Dear Readers: This review was written by my brother Timothy. Hooray for Guest Columnists! Sharon
Where did all the innovative do-ers and smart people go? And who is John Galt? These questions are not answered in Atlas Shrugged – Part 1. This does not matter. I liked the movie, period.
Atlas Shrugged is a “future” movie that explores the struggle between the successful individual and the socialist nature of federalism. The individual struggles to achieve success within the rules of society by innovating and creating. The political structure, run by bureaucrats, strives to limit freedom to succeed through changing laws and restrictions and to redistribute wealth to create equality. Would this struggle continue if the successful creative individuals – business innovators, scientists, engineers, artists – began to vanish from society? Could the few remaining individuals still achieve success? Who is John Galt?
When I go to the movie theater I expect to be entertained. That last word can include a wide-range of emotions. Loud sounds and bright flashes have entertained me since infancy; James Bond, Sarah Connor, and John McClane all come to mind. I am easily choked-up by the human drama of The Notebook, Platoon, and Emma. Epic adventures are a real treat as well: Star Wars, Lord of the Rings.
Unlike these blockbusters, Atlas Shrugged is dialogue-based with little action. Many will find the absence of exploding cars, broken hearts, and battles to save all life from true evil a reason to ignore or excuse to hate this film. However, I found the topic of this film perfectly timed to pique my interests. Real people struggle to make businesses succeed in the USA of 2016. Expansion of Federal control makes success in business nearly impossible. Clearly society is in a decline. Like “Brave New World” and “1984”, the story deals with concepts and preconceptions of society.
Society has continued to be ruled by an expanding bureaucracy, until, in 2016, people have to make drastic decisions to continue stay in business at all. Many businesses have ceased to exist; more importantly: many of the most creative and motivated people have literally vanished. One day these “do-ers” are working hard, struggling against the obstacles of politicians and the endless legislative limitations, then, the next day they are gone. “Who is John Galt?”
Some characters express a desire to stay in business because it is a self-satisfying achievement, others to provide for the many employees, and some for the traditions of family. All these reasons appear irrelevant in the face of government dictates that enforce equality in society through a maze of laws that make running a successful business increasingly difficult. In the America of 2016, redistribution of wealth and limiting success are the tools of the state. It is not fair for a person to succeed when others do not. If you design a better product you must not make that available; it would be unfair. If you do make more money than others, you must be taxed so that it can be shared with those that make less…or none.
To bring home the point of the redistributive nature of the USA, one character expresses stunned amazement that a company with a great product should have failed. The response provided is that the company paid each employee according to need rather than achievement resulting in the departure of the best and brightest and the inability to maintain the business by those that remained. Where did these people go? Who is John Galt?
The bureaucrat rules in 2016. Several portions of the film demonstrate the tools of the bureaucrat to persuade and coerce through bribe and new legislation. New laws are created to limit the most successful including the legal limit of owning no more than one business by any one person. Additionally, successful companies are allowed to produce no more than the less successful. The bureaucrats rule when an appointed politician can announce at a press conference a new policy requiring more successful states to provide funds to less successful neighboring states.
While some might think this film a commentary on the progressive nature of politics in 2011 including the appointment of “czars” and the expanding powers of the Executive Branch or the general trend to ever increasing entitlements and dependency during the last 30 years, the book was written in 1957. Did the author grow up in a socialized state? Who is John Galt?
The theater experience was highly charged. I could view only one empty seat and estimate about 10 for the entire cinema. The audience was expectant and attentive. While it is impossible to estimate how many had read the book – I have not read it – clearly expectation were high. No children were present. This is not a movie for the whole family. It is a great movie for book readers and the politically interested. There is one sex scene sans nudity and easily ignored. Profanity is not an issue.
The movie does not entertain in the obvious ways, relying instead on dialogue to drive the story. The audience responded to the dialogue with knowing chuckles, outright laughter, and even a blurted comment “Way to go lady!” The audience provided a brief but rousing applause at “End Part 1”. Following the applause was instant discussion that carried into the theater hallway where at least 2 dozen people were standing about discussing the film after the theater was empty. I estimate the average age to be above 50 years.
In the absence of explosions, poignant death scenes, and epic battles many critics will quickly pan the film as unappealing to the general audience. They would be right, mostly. But most people don’t vote, can’t name their state senator, and miss the irony in “un-paid-for tax cuts.”
This is a story of a few individuals struggling to be successful in a society that does not reward achievement. High school seniors and first-time voters would benefit from guided discussions after viewing this film.
My plan is to read the book up what was included in this “part 1”. I hope the trilogy will not take years to hit the theaters and that the financial backing is assured. Visit www.atlasshruggedpart1.com to read a synopsis, view the cast, or order merchandise including a shirt the reads “Who is John Galt?”
End of Tim’s comments. I can’t wait to see the movie!