The reviews for the long-awaited movie based on Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged are in, and they aren’t pretty.
The 1957 tome which champions Objectivism–Rand’s controversial philosophy–has managed to find its way to the big-screen despite numerous challenges along the way. But at last, thanks to John Aglialoro, who bought the rights to the book in 1992 and has been trying to get it on-screen ever since, Atlas Shrugged: Part 1 is here.
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And so far, critics aren’t liking it. Here is just a sample of what critics are saying about the film adaptation:
Roger Ebert (Chicago Sun-Times): “Let’s say you know the novel, you agree with Ayn Rand, you’re an objectivist or a libertarian, and you’ve been waiting eagerly for this movie. Man, are you going to get a letdown.”
Peter Travers (Rolling Stone): “Ayn Rand’s monumental 1,168-page, 1957 novel gets the low-budget, no-talent treatment and sits there flapping on screen like a bludgeoned seal.”
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Peter Debrudge (Variety): “Part one of a trilogy that may never see completion, this hasty, low-budget adaptation would have Ayn Rand spinning in her grave.”
Bill Goodykoontz (Arizona Republic): “The acting is so poor and the story so badly told that the viewer’s feelings about Rand’s novel — an epic ode to free-market fundamentalism — are almost immaterial (though if you’re a devoted fan, you’ll perhaps be more forgiving).”
Unsurprisingly, Goodykoontz’ last note has so far turned out to be widely true. Die-hard fans of Objectivism have managed to overlook things like a slow plot, bad acting and a low-budget and are praising Atlas Shrugged: Part 1 to the high heavens.
Though it should be noted that despite some of the audience reviewers on Rotten Tomatoes giving the movie five stars, some also admit they haven’t actually, you know, seen it yet. Ebert also tweeted that, “As I write, ‘Atlas Shrugged’ has a ★★★★ rating from my readers. The film has not yet been seen publicly”.
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