AS2 Movie Review
Posted by moviecritic 13 years, 1 month ago to Movies
Just saw the movie on Sunday, in the afternoon. After the 1st week, the theater only had daytime showings- not a good thing.
Not a great movie, primarily because of the actors. Dagny was too old, looked around 40. Wasn't she in her late 20s in the book? In the cabin scene where Fransisco visits, what's with the heavy mascara/false eyelashes? She's there alone in the cabin fixing the porch, and she has all that makeup on? Totally unrealistic and stupid.
Rearden and Francisco, supposedly leading men, right? Both too short, not dynamic enough, really bad. What's with Rearden's voice? A raspy whisper - really annoying. Reminded me of Keifer Sutherland - he always speaks in a whisper, so annoying. Can't you talk like a regular person? I hope Galt is at least taller than Dagny.
In the courtroom scene with Rearden - you see a big crowd of people in the gallery - WHERE ARE ALL THE FAT PEOPLE?? All the people were normal weight, so unrealistic. In any large crowd of people today, half of them are obese. The big excuse for obesity is they are so poor they can't buy healthy food so they eat fast food, etc. (which is a total crock, as fast food is much more expensive than buying fresh produce and meat in the supermarket.) Anyway, in the movie more people than ever are poor and on the government dole, so wouldn't there be more obese people than ever?
A major flaw - when Rearden is blackmailed into signing that paper, he does it to protect Dagny's reputation. Give me a break! In the 1st place, the movie takes place in 2012, not 1957. In 1957 a single woman having an affair with a married man was a scandal, but today, what else is new? Today, who cares? That scene was laughable. In the 2nd place, even if it was a scandal, would the character of Dagny even have cared? No way - she would have said to Rearden, "Don't you dare sign that paper! Who cares what people think of me?" But does male chauvinist Rearden even think to ask her, before signing that important paper? No, he makes the decision for her. Yes, male chauvinism was rampant in 1957, but either the movie takes place today or it doesn't, you can't have it both ways. You can't have everybody using cell phones, and then have characters acting out the morals of 1957. So stupid. They should have figured out another reason for Rearden to sign the paper.
Not a great movie, primarily because of the actors. Dagny was too old, looked around 40. Wasn't she in her late 20s in the book? In the cabin scene where Fransisco visits, what's with the heavy mascara/false eyelashes? She's there alone in the cabin fixing the porch, and she has all that makeup on? Totally unrealistic and stupid.
Rearden and Francisco, supposedly leading men, right? Both too short, not dynamic enough, really bad. What's with Rearden's voice? A raspy whisper - really annoying. Reminded me of Keifer Sutherland - he always speaks in a whisper, so annoying. Can't you talk like a regular person? I hope Galt is at least taller than Dagny.
In the courtroom scene with Rearden - you see a big crowd of people in the gallery - WHERE ARE ALL THE FAT PEOPLE?? All the people were normal weight, so unrealistic. In any large crowd of people today, half of them are obese. The big excuse for obesity is they are so poor they can't buy healthy food so they eat fast food, etc. (which is a total crock, as fast food is much more expensive than buying fresh produce and meat in the supermarket.) Anyway, in the movie more people than ever are poor and on the government dole, so wouldn't there be more obese people than ever?
A major flaw - when Rearden is blackmailed into signing that paper, he does it to protect Dagny's reputation. Give me a break! In the 1st place, the movie takes place in 2012, not 1957. In 1957 a single woman having an affair with a married man was a scandal, but today, what else is new? Today, who cares? That scene was laughable. In the 2nd place, even if it was a scandal, would the character of Dagny even have cared? No way - she would have said to Rearden, "Don't you dare sign that paper! Who cares what people think of me?" But does male chauvinist Rearden even think to ask her, before signing that important paper? No, he makes the decision for her. Yes, male chauvinism was rampant in 1957, but either the movie takes place today or it doesn't, you can't have it both ways. You can't have everybody using cell phones, and then have characters acting out the morals of 1957. So stupid. They should have figured out another reason for Rearden to sign the paper.
Ayn Rand's novels, and Atlas most specifically, are, to my knowledge, the best stories ever written supporting the freedom movement. I waited thirty years to see this movie... and I can't begin to describe how disappointed I have been with both films.
At one point there was substantial support in Hollywood for making this movie. I remember when Angelina Jolie was reportedly considering the role of Dagney, with Brad being whispered about as possibly playing John Galt (likely a pipedream... but briefly considered possible by many of us).
The producers went forward when they did because they were about to lose their option rights... but they were not suffidiently prepared to move forward.
I won't enumerate on everything I find wrong with both these films. Someone else on this site said it best... I'd go see an Atlas Shrugged Puppet Show if it was available.
But now that it has been done... no serious producers of merit will consider touching the book again for at least the next 10 years, and that's a shame.
I would have preferred to wait another few years and have someone with more resources and access to talent tackle this monumentous project.
I'm sure I won't be very popular for stating this opinion... but there it is.
And finally Samantha played the role very well, and she WAS realistic. I didn't think she looked too old at all. The statement above comes from a fool. At one hand they complain that there aren't any fat people in the film, then they complain that Mathis looks too old and not sexy enough? It doesn't make any sense.
Read with interest since I will not be seeing Part II until Feb next year.
Dagny too old: Dagny was in her mid-thirties when the story opens in the book.
Make-up on when alone: 'Totally unrealistic and stupid' maybe, but that is how movies are done generally,
and could be from a sense of self image, not allowing oneself to go scruffy, same as a man shaving when he is alone, a sense of self-discipline.
Leading men too short: oh dear . .
Not enough fat people in the crowd. You were counting?
Rearden signs away his inventions: Yes, he does it to protect Dagny's reputation, not to enhance his wealth. The character of Rearden has a strong sense of values not influenced by the trend of the hour.