Atlas Shrugged: Part II (2012)

5% of critics liked it
(21 reviews)
71% of users liked it
(10,587 ratings)

The global economy is on the brink of collapse. Unemployment has risen to 24%. Gas is now $42 per gallon. Brilliant creators, from artists to industrialists, continue to mysteriously disappear at the hands of the unknown. Dagny Taggart, Vice President in Charge of Operations for Taggart… More The global economy is on the brink of collapse. Unemployment has risen to 24%. Gas is now $42 per gallon. Brilliant creators, from artists to industrialists, continue to mysteriously disappear at the hands of the unknown. Dagny Taggart, Vice President in Charge of Operations for Taggart Transcontinental, has discovered what may very well be the answer to a mounting energy crisis - found abandoned amongst the ruins of a once productive factory, a revolutionary motor that could seemingly power the World. But, the motor is dead... there is no one left to decipher its secret... and, someone is watching. It's a race against the clock to find the inventor before the motor of the World is stopped for good. Who is John Galt? -- (C) Official Site

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Directed By: John Putch
Written By: Duke Sandefur, Brian Patrick O'Toole
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Oct 12, 2012 Wide
Studio: Atlas Distribution

Critic Reviews

Alan Scherstuhl, Village Voice
Seriously, if this is the best promotion of itself that the free market can manage, it really would benefit from the help of a Ministry of Culture or something.
Sheri Linden, Los Angeles Times
Director John Putch struggles to find balance or generate a single spark from the clunky mix of romance, political diatribe and thriller.
Manohla Dargis, New York Times
The producers are going to have to hire a better director if they want moviegoers to be curious enough about this Galt guy to buy a ticket for the presumptive third and final chapter.
Dennis Harvey, Variety
It's consistent with its predecessor as a somewhat awkward translation of Ayn Rand's 1957 novel to our current era, handled with bland telepic-style competency.
Tirdad Derakhshani, Philadelphia Inquirer
A disaster as a film, Atlas also is laughable in its presentation of Rand's ideology.
Todd McCarthy, Hollywood Reporter
If the novel Atlas Shrugged is ultimate libertarian porn, then the first two installments of the screen adaptation are soggy softcore.
Phil Villarreal, OK! Magazine
The determined, if questionably talented, cast and crew of Ayn Rand devotees continue to hack their way through the lionized author's obtuse prose
Rob Humanick, Projection Booth
The Bad Boys II of ****ty propaganda films, morally and aesthetically corrupt yet compulsively watchable in the broad strokes. Somewhere, in heaven, Eisenstein is laughing. Hard.
Jackie K. Cooper, jackiekcooper.com
The acting is better than in Part 1 but the fact this is the middle segment leaves the audience that might like it dissatisfied
Tim Brayton, Antagony & Ecstasy
The film's excruciating unwatchability transcends politics.
Marjorie Baumgarten, Austin Chronicle
Atlas won't be the only one to shrug off this tiresome load.
Jim Lane, Sacramento News & Review
Rand's detractors will hate the movie as much as they do her, but her fans will be satisfied ...
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
A niche movie on a par with any cheapjack faith-based picture, which is why it resembles one -- and only the most ardently faithful need apply.
William Bibbiani, CraveOnline
It's still kinda bad, but at least this movie won't be an industry punchline for years to come. ... Oh, what a difference competence makes.
Brian Orndorf, Blu-ray.com
The portrait of American gloom and doom has its layers of meanings and philosophies, but I'd rather approach Atlas as a clumsy B-movie with occasional entertainment value.
Steve Persall, Tampa Bay Times
New viewers aren't expected to jump into the dense story now, and anyone coming back for seconds is predisposed to believing this is the most important movie of the year. Sean Hannity or another right-wing mouthpiece told them so.
Scott Tobias, AV Club
Proving the theorem from Todd Solondz's Palindromes that different actors can play the same role without losing much continuity, Samantha Mathis plays Dagny with all the lifelessness Taylor Schilling brought to the original role.
Roger Moore, McClatchy-Tribune News Service
A stupid person's idea of what a smart movie sounds like.

