Voicemail From the Past-1980's Style

Drama on the Mannequin set...circa 1987. Priceless. Click the picture to hear voicemail from 1980's Hollywood Super Agent Warren Klein.

Remember, All the World's A Stage

              As Americans rejoice upon hearing the news of Osama Bin Laden's death...we must remember that all the world's a stage.

Atlas Shrugged Part One-A Review From An Actual Ayn Rand Loving Libertarian

Today was the day that many libertarians like myself have been waiting for...Atlas Shrugged has made it to the big screen. Well, part one has made it. The book is nearly 1200 pages, so one movie was not an option. (Part 2 is scheduled to be released 4/15/2012, Part 3 on 4/15/2013) The book was published in 1957, and continues to be a best seller to this day. However, Hollywood has never attempted to bring it to the big screen...and it still hasn't. This film was the production of independent, libertarian businessman John Aglialoro, who was passionate about bringing this story to theaters. The story, an exciting and dramatic ode to individualism, was Ayn Rand's attempt to explain her objectivist philosophy in the context of a world where achievement is clearly undervalued. Unfortunately, it is an enormous task to bring philosophy to the masses...especially the current American masses.

The movie begins in 2016 with Dagny Taggart running Taggart Transcontinental, the largest remaining railroad company in America, along with her brother James. Dagny, the true brains behind the operation, teams up with Hank Rearden of Rearden Steel to use the untested Rearden Metal, to rebuild the critical Taggart rail line in Colorado and pave the way for oil titan Ellis Wyatt to build a new American Renaissance. The pair face enormous challenges from the government, friends, and their own families, while discovering a love for one another.




First, let's focus on the positives. The cast was really good. Taylor Schilling as Dagny Taggart and Grant Bowler as Hank Rearden were excellent choices, and they each gave convincing performances. It is a difficult thing to come across as a smart, confident business person, while at the same time not seeming cold and heartless. It's a dynamic that is hard for some to understand, because of the constant reminders in the media of the "evil rich".

Even though the performances from the cast were very strong, the production value did not match up. I understand this movie was made on a limited budget, but it felt as though they tried to do too much with the budget they had. The result was a movie that looked like it belonged on the SyFy Channel instead of the big screen. (Think "Giant Shark V MegaOctopus" or whatever that silly film was called) It seemed as though the producers spent all their money on big aerial shots in Colorado, instead of focusing on the details of a scene.

This leads me to the biggest disappointment of the film: the screenplay. Seriously, what were the producers thinking? The MOST important thing about this entire production was the screenplay, and it was simply awful.

I was lucky, I have read the book. But, for someone who is unfamiliar with the story, this movie would be confusing and difficult to enjoy. It is so weird, some scenes were brilliant and some were just this side of torture. The voice of Ayn Rand did not shine through as it should have. The objectivist philosophy was not clearly communicated. And the simple story structure was close to embarrassing. The film does not set up the story world in a proper way and the "media reports" to help move the story along were simply absurd.

I didn't hate it, by any means. But, I was disappointed. In the movie's defense, it would be impossible to make everyone happy...but, what I am afraid is that it won't make anyone happy. It simply needed a bigger budget, better production value, and a new screenwriter. Hopefully, part two will be better. You know I will see it the day it comes out. Because, when it comes down to it, the story is more important than the production. And if the movie brings more attention to Ayn Rand and Objectivist theory, then I am a happy libertarian and movie goer.

Kevin Smith Writes a New (and Improved) Kind of Horror Film with "Red State"

2011 Sundance Film Festival-Kevin Smith Writes a New Kind of Horror Film with "Red State"
By Alex Reagan



When the list of films showing at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival was announced last fall, the one movie I wanted to see more than any other was Kevin Smith's Red State. At the time, I did not realize I would have to get up at 4:30 in the morning to catch a Monday 8:30 a.m. showing. But, sometimes you have to make sacrifices for the things you love. I love movies.

Sundance Film Festival 2011-Day One

OK. I was planning on seeing movies today...but it was impossible. Thousands of people, inches of snowfall, and too many premieres...so my friend Amy and I spent the day walking around and checking things out. But, no worries, I will be in the theater for Red State Monday morning at 8 am!!! Until my first review is written, here are a list of things I learned today and some pics.

#1 Don't bring your baby to a film festival. Especially one that takes place in a mountain town with 2 feet of snow on the ground. Hint: people don't want to accomodate your stroller on the shuttle bus. We are all way too close to begin with. Baby accessories do not help.

#2 Lighting up a cigarette will ensure that your shuttle bus will show up within 60 seconds.

#3 James Franco is awesome. He created an art installation at the New Frontier exhibit called "Three's Company: The Drama". As Amy and I sat on the re-created Three's Company set, we watched James Franco examine the narrative and characters of the pilot episode. I wish I could explain it better, but you just had to be there.

Inside Job: A New Film Explaining How You Got Robbed

Ralphie Didn't Shoot His Eye Out!

"OOOHHHH! Fragile! Must be Italian!" I can't tell you how many times I say that phrase in the course of a given year. People from many generations have loved "A Christmas Story" since we first saw it back in 1983. Now, 27 years later, ABC News' Nightline shows us a sign of the times. Ralphie is all grown up...and I was quite surprised what this Gen X'er was doing now. Enjoy!

The Century of the Self

You may think you know...but you have no idea...
Do you love Google? iPads? Coke? Pepsi? Honda? Ford? Ikea? Starbucks?
I challenge you to watch all 4 episodes of this series. Get ready to have your mind blown. I'd love to hear your thoughts and reaction to this.

The MPAA Allows Us to See Some Oral Sex: Blue Valentine Now Rated "R"

Blue Valentine, a new movie starring Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams, originally received an NC-17 rating due to a scene featuring a blow job. Well, it turns out the MPAA (which is the organization that rates movies) has decided to change the rating to "R".

This whole situation reminded me of a movie I saw a couple of years ago. It was called This Film Is Not Yet Rated. Frankly, this movie is fascinating. It focuses on the history of the MPAA, the secrecy of the organization, and the censorship it consistently participates in. The MPAA and it's ratings system may be quite the violation of the first amendment. Their power to censor is ridiculous.

The entire film isn't available free online...you will have to rent it...but here are a couple clips.