Atlas Canned?

Because of poor box office performance and very negative reviews, the producer of the movie version of Atlas Shrugged, John Aglialoro, has decided he probably won’t be making any sequels. What’s funny about this is that he says he is emulating the heroes from the film and going “on strike”. The truly hilarious irony about his reasoning is that he says he’s on strike because he can’t handle the criticism from his critics, but as every good Ayn Rand fan knows, you aren’t supposed to let criticism of your artistic efforts stand in the way of your genius.

From Aglialoro’s interview with the Los Angeles Times:

"Critics, you won," said John Aglialoro, the businessman who spent 18 years and more than $20 million of his own money to make, distribute and market "Atlas Shrugged: Part 1," which covers the first third of Rand's dystopian novel. "I’m having deep second thoughts on why I should do Part 2." ...

"The New York Times gave us the most hateful review of all," said Aglialoro, who also has a writing credit on the movie. "They didn’t cover it." ...

"Why should I put up all of that money if the critics are coming in like lemmings?" Aglialoro said. "I’ll make my money back and I'll make a profit, but do I wanna go and do two? Maybe I just wanna see my grandkids and go on strike."

Why is Mr. Aglialoro blaming his critics? Fictional Randian super-architect Howard Roark of The Fountainhead fame would never stop his art simply because critics and society at large could not recognize his “genius”. Roark doesn’t even think about his critics. The only exchange in The Fountainhead between Roark and newspaper columnist and architecture critic Elswooth Toohey makes this clear:

"Mr. Roark, we’re alone here. Why don’t you tell me what you think of me? In any words you wish. No one will hear us."

"But I don’t think of you."

There is something very funny about the director of an Ayn Rand adaptation blaming the flop of his movie on other people. Blaming other people for your failures is something the moochers are supposed to do.

Follow Noah on Twitter: @noahkgreen

Tweet