinds of problems from a movie-making standpoint. Sometimes poor acting, uneven pacing, confusing scenery and wardrobe (it seems to jump from 1950s to 2012 styling back and forth) and some strange camera angles. But through all this the message shines pretty clearly. Who is John Galt? Despite all the issues, by the end you’ll want to know the answer to that question and understand why it is asked.

While no actor shines in their role (it was reported hollywood agents wouldn’t let their talent anywhere near the controversial film) the Dagney Taggart role stands out pretty well. Though feminists will shriek in terror at the thought of a woman who doesn’t derive her power via government social policy, Taggart will blow you back in her seat the way she slaps around all the males in the movie and drives the story. Seeing her tell multiple bureaucrats to “shutup” and letting other know she “will destroy” them was a breath of fresh air. Much more of a role model as a strong individual for young girls then any bitter bra burner. The sense of self-worth derived from achievement, individualism and optimism is a shot across the bow to today’s egalitarian push.

Mostly the film serves as a warning. Meddling in freedom, attacking the producers, corrupt, centralized government…what if the heroes and creators of our society decided to pack up and leave? Atlas Shrugged Part I (of a 3 part series) begins to answer that question and shows a society just past where we are this very day in history.

I encourage anyone to support this film. It isn’t an artistic masterpiece. But it does a fine job (and in a short running time) displaying the danger of the rhetoric that’s popular now. The populist creed of “evil” rich, redistribution of wealth, and demagoguery for a new generation to beat back once again. After a sluggish start it stays interesting and move pretty quickly. If the ability to generate conversation about the topics in a movie well after it is over are a sign of a good one, then this was a good one.

There are no specific plans for Part II unless this one makes any money. It looks like a labor of love. As flawed as it is, my hope is that this will be the beginning of a more perfect Part II that will begin to show what happens when Atlas finally shrugs.

Visit the Atlas Shrugged Part I official site to see local theater listings

2.5 out of 4 stars