RoR: Forum

Hong, to each his own, and as I say, I like Jackman hugely. But look at his photo, the one you provide, and then at Bale's, above. Ask yourself which best meets this description:

Nobody decribed his appearance as Latin, yet the word applied to him, not in its present, but in its original sense, not pertaining to Spain, but to ancient Rome...His features had the fine precision of sculpture. His hair was black and straight, swept back. The suntan of his skin intensified the startling color of his eyes: they were a pure, clear blue...

Hugh Jackman:

Christian Bale:

And one more...my original candidate, Adrian Paul:

You DO see what I mean about Adrian Paul? Reread Rand's description, and look at that photo.

(Edited by Robert Bidinotto
on 4/28, 7:41pm)

(Edited by Robert Bidinotto
on 4/28, 8:24pm)

Post 21

Friday, April 28, 2006 - 7:25pm

They'll have to hide the cell phones if they use Crowe. <g>

And you're right, Freeman as Akston would be way great. I love his "thoughtful" presence on the screen.

Post 22

Friday, April 28, 2006 - 8:32pm

I'm kind of wondering what films would be good models for Atlas. I obviously think Batman Begins is a good one. The version of Batman/Bruce Wayne portrayed in the film was heavily influenced by Francisco. The story most of the film was from was written by Rand admirer Frank Miller, and the Gordon/Wayne/Batman relationship mirrored the Reardon/Francisco relationship in the story.

Also casting/directing approach and overall look of the film is something very akin to what I'd like to see in an Atlas film.

Thoughts/Other films that meet the criteria?

---Landon

Post 23

Saturday, April 29, 2006 - 4:56am

Landon, those were excellent observations. I loved "Batman Begins," for all the reasons you stated and more.

I think that "Atlas" has to be done in a very stylized way -- as a kind of "other reality," like in "Batman Begins" or in "Blade Runner." Setting the story too literally in the contemporary world would make many of its events seem outlandish and over-the-top (especially the gadgetry, like the cloaking ray device over Galt's Gulch, or the "Ferris Harmonizer," or Galt's radio broadcast blocking device). Setting it back in time as a "period piece" would only add to the problem of making it all feel anachronistic and unconvincing.

Opening the film in "New York -- sometime soon..." might be the best way to go. This would shape the expectations of the audience to think of this as a kind of future fantasy or cautionary allegory.

You can solve the temporal problems of Rand's relying on trains, steel industries, and other '50s-era technology by depicting this world as a reversion from today's high-tech one: You show remnants of now-useless satellite dishes being used as bird baths, discarded computers and HD TVs in dump heaps, deserted airports with the empty, vandalized hulks of abandoned jumbo jets, etc. Little touches: Eddie Willers typing on an old Royal 440 typewriter (or Remington Rand???), while on the floor a dead computer monitor serves as his door stop. Swank hotel lobbies lit by nothing but fireplaces and hundreds of candles. Half-mile lines at the gas pumps, where the signs read $22.80 per gallon. That sort of thing.

Post 24

Saturday, April 29, 2006 - 11:16am

I always thought the movie should take place in the future, around 2060 or so�like Minority Report. Most of the world is socialists and dirt poor but a few countries in the America�s aren�t yet and are still relativity rich. America again has over 50% of the worlds GDP. The welfare state and the transfer payments to other nations are growing but the US pays for it by gutting the military�and no one patrols the seas anymore.

The plot should stay more or less the same but the companies and what they build should change. The Taggerts build and maintain orbital space planes and space fountains. Reardon produces the materials for them but comes along and invents a cheap way to produce carbon nanotubes. This allows the Taggerts to build a true space elevator which doesn�t have to be continually powered so it won�t fall.

Meanwhile no great replacement for oil has been found. Wyatt has found a method of extracting additional oil from old fields and is keeping prices around $20 a gallon.

We�ll have that Galt invented a simple and cheap method of cold fusion powered only by water (an a engine to be powered by it).

Galt�s Gultch of course will be on the moon. Underground or in a dome, doesn�t matter. The latter would be more fun though as we could see Galt�s cloaking device in action.

Finally Ragnar would be a modern day Captain Nemo. There are no major world navies to stop him so he can stop ships with impunity.

Post 25

Saturday, April 29, 2006 - 1:51pm

Hi Robert,
Obviously you have put a lot of thoughts in this and I like all your ideas! Well, except who should play Francisco. Of course my preference is entirely subjective. :-)

Too bad Lena Olin is already 50 years old. I thought she would be good as Dagny if she were10 years younger.

