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Atlas Shrugged Film In Development

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Baldwin Entertainment Group has announced that Atlas Shrugged is in development. [Via September 2005 CyberNet - Part 1.] Scott Holleran has been in contact with Howard Baldwin, CEO and President of B.E.G. Here is an excerpt from his article, The New Orleans Disaster and the Line on 'John Galt'.It was supposed to be a light column about this and that, with a brief update on a movie adaptation of my favorite novel, Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged, which Miss Rand began writing here in the San Fernando Valley in 1946. It is the story of man's mind on strike. Whether one agrees with Miss Rand's radical philosophy, Objectivism, laid bare in the book, it is an unforgettable masterpiece with grand cinematic potential, a fact recognized by the producer of last year's Oscar-winning Ray, Howard Baldwin, who tells me that he is closer to bringing Ayn Rand's epic to the screen....

http://ObjectivismOnline.com/blog/archives/000464.html

Edited by softwareNerd
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So now I need to start gathering info on the people that live around here so I can blackmail them into going to see the movie seven or eight times apiece on the opening weekend. <_<

I'm vaguely reminded of the weekend the Dungeons and Dragons movie came out. It was a bad move, everyone KNEW it was going to be bad, but every single gamer in the country must have gone to see it opening weekend, because it was like #3 at the box office and no one could understand why.

I'm sure any movie based on Atlas Shrugged would be a big success for at least the first week, but from what I've seen Howard Baldwin makes pretty good films, so it'll probably be a smash.

And no one will understand why. :D

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Personally I hope he makes two films out of it as the article indicates he is considering. one film is too short a space for this epic, and a TV series might not do as well. Eithear way, based on what he says in the article it should be absolutely wonderful, and I will have to own this on DVD once it comes out. I dont know if Objectivism will spread like wildfire, but I would imagine it will stir a lot of interest in it from all sorts of people whom had previously not noticed / paid attention to Objectivism.

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Given the book sales, this might well be a winner. It's about time this movie is made. I'll make all my friends go there. And it will certainly be great in Germany. I already see the big publicity it gets in the media because it goes directly against current politics and our current culture. Everyone who disagrees will cry out loud publicly and everyone who agrees will force all his friends to see the movie. This is gonna be fun!

Stupid movies like 'Supersize Me' showed how easy it is to instill an idea into a large part of a population by the simple means of a movie. Since I saw this movie, I don't go to McDonalds anymore. I go to Burger King instead. <_<:D

Edited by Felix
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I would much rather see a feature film than a TV miniseries, but I'd be happy with either one. I look forward to it but, at the same time, I'm going to avoid getting my hopes up about it being too spectacular, because I don't think a movie can really do justice to any novel, particularly one as deep as AS. Lord of the Rings, Jurassic Park, etc. are all great movies, but pale in comparison to the books that inspired them.

As long as it keeps the central theme, I will be more than satisfied.

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Btw, I heard Dr. Yaron Brook mention it today. Apparently Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have expressed interest in the roles of Galt and Dagny. He is skeptical that it will get made - there have been several scripts and a dozen failed projects since the 70's. Also, the plan is to make a trilogy, like LOTR.

Edited by GreedyCapitalist
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I can see Brad Pitt as John Galt, but Jolie is too much of a hippie.

Yeah, but who cares how she is in real life? She's really a good actress, but highly underrated. I think she'd be a great pick.

This from BEG's website:

LOG LINE: Dagny Taggart, one of the great heroines of modern literature, struggles to fulfill her great-grandfather’s legacy as she steers her family’s railroad conglomerate through the triple threat of government corruption, international terrorism and a mysterious force that is silencing the great thinkers of the day.

(emphasis mine)

Huh?! Where'd that one come from?!

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So, how about getting a good actress who's also a good fit, philosophically speaking?

I wouldn't be opposed to another actress, although Angelina has been my pick for who I'd like to see play Dagny Taggart for a very long time). I just don't see an actor's personal life as having any relevance whatsoever to how well they'll do in a movie.

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I wouldn't be opposed to another actress, although Angelina has been my pick for who I'd like to see play Dagny Taggart for a very long time). I just don't see an actor's personal life as having any relevance whatsoever to how well they'll do in a movie.

Actors are more than breathing props, they choose how to interpret the roels. Granted, the director has final say so, but often times the actor gets his way unless he's actually changing dialogue. Their personal life has no influence, but their philosophy most certainly does. Which is why I'm surprised that both these people (angelina and bradd) actually like the roles. I'm thinking they think it'd be a good career move. I doubt they'd understand the meaning behind the words and then they may as well be breathing props.

