Atlas Shrugged: Film Review

Since I went to the opening night showing of Atlas Shrugged some people have asked me what I thought. I posted some preliminary responses on my personal Facebook page to satisfy some of the more urgent demands, but felt a more in-depth discussion was warranted as well. And I know already that I will differ with some of the hardcore fans and some of the hardcore critics.

I should warn those who are utterly clueless as to the plot of the film that I am presupposing that readers will know the plot and thus there will be comments that will give away parts of it. If you don’t want come across any spoilers then don’t read the review.

First, allow me to discuss criticism of the film. I have read several reviews and have often wondered if there are two versions of the film floating around: one version is apparently for the critics only and the other one for the fans.  The review that struck me as being most out of kilter with the facts was the one Roger Ebert published. I read his review a few times and came away with the distinct feeling that the purpose of his review was to persuade fans of the novel to avoid the film; that he wants the film to do badly. That he makes it clear he dislikes Ayn Rand is, perhaps, the reason.

Ayn Rand, Bill Buckley and the Culture Wars.

One of the hallmarks of the conservative movement is its hypocrisy: They preach abstinence and have affairs. They run anti-gay campaigns and then get caught in toilets trying to pick up men. But, in conservative circles, they are drooling over the release of the first part of the film version of Atlas Shrugged. Is this hypocrisy or a harbinger of change?

The trailer premiered at the CPAC conference. And conservative web sites have been buzzing with anticipation. What they forget, or ignore, is the utterly contemptible way that the conservatives, especially the pencil-fellator, William F. Buckley, treated Rand. Conservatives despised Rand and she returned the sentiments.

Buckley began the assault on Rand with the publications of a hatchet piece written by Whittaker Chambers in Buckley's National Review. Chambers was one of those Right-wingers who had converted from communism to Christianity and thought this represented a significant evolution. In a sense it is. What communist leaders do to the people as a whole, Catholic priests tend to only do to altar boys.