(Edited by Hong Zhang on 4/29, 5:27pm)

Post 26

Saturday, April 29, 2006 - 3:09pm

Well, if ye be wanting the definitive casting for this epic, the only answer would be to using computer constructs of the desired actors and actresses - and cast it in a world much the same way as was done with 'Sky Captain'......

Post 27

Saturday, April 29, 2006 - 5:32pm

This is who I'd really like to see in the roles of John Galt and Dagny Taggart but, alas, it will remain but a dream:

Post 28

Saturday, April 29, 2006 - 6:07pm

Ok this is my god damn I'm young card and I'm playing it. Who's the actor Bob? (I'm fairly certain the actress in Marilyn Monroe)

And Robert... try, try really hard to make it onto the production team for this film.

---Landon

Post 29

Saturday, April 29, 2006 - 6:05pm

My suggestions for a couple of the roles (in the order they come to mind):

Cate Blanchett as Dagny. Superb actress. Very strong almost masculine presence and features, but also very feminine. Oh yeah, I think I read that Ayn Rand pictured Kathryn Hepburn in this role... and Cate played Hepburn in "The Aviator."

Emily Mortimer or Emily Watson as Cherryl. Both have big, innocent, watery eyes. I think they should have dark hair for the role though. Don't know why. So should Cate Blanchett above.

Russel Crowe as Reardon. Seems too thick to be John Galt.

Jason Lewis as John Galt? Hm, not sure.

I second Clarence Hardy's suggestion of Adrien Brody as James Taggart.

Brad Pitt as Ragnar.

Donald Sutherland as Robert Stadler.

Hugh Grant/Johnny Depp/Antonio Banderas as Francisco.

Post 30

Saturday, April 29, 2006 - 6:31pm

Landon,

Sorry, I sometimes forget that everyone's not as ancient as me. That's my all time favorite actor and actress, Jimmy Stewart and Marilyn Monroe.

You betchem, Red Ryder. :-)

Post 31

Saturday, April 29, 2006 - 6:39pm

Haven't read all the posts, anyone come up with Susan Sarandon as Lillian and Tim Robbins as James?

;)

Michael

Post 32

Saturday, April 29, 2006 - 6:45pm

Thanks Bob, I should've spotted him. Seems like it'd be a departure for him though. Wasn't he kind of like hollywood's postor boy for altruism.

From around that time period I could see Gregory Peck pulling it off though. NOT GARY COOPER!!!

---Landon

Post 33

Saturday, April 29, 2006 - 6:55pm

Ralph Fiennes as Galt? He may be too old...but I think the type is right.

Post 34

Saturday, April 29, 2006 - 7:00pm

Ralph Fiennes as Galt?

Yak! He was the Nazi in Schindler's List, and Lord Voldermort in Harry Porter. He's too creepy. Big nono.

PS. Susan Sarandon is too old (She is 60 for Christ sake!). Tim Robbins is too tall. We don't want a senior's version of AS!

(Edited by Hong Zhang on 4/29, 7:04pm)

Post 35

Saturday, April 29, 2006 - 7:10pm

Hong, the problem is I don't know many actors...and anyway, pooh, I am picking types! ...and I think Galt is a little creepy! Ha. I think Tim Robbins is more evil that Perkins! And look how katty you are about Sarandon...her Lillian would make your skin crawl! So I think she is perfect! Ok, from 20 years ago...:)

Post 36

Saturday, April 29, 2006 - 7:33pm

Landon,

hollywood's postor boy for altruism

Yes, Stewart was in some movies with an altruistic theme but he was in very many more that stressed character and individualism. Some of his great movies include Rope, The Man Who Knew Too Much, Vertigo, Rear Window, Shenandoah, The Flight of the Phoenix, The Shootist, Destry Rides Again, Winchester '73, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, and Right of Way.

Post 37

Saturday, April 29, 2006 - 7:38pm

Good point, forgot about those.

But still I wouldn't want Gary Cooper even working for the same company if this film was made then.

---Landon

Post 38

Saturday, April 29, 2006 - 7:40pm

There is a brilliant proposal for James Taggart at Vodkapundit: Edward Norton, a very similar type as Timothy Hutton whom I proposed for James.

Post 39

Saturday, April 29, 2006 - 9:22pm