Quick Review: "Atlas Shrugged: Who Is John Galt?"

I caught Atlas Shrugged: Who Is John Galt? last night--opening night. 

It is part 3 of the the film trilogy. The same stiff acting, low budget feel, that was present in Part 1 and Part 2, remains. Though, the references to Randian points of philosophy are more obvious and thus may trigger the curious to look closer as the thinking of Ayn Rand.

That said, the film, for the most part, is not going to attract much of an audience beyond those already familiar with the works of Rand. I would have written the screenplay in a much more engaging manner.  Further, this film takes an odd jump from stiff actors reciting Rand quotes during the first two- thirds of the movie to a final third that turns into a bad action film---including something-like an attempted electronic crucifixion, with a bad plot line. I don't want to be a spolier here, so I will just say. I have no idea how this attempted crucifixion can be considered some secret project F. It looked like plain old severe shock therapy to me. This is just bad script development becoming obviously bad.

I walked away from the film thinking the entire trilogy was not put together by a group who toiled over every word and every scene the way Rand, herself, would have.

Most bizarre and irritating in the film is the fact that the drivers in Galt's Gulch, which is supposed to be a haven separated from the collapsing government and society, drive around in this haven of freedom in cars that have state of Colorado license plates! There is one scene where the camera seems to focus in and linger on a Colorado plate. Go figure.

-RW