Angelina Jolie To Play Dagny Taggart In Next Year's Release Of ATLAS SHRUGGED : Jane Slates Her Dream Cast

And with mentions of Brad Pitt in a major supporting role?

Brangelina is no John Galt, but might make an excellent Ellis Wyatt.

The controversial and misunderstood concept of Objectivism woven through the 1,074 pages of ATLAS SHRUGGED, written by Ayn Rand and released fifty years ago this October, has been a perennial favorite since I was forced to read it in high school. I came to adore its weighty, clean lines, its spare rationalism and its nuanced introspection of the human psyche. For all these reasons, I am skeptical to justify Hollywood's attempt to bring this fabulous tome to the big screen after half a century has blurred its context.

But if it is handled correctly, it could be a most timely ticket. Sadly.

My reservations are that Hollywood's malevolent class envy agenda folded into the stew of ignorant, ill-read American movie-goers may inevitably create a blockbuster more about what is evil, than what is good, as was Ayn Rand's original intent. My own experience bears this out.

Though my AP English teacher and Woodstock alum, "Star" Swanson, dispensed it as a point of political agitation, it settled on my young soul as divine inspiration. Glorification of Divinity is hardly the point of this Humanist (dare I say Scientological?) work of fiction, but illustrated within its pages remains a purity of the human spirit that some part of each of us yearns to embrace.

I do not view my naked longing for a more rational American society as conflicting with my decidedly Judeo-Christian world view. Hardly. I practice a healthy dose of Isolationism within my own brain. To wit, while I do believe that human accomplishment should be left alone to expand and fill every void that exists in a free market economy, I hardly believe that it is the innate superiority of the human soul that deserves this freedom, but rather our rights as dispensed by our Creator demand the responsibility to see that it is done for His glory.

Because He who is in me is greater than he who is in the world.

So if you have not read it thrice as myself, I beseech you, at the very least, obtain the CLIFFS NOTES version of this American classic so that you might fully appreciate the strength of the argument that Ayn Rand presents, lest the Hollywood Spin Machine whip you into a predictable reactionary froth.

The Brangelizing of literary history makes Jane shutter. But ATLAS SHRUGGED may very well make you cheer. Or at least a small, dark part of you.

>>>>>>>>For further enjoyment, add your own casting picks in the comments>>>>>>>

Here is the link for the character sketches as written by the Atlas Society, but they contain spoilers.

JANE  DREAM CASTS ATLAS SHRUGGED:

Dagny Taggart (Cold, intelligent, Self-Actualized, scary sexy protagonist, second at the helm of a transcontinental railroad) : Angelina Jolie (Objectively(!), I think she is very well cast.)

James Taggart (Dagny's older brother, Limousine Liberal apologist, oaf , pasty, limp whiner): Kevin Spacey, Tim Roth

Cherryl Brooks (Taggart) (James' idealistic, pure-hearted, truly tragic, trophy wife): Scarlett Johansson

Eddie Willers: (Young childhood friend and Dagny's honest confidant) : Edward Norton or John Cusack

Hank Reardon (think Gordon Gecko, in Wall Street): Jim Caviezel, Russell Crowe, Daniel Craig at a distant last (but ideally, a YOUNGER Harrison Ford), maybe a bit young, but Christian Bale?

Lillian (Hank's limp, FRIGID, aloof, WASPY wife, polar opposite of Dagny): Cate Blanchett or Gwyneth Paltrow...who else?

Francisco d'Anconia (Copper Heir, Genius, Spanish playboy): Johnny Depp, a distant second- Jim Caviezel, (but ideally, a MUCH YOUNGER Antonio Banderas)

Ragnar Danneskjold (One of the original three strikers, turn reverse-Robin Hood pirate.): May be a stretch, but I think Matthew McCaughnehey could be a sleeper in this role. And would look DAMN FINE in an eye patch (not that he wears one....but a shirtless shot would not be out of order  ;)

Ellis Wyatt (Grizzled, self-made Texas Oil man) : Brad Pitt (if he has to be cast at all) Bruce Willis, Bill Paxton, or Sam Shepard

But one question remains >>> Who is John Galt? ( Edward Norton ?)

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

UPDATE: GOOOOOOD GAWD: Look what I found after I finished this post: A LINK TO AYN RAND'S (mid 60's) OWN PICKS for the perfect cast and the Atlas Society's own UPDATED choices for casting. I hit it SQUARE ON THE MARK on several of the cast. Damn. I liked this book more than I had realized.

Comments

[advocate]

Hi, Jane. Followed the link you provided and found the snide remarks by that site's writer. Oh I do get so tired of these smug, butt ignorant people.

For you The Book was Atlas Shrugged. For me, it was 1984.

Here's what I fear will be the attitude of the film's writers, producers, directors and actors: “The rise and fall of big industry in America wrapped in a lot of ideological posturing about the importance of being allowed to achieve without restraint. Basically the idea of the book is that some people are simply better than the rest of us, and we should leave them alone to let them achieve and produce. Because enough people buy into that, it's often tagged as one of the most influential books of all time.”

Yet another doubleplus good prole, programmed to collectivist identity, egalitarian sentimentality passing for compassion.

But I am so proud
“Slightly skewed version of what the book is about. The book is more about humans as they can be - achievers. And it's also about being a individual - not having to ask a group for permission to live your life.”

[JANE SAYS: Yep...prole , indeed. And that is the sad part of having to link that puke...but it is one of the FEW sites that will acknowledge the Jolie connection. It will be FUN to see it all unfold. ]

[Laura]

Hey, you'll probably enjoy this from John Piper's blog - he's an Ayn Rand fan, kind of unexpected, huh? Free Ayn Rand audio:
http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/664/

[JANE SAYS: THANKS FOR COMING, LAURA! And thank you KINDLY for the link! PLEASE don't just lurk, but I confess a guilty pleasure of lurking at your blog, so who am I to complain? I have commented once, I think, so now we are even! I am adding you to my blogroll right away! ;)]