Ayn Rand herself even mentioned how this lack of understanding (in Ayn Rand: A sense of life) makes the performance ultimately unenjoyable.

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Which is why I'm surprised that both these people (angelina and bradd) actually like the roles.

They have both expressed that they enjoy Ayn Rand's books. If I remember correctly, Brad Pitt first read The Fountainhead because of a recommendation from Angelina Jolie. That's probably why they like the roles.

While I do recognize that an actor's personal philosophy plays some role in how well they play a part, I don't regard it as essential, provided their skill is great enough that they are able to "step outside of themselves." Jolie has played pretty homogenous roles, so I'm not certain she can go that far. Judging by what I've seen her do, though, I think she has the presence for it. Brad Pitt, on the other hand, has played a ton of extremely varying roles and nailed every single one I've seen, many of which portrayed an excellent sense of life--him, I'm certain about.

Another actress I wouldn't mind seeing as Dagny is Kate Blanchett.

The only role I'm inclined to have my heart set on being played by a specific actor is Kevin Spacey as Jim Taggart. He's made for it. Jim Taggart is unquestionably the hardest role to pull off believably in Atlas Shrugged. In my estimation, Spacey is in a league of his own. If anybody can make you believe there's really a person out there who's that pathetic, it's Spacey.

P.S. I must admit to being influenced by Angelina's smoking-hotness, which is certainly valid as a major consideration (although, of course, not the only one).

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The only role I'm inclined to have my heart set on being played by a specific actor is Kevin Spacey as Jim Taggart. He's made for it. Jim Taggart is unquestionably the hardest role to pull off believably in Atlas Shrugged. In my estimation, Spacey is in a league of his own. If anybody can make you believe there's really a person out there who's that pathetic, it's Spacey.

I have to agree. His 'Lester Burham' in American Beauty was brilliant and he's a great actor anyway. Given that this movie is casted with big movie stars, there's hope.

I still have my doubts about Angelina Jolie. Yes, she's hot. But this has nothing to do with playing Dagny Taggart. Any porn actress is hot. I just doubt that she can pull this off. Cate Blanchett sounds better to me.

But no matter who it is, it's great that the movie is made and that it is casted with big stars. That alone will make it watched more and it shows that this movie has a big budget. And that's the best things that could happen.

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Given that Jolie, as crazy as she is, has actually read Atlas Shrugged and said it was great, or something like that, and given that she and Brad Pitt have great star power, I'm totally in favor of an Atlas Shrugged movie with them in it. With proper makeup and clothing, I think she has the potential to be an excellent Dagny Taggart, bringing intensity and enthusiasm to the part, and I think she's the sort of person who will probably re-read the book until she thinks she's Dagny. I'm much more concerned with the script than the actors, anyway, in terms of betraying the novel.

If Jolie and Pitt can come in at a price discount due to really wanting the parts, and in effect, subsidizing the movie, and providing extra visibility, that significantly boosts the odds of the movie actually getting made.

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I still have my doubts about Angelina Jolie. Yes, she's hot. But this has nothing to do with playing Dagny Taggart.

I disagree, in order to really be a heroine, beauty is extremely important and has a lot to do with being Dagny Taggart.

Any porn actress is hot. I just doubt that she can pull this off. Cate Blanchett sounds better to me.

But no matter who it is, it's great that the movie is made and that it is casted with big stars. That alone will make it watched more and it shows that this movie has a big budget. And that's the best things that could happen.

A porn actress might be hot (and I'd even debate that on almost all counts), but she doesn't have class, poise, or regality. I do like Cate Blanchett for the part, but I think Jolie is a much more imposing, powerful person in general, in physique and demeanor.

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I didn't say that the person playing Dagny should be ugly. :lol: The reason I started with porn actresses in the first place (maybe this wasn't a good choice) was because, as with porn actresses, I doubt that Angelina Jolie has enough class and acting skill. I agree that she has a powerful appearance, but I think she lacks the intellectual depth which is why I would prefer Cate Blanchett.

Edited by Felix
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..I doubt that Angelina Jolie has enough class and acting skill. I agree that she has a powerful appearance...

To be fair here, she does have an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

I still say Christian Bale is the best choice for John Galt, but Brad Pitt would also be an excellent choice.

I actually really like Bale for the part, too.

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