The Passion of Ayn Rand
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Movie Reviews of The Passion of Ayn Rand
Movie Review: Erratic, but I enjoyed it
Summary: 4 Stars
This definitely dwells on the "soap opera" aspect of the Rand/Branden relationships, and I doubt that someone who hadn't read at least one of the Branden books would be able to fully comprehend the storyline. So, for that part of the film, I only rate 3 stars.The acting is the best part - Helen Mirren is brilliant, and I can't imagine anyone else playing the part as well. I also found Julie Delpy to be really wonderful - her portrayal was nuanced and very complex, and I feel that Delpy carried the rest of the show when Mirren wasn't onscreen. When both women were in a scene, Delpy definitely held her own, and wasn't outacted by Mirren.
Now, I'm a big fan of Eric Stoltz, but I didnt' find him right for the role of Nathaniel Branden. His portrayal of an intellectual was implausible - way too shallow. He was only effective as a sexual being; the erotic scenes between Stoltz and Mirren, and Stoltz and the woman who played Caroline, were hot.
Peter Fonda was just way too somnolent as Frank. I realize that Frank was supposed to be a "weak" or soft character, but Fonda overplayed that (or underplayed it, I suppose). I find it hard to believe that he was actually nominated for, or won, an acting award for this.
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Movie Review: Reason Once More a Slave to Passion
Summary: 4 Stars
Imagine a small group of would-be moral pioneers, intelligent but confused. With heroic ideals and some ordinary human weaknesses, they try to shape their lives according to half baked notions of reason and independence. Their philosophy raises excessive self assertion to a virtue, and their unrealistic expectations of themselves and each other lead to conflict and emotional breakdown.
It's a well played chamber drama. I don't know how accurate its details are, but Helen Mirren and the others have gathered a lot of deserved praise for their acting. Mirren offers an especially persuasive image of moral certainty, sexual passion, intolerance and a capacity for self deception. She nails the intellectual intensity that attracted so many of Rand's followers.
The picture was shot in Toronto. Interestingly, the real Barbara Branden plays the mother of the bride in the wedding scene. Her description of the movie can be found in a letter published on her website: barbarabranden.com.
Movie Review: Hypocrisy On Rand's Part
Summary: 3 Stars
I was a student of Ayn Rand's philosophy and a patient of Mr. Branden's several decades ago, in the early 70's. Why? Because I was trying in vain to live as Ms. Rand said we should: as heroic figures every day, perfect in our morals, that we should aspire to be as perfect as the impossibly perfect,cold, robotic main characters of her novels, The Fountainhead and Atlas Shugged. The only book of hers I read several times was We The Living as the characters were most like flesh and blood and real.
While I was going to Group at Mr. Branden's house I had no idea that he'd had an affair with Ayn Rand as it was apparently known only to some insiders I'd guess. Had I known, I would have immediately ended the relationship. As it was he was totally ineffectual as a therapist, barely able to stay awake while we spoke, and like comic shrinks in movies, lets you answer your own questions when you're paying HIM to! Years later, 15 free minutes with Dr. Laura on the radio fixed the problem I had (guilt over the death of a family member.)
The upside of all this:I did know Patrecia who was changed to another fictional woman in the movie. She was a Goddess. All the men loved her, all the women wanted to BE her. She was the essence of joy and life and she died way too young....slight epilepsy that was caused by strobing sunlight dancing off the pool whereupon she had a seizure and fell into the water, drowning.
Now I see that the high moral standards we underlings were supposed to uphold were completely tossed out the window by Ms. Rand and Mr. Branden. Barbara Brandon's book also reported that Ms. Rand was often under the influence of some seriously strong amphetamines and I'm sure if she saw I had done the same thing , she'd have blasted me for not having the moral courage to go through life without artificial courage.
I admire Ms. Rand for her works and her diligent fight against Communism (she is reeling in her grave at where our country stands now!), but it turned out to be do as I say, not as I do. I wasted a lot of years trying to be what she thought we should all aspire to. We can't. It's an impossibility. We are human, with human frailties which she and Nathaniel obviously both succumbed to. You just can't change Nature, which Ayn hated because she only loved that which was man-made. You can take some of this philosophy, but toss out what isn't right for you, otherwise you're a round peg in a very tight, painful square hole.
I believe this movie was a hatchet job to discredit her as she always stated:
"The best way to destroy greatness is to celebrate the mediocre." Or words to that affect.
Just look at who eats up all the news 7 days a week: Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, Lindsey, Anna-Nicole, etc, ad nauseum!
Atlas Shrugged is rumored to be in the works with Angelina Jolie, but don't hold your breath.
Movie Review: First learn, then decide.
Summary: 3 Stars
The three stars I have given are there only because the Amazon page requires me to pick, so I have chosen a neutral number since this is not really about the movie. To explain...This is by way of a meta-review, that is, a commentary on how to consider the reviews here rather than the TV production or even the book. DON'T BELIEVE ANY OF THEM! Not, at least, until you have the information to judge them on your own.
This does not mean 'watch the tape or DVD' or even 'read the book', because neither of those will give you the necessary understanding of the central character. Even the Academy Award nominated biographical documentary, "Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life", while very good, still cannot give you enough information since it is only a few hours long and cannot possibly cover the full scope of this remarkable woman.
The reviews here range from nasty to quite good, but you can't be sure which is which until you understand what all the fuss is about, and the ONLY way to do that is to read what Ayn Rand wrote.
Most people start with her two main novels, "The Fountainhead" and "Atlas Shrugged", and they are worth reading even if only as examples of great fiction. However, you should not stop there, because she wrote broadly of her views on morality, political theory, art, and the deepest intricacies of philosophy, but she also wrote on a myriad of smaller subjects, like her stamp collecting, or why she liked Marilyn Monroe, or what music she liked. It is in the breadth of her writing that you can find the real Ayn Rand.
As I have always warned people, don't believe a thing anyone tells you about Ayn Rand (including me) until you know enough about her. If you are truly interested in what she really was like, you need to first read four or five of her books (you pick). Learn what she had to say and judge for yourself. Then you will be able to understand why some people are so attracted to her and others so hate her, and why some of these reviews are valid and others are not. But you have to do it yourself.
Movie Review: recommend for Helen Mirren fans.
Summary: 3 Stars
I was going to review The Passion of Ayn Rand which has a stellar performance by Helen Mirren & the rest of the cast but it's hard to get excited about a woman whose only passion is the control of others.
I should be rating this show a 5 star movie for the acting but it's about a control freak that as usual BS's other people into doing what she wants & then when it comes her time to do as she has said for years, she fails miserably, because she has spent zero time learning to control herself.
The fact that she is surprised that a man that has spent years in her web comes up with a younger version of herself is astonishing. Especially since she has spent years teaching her followers to emulate her "be honest to your inmost desires junk."
Once he has betrayed her relationship to him, just as she betrayed her relationship to her husband, her publicly being shown to not be in total control drives her to punish him publicly. Once again demonstrating her ability to get the upperhand.
That a movie was made on this person is questionable. Especially since she was popularized by the "I don't know who I am crowd." The thought of the people led into her waste of human life philosophy & how long it may have taken them to recover is unsettling. I give the subject of this movie a 1 star rating. The story (for accuracy)& acting are 5 stars. Helen Mirren, great acting as usual.
Lot's of people probably believe this story is about human sexual relations. It's not. It's about control, self-aggrandizement & the belittling of everyone around Ayn Rand. If your interested in it watch it & get it out of the way. Otherwise skip it.