Read all 18 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Nate Z

You'd think after the horrible and horribly boring Atlas Shrugged: Part One that a promised Part Two might just disappear into the ether. If only we could have been so fortunate. Ayn Rand's cautionary opus about the evils of big government is given another creaky adaptation… More
You'd think after the horrible and horribly boring Atlas Shrugged: Part One that a promised Part Two might just disappear into the ether. If only we could have been so fortunate. Ayn Rand's cautionary opus about the evils of big government is given another creaky adaptation that fails to justify its existence. I feel like I could repeat verbatim my faults with the first film. Once again we don't have characters but mouthpieces for ideology, an ideology that celebrates untamed greed. Once again the "best and brightest" (a.k.a. world's richest) are disappearing and the world is grinding to a halt without their necessary genius. Does anyone really think if the world's billionaires left in a huff that the world would cease to function? The assumption that financial wealth equates brilliance seems fatally flawed. Once again it's in a modern setting where America has gone back in time to value railroads. Once again the main thrust of the inert drama is over inconsequential railway economics. Once again people just talk in circles in cheap locations. Once again the government agencies are a bunch of clucking stooges, eager to punish successful business. Once again Rand's Objectivist worldview is treated as gospel and value is only ascribed to the amount of money one can produce. This time we have a slightly better budget, a better director, and some recognizable actors like Samantha Manthis, Esai Morales, Ray Wise, Richard T. Jones, and D.B. Sweeney as the mysterious John Gault. The story transitions to a ridiculous government mandate that include such incomprehensible edicts like making sure no one spends more money than another person. Can you imagine the paperwork involved? This woeful sequel will only appeal to Rand's most faithful admirers, and you probably don't want to hang out with those people anyway. There's your clue: if you see someone carrying a copy of Atlas Shrugged: Part Two they either lack taste or are far too generous with movies. If there is indeed a concluding Part Three, it will be further proof that Rand's market-based screeds are not accurate. The market has already rejected two of these dreadful movies. Nate's Grade: D
Dann M

Atlas Shrugged: Part II - The Strike is a compelling and provocative film that brings Ayn Rand's classic novel to life. The saga continues with Dagny Taggart and Henry Rearden struggling to hold off a total economic collapse while an oppressive government tightens their control… More
Atlas Shrugged: Part II - The Strike is a compelling and provocative film that brings Ayn Rand's classic novel to life. The saga continues with Dagny Taggart and Henry Rearden struggling to hold off a total economic collapse while an oppressive government tightens their control and leading industrialists mysteriously disappear. Part II has recast all of the major roles from Part I, which is rather off putting and doesn't really benefit the film. However, the directing has improved and gives the film more of a cinematic quality. Additionally, the special effects are well done, and are used quite effectively to add energy and excitement to the film. While Atlas Shrugged: Part II - The Strike doesn't capture the epic quality of the material, it still delivers a solid dramatic thriller.

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Cast

Samantha Mathis
as Dagny Taggart
Jason Beghe
as Henry Rearden
Esai Morales
as Francisco d'Anconia
Patrick Fabian
as James Taggart, James Taggert
Kim Rhodes
as Lillian Rearden
Richard T. Jones
as Eddie Willers
D.B. Sweeney
as John Galt
Diedrich Bader
as Quentin Daniels
Paul McCrane
as Wesley Mouch
John Rubinstein
as Dr. Floyd Ferris
Robert Picardo
as Dr. Robert Stadler
Ray Wise
as Head of State Thompson
Bug Hall
as Leonard Small
Arye Gross
as Ken Danagger
Rex Linn
as Kip Chalmers
Larisa Oleynik
as Cherryl Brooks
Jeff Yagher
as Jeff Allen
Michael Gross
as Ted 'Buzz' Killman
Stephen Macht
as Clem Weatherby
Thomas F. Wilson
as Robert Collins
Jordana Capra
as Judge Griffin
Jennifer Cortese
as Gwen Ives
Rebecca Dunn
as Lillian's Friend
Mel Fair
as Luke Stone
Kip Gilman
as Judge Beckstrom
Martin Grey
as Reception Guest #1
Amy Hedrick
as Laura Bradford
Kevin M. Horton
as Dave Mitchum
Gildart Jackson
as Gilbert Keith Worthing
Jamie Rose
as Sara Connelly

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Atlas Shrugged: Part II (2012)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Nate Z

Dann M

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