Atlas Shrugged: Reviewed

Silver Circle was recently granted access to a sneak peek of Atlas Shrugged: Part I, based on Ayn Rand’s novel Atlas Shrugged.  As filmmakers ourselves, the excitement and anticipation grew as we entered the screening in San Diego where others buzzed about their expectations for the film.  The screenwriter, John Aglialoro, was there to present the film and take questions following its debut. The filmmakers were also giving away one version of the movie poster, a simple white poster with the words “Who is John Galt?” scribbled on them. I didn’t manage to get my hands on the poster, but if I were you grab one if you get the opportunity. It is a part of history.

The film surprised me immediately when it uncovered the setting in the 2010′s. As timeless as Ayn Rand’s novel was, I personally lived in the mid 20th century while reading it. If you can imagine the differences this would play in understanding the world around the characters, you can understand the shock after this discovery.

The film will be a trilogy. The filmmakers announced at the screening that the following parts will come year by year: Part II – April 2012 & Part III April 2013. Sounds like forever, huh? Let’s remember it does take a few weeks to read about 1100 page book (and that’s tackling a heavy load each day). If you have read the novel you know cramming a 1/3 of its events into a 90-minute film would be difficult. The budget is also modest for this film (about $10 mil), so as you complain about waiting for years to finally complete the Atlas Shrugged film experience, realize funding has much to do with its timeliness and quality.

I had two comments on Part I:

Atlas Shrugged enthusiasts, don’t be shaken by the modern style of the world around the film. Also if you see this film with an Atlas “Virgin” be ready to do a lot of explaining or catching them up in the first half of the film. The filmmakers introduce a lot of characters in a short amount of time. Even you may find yourself trying to remember all of the business owners that are introduced. If I were to quiz you now would you remember who Owen Kellogg was?

Atlas Shrugged “Virgins”, Although I strongly recommend reading the book, if you do see the film first…or only the film, pay CLOSE attention. Reading the book gives you a sense of familiarity with scenes.  It may not even hurt to take notes on the characters introduced because some of their on screen time is brief but VERY significant. Also, it may not hurt to watch it more than once…it’ll make up for not reading the book.

All in all the film encapsulated the world of Ayn Rand’s mind and this is a hard duty to achieve considering the overwhelming success of the novel.  I found most characters were represented well in the film and the acting was superb for being talent you may have never heard of. Tyler Schilling (Dagny Taggart) gives a heart-felt, feminine performance. I personally envisioned Dagny a little more rough around the edges, however it was pointed out shortly after I expressed this that my vision of Dagny was probably based on Ayn Rand’s appearance herself. Boy were they right!

Special effects in the film were very well done and creativity exuded from the screen. The release date for Atlas Shrugged: Part I is set for April 15, in 50 theaters across the country. Check your local listings to see if it is coming close to you. The experience was unforgettable to see such a groundbreaking novel turned into a form of media that all can enjoy and consume. I wish the filmmakers the best of luck and encourage everyone to see the film!