Atlas Shrugged III: Who Is John Galt? Blu-ray Review
Because the film’s budget was only $5 million (some of which was raised with a Kickstarter campaign since the previous two installments of the saga didn’t bring in much money), wholesale scenes which couldn’t be shot are summarized by an off-screen narrator who bridges gaps in continuity and keeps the viewer apprised of what each side is doing through the film’s entire running time. The script by director Manera, Harmony Kaslow, and producer John Aglialoro is full of endless pronouncements of Ayn Rand’s philosophies sometimes put in the mouth of John Galt (who in a scene meant to be important but which only seems ludicrously melodramatic, interrupts all television broadcasts with his impassioned speech about the lemming citizenry needing to wake up to the corruption all around them) and sometimes spoken by his disciples (played by Joaquim de Almeida, Eric Allan Kramer, and Dominic Daniel, among others) in the valley. But who would have guessed that all this political posturing and moralistic espousing was merely a prelude to a chemistry-free sex scene between John and Dagny (right at the moment of a railroad crisis, one must add: the very reason she allegedly came back to the world from the Shangri-la of Mulligan’s Valley) and later a ludicrously suspense-free rescue operation after John has fallen into the hands of his enemies intent on torturing him. Director Manera doesn’t seem able to inject much interest or enthusiasm in either the romance or the action of the moment in a movie so heavy with its hews and cries of economic individualism.
Of the three casts of actors who have played the major roles in the story over this trilogy of films, Part III has the blandest set of leads. Laura Regan’s Dagny tries to fire herself up with ambition and determination, but it often comes across as merely petulance. Kristoffer Polaha’s John Galt is played as a literal Messiah, his quiet nobility and humorless sincerity of purpose not ill-fitting in another remake of Jesus’ life story. Greg Germann’s spineless brother James Taggart isn’t quite as cocky as his predecessors and definitely more wimpy. Peter Mackenzie’s Head of State Thompson is a singularly power mad and nasty piece of goods supported by stereotypically evil flunkies played without an iota of nuance by Tony Denison and Louis Herthum. Conversely, Galt’s supporters likewise convey stereotypes, this time the placid, peace-loving intellectuals played by Eric Allan Kramer, Dominic Daniel, and Joaquim de Almeida, among others. Conservative commentators Ron Paul, Glenn Beck, and Sean Hannity also check in to support Galt’s theories.
Ultraviolet: code sheet enclosed
Promo Trailers (HD): The Bridge, Tyrant.
The three-part cinematic saga of Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged comes to a tepid and uneventful end with J. James Manera’s third installment subtitled Who Is John Galt? With another changeover in cast and director, the film doesn’t much resemble either of the previous pieces of this preachy polemic in look or tone, and the film so desperately wants to be eye-opening and revolutionary that its pitiful, underwhelming script and performances seem to be flailing at imagined shadows of governmental conspiracy and mass disingenuousness amid one of the most unconvincing love stories in a generation.
Studio: Fox
Distributed By: N/A
Video Resolution and Encode: 1080P/AVC
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Audio: English 5.1 DTS-HDMA
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, French
Rating: PG-13
Run Time: 1 Hr. 39 Min.
Package Includes: Blu-ray, UltraViolet
keep caseDisc Type: BD50 (dual layer)
Region: A
Release Date: 01/06/2015
MSRP: $29.99
The Production Rating: 2/5
Because the film’s budget was only $5 million (some of which was raised with a Kickstarter campaign since the previous two installments of the saga didn’t bring in much money), wholesale scenes which couldn’t be shot are summarized by an off-screen narrator who bridges gaps in continuity and keeps the viewer apprised of what each side is doing through the film’s entire running time. The script by director Manera, Harmony Kaslow, and producer John Aglialoro is full of endless pronouncements of Ayn Rand’s philosophies sometimes put in the mouth of John Galt (who in a scene meant to be important but which only seems ludicrously melodramatic, interrupts all television broadcasts with his impassioned speech about the lemming citizenry needing to wake up to the corruption all around them) and sometimes spoken by his disciples (played by Joaquim de Almeida, Eric Allan Kramer, and Dominic Daniel, among others) in the valley. But who would have guessed that all this political posturing and moralistic espousing was merely a prelude to a chemistry-free sex scene between John and Dagny (right at the moment of a railroad crisis, one must add: the very reason she allegedly came back to the world from the Shangri-la of Mulligan’s Valley) and later a ludicrously suspense-free rescue operation after John has fallen into the hands of his enemies intent on torturing him. Director Manera doesn’t seem able to inject much interest or enthusiasm in either the romance or the action of the moment in a movie so heavy with its hews and cries of economic individualism.
Of the three casts of actors who have played the major roles in the story over this trilogy of films, Part III has the blandest set of leads. Laura Regan’s Dagny tries to fire herself up with ambition and determination, but it often comes across as merely petulance. Kristoffer Polaha’s John Galt is played as a literal Messiah, his quiet nobility and humorless sincerity of purpose not ill-fitting in another remake of Jesus’ life story. Greg Germann’s spineless brother James Taggart isn’t quite as cocky as his predecessors and definitely more wimpy. Peter Mackenzie’s Head of State Thompson is a singularly power mad and nasty piece of goods supported by stereotypically evil flunkies played without an iota of nuance by Tony Denison and Louis Herthum. Conversely, Galt’s supporters likewise convey stereotypes, this time the placid, peace-loving intellectuals played by Eric Allan Kramer, Dominic Daniel, and Joaquim de Almeida, among others. Conservative commentators Ron Paul, Glenn Beck, and Sean Hannity also check in to support Galt’s theories.
Video Rating: 4.5/5 3D Rating: NA
Audio Rating: 4/5
Special Features Rating: 2/5
- With Kristoffer Polaha (2:47)
- With Eric Allan Kramer (1:21)
- With Dominic Daniel (1:37)
- With Producer Joan Carter (1:30)
- With Special Effects Coordinator Tommy Frazier (2:17)
- At the State Science Institute (1:45) actors Tony Denison and Neil Dickson speak.
Ultraviolet: code sheet enclosed
Promo Trailers (HD): The Bridge, Tyrant.
Overall Rating: 2/5
Reviewed By: Matt Hough
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