After being fried from long work hours, I had to take a break. So I dug out a 2002 list I'd done of my preferred casting of the upcoming film version of "Atlas Shrugged." A number of the actors, I found, were too old now, and in other cases new actors have since come to my attention.
Anyway, for what it's worth, here's my current suggested cast. [Go back to the novel, read Rand's actual descriptions of the characters -- then click the following links to SEE what I mean.]
John Galt — Russell Crowe, simply because he can do anything. Lest ye scoff, remember that this actor can and has gained and lost weight for roles, and has been a chameleon in his appearance. He has convincingly portrayed everything from a "master and commander" to a "gladiator" to "a beautiful mind," and never looked the same twice. He has the gravitas, screen presence, strength, intelligence, and raw sex appeal that this role demands.
Dagny Taggart — [UPDATE: Angelina Jolie has been "signed, sealed, and delivered" for this role, a fact confirmed by the film's producers. So the rest of this comment about Dagny may be only of quaint historical interest to some.] Though my preferences change from day to day for this difficult-to-cast role, today it's Nicole Kidman. She's sexy, strong, and highly intelligent. Cate Blanchett could do it, too, because she has similar qualities. But to my mind, hers is not the right look: she'd make a far better Dominique in a Fountainhead remake. Jodie Foster (see her in "Contact") projects almost all the right qualities except (for me, at least) sexiness — which, considering the male competition for Dagny, had jolly well better be there. As for sexy, I adore Diane Lane, who certainly has the right look for Dagny, but her personality seems a bit "soft" for the part. My earlier suggestions — Julianne Moore, Ashley Judd, and Kristin Scott Thomas — all seem to lack one or more of the Dagny qualities, and also just don't seem quite "tough" enough for the role. Of that group, Ashley Judd is probably the best. So put me down for Kidman, followed by Blanchett, followed by Judd. If I don't change my mind again tomorrow. [UPDATE: Angelina Jolie IS interested in playing Dagny -- that's for real, folks -- and you'd better believe that if she wants this role, it's hers. My problem with her image is that she projects too much sexuality, all the time, so that it's hard to imagine her playing a serious, no-nonsense businesswoman. She'd really have to cool down her look, get rid of all the makeup, and dare to appear a bit less glamorous in most scenes.] [UPDATE, May 4 -- Lemme see...it's now Thursday. During a coffee break, I just glimpsed Ashley Judd on TV for a few minutes playing a sexy, tough detective in "Twisted." Naturally, she's just become my new Dagny du jour. Stay tuned...the week isn't over yet, and tomorrow I might fixate on someone else.]
Hank Rearden — Liam Neeson. Harrison Ford, who once would have been perfect, now looks at least a decade too old. [UPDATE: Here's a treat: a shot of both "Reardens" together. Ford, now in his 60s, is ten years older than Neeson, who looked pretty spry and athletic in the recent "Batman Begins."]
Francisco d'Anconia — Christian Bale. Okay, I still think Adrian Paul looks even better for the part, but he will probably look too old by the time this gets made.
Ragnar Danneskjold — Brad Pitt. Now here's the role for Brad: get him back into that Achilles look from "Troy," and he's a perfect fit.
Eddie Willers — Dennis Quaid, that ever-boyish Nice Guy Next Door.
Lillian Rearden — Sharon Stone. Nobody does "manipulative bitch" better. Just imagine her cast against a conflicted Liam Neeson…
James Taggart — Kevin Spacey. Go read the description in chapter 1 of the book, folks. Then look at the photo linked here. "Don't bother me, don't bother me, don't bother me!"
Dr. Hugh Akston — Morgan Freeman. (Inspired, eh?)
Dr. Robert Stadler — James Cromwell has intelligence, presence, and range: he can go from "Babe" benevolent to "L.A. Confidential" sinister in a heartbeat.
Cherryl Taggart — Hilary Swank. She projects a wonderfully fresh innocence. See her in "Insomnia."
Ken Danagger — Fred Ward. He even looks like a tough old coal miner.
The Wet Nurse — Leonardo Di Caprio. Forever young, he'll look fresh out of college even ten years from now. Somebody else recently suggested Chris O'Donnell, and he'd be fine, too.
Midas Mulligan — Think Irish: Brian Dennehy.
Ellis Wyatt — Kiefer Sutherland. I mean, can't you just see Jack Bauer blowing up those oil fields?
Quentin Daniels — Johnny Depp, boy genius.
Mr. Thompson — Gene Hackman. Imagine him as President, matching wits with Rus
sell Crowe… [Though he's probably too old now. UPDATE: Another inspiration just occurred to me: the only Hollywood actor who has also been a real U.S. Senator: the Hon. Fred Thompson. Not only could he do this tough, wily politician convincingly...he EVEN HAS THE RIGHT NAME FOR THE PART!] [UPDATE, 9/07 -- It appears that Fred Thompson wants to BE "Mr. Thompson"...he just announced his candidacy for President. Ah well...I guess I'll need someone else for this role.]
Orren Boyle — James Gandolfini. After all, Boyle is the Tony Soprano of the business world.
Dr. Floyd Ferris — John Malkovich. A cobra dressed up as a human. If he's unavailable, call in Jeremy Irons, who fits Rand's description even better. In truth, for this part, it's a toss-up.
Dr. Simon Pritchett — Alan Rickman, if we can transfer him from Hogwarts to Patrick Henry U.
Paul Larkin — Gregory Itzin. "WHO?" I hear you ask. He's the Richard Nixon look-alike who plays the double-crossing, treasonous President Charles Logan on "24."
Phillip Rearden — David Hyde Pierce. "Frasier's" pouting, whining younger brother would be super as Liam Neeson's pouting, whining younger brother.
Wesley Mouch — William Atherton. "Who?" again. That's why he's perfect — the perfect type to play a bland, scheming non-entity. See him in "Die Hard": he's the slimy reporter.
Cuffy Meigs — Steven Seagal, now bloated and dissolute.
Fred Kinnan — Scott Glenn for the tough-as-nails union boss.
Bertram Scudder — Jon Lovitz. Can't do any better than that unless it's Danny DeVito (remember him as the gossip columnist in "L.A. Confidential"?).
Gerald Starnes — Steve Buscemi. I mean, he makes me absolutely sick just looking at him.
Ivy Starnes — Roseanne Barr. Say no more.
