Review of Atlas Shrugged: Part I (2011) by Roberto C — 31 Oct 2011

This was a very big disappointment. The problem isn't the sets or the lack of stars (IMO a good thing) it's the writing and directing. The script captures the events more or less of the book but totally drops the ball on the message.

Francisco's famous speech about the good of money is gone. While they would have needed to pair it down, to not include it shows the lack of respect for the subject material. But perhaps worse than the writing is the direction.

I really don't get the sense that the director had any passion for the book, Objectivism, or Ayn Rand. Every scene is stiff and by the numbers, as though all creativity and life had been sucked out of it.

Some might argue that that is how the book is too but a good director and talented actor should have been able to interpret the source material into a way that better fit the film medium. While on the subject of casting, the casting of the Tagarts I felt was quite off.

Jim is the elder brother and they cast an actor that first of all is way too handsome to play Jim, and secondly to young. Dagny on the other had looks perfect and just how I would have imagined she looked like.

But both actors delivered a performance that was boring and uninspiring, with the range of an old Daisy Air Riffle.