My wife and I just got back from seeing 'Atlas Shrugged'. It was pleasantly surprising in many ways, understandably disappointing in others, but definitely worth seeing.
I worked in the film industry for 25 years, so I think I can offer an objective critique (pun intended). The film is much better than one would guess, given the shoestring budget of $10M, and being shot in only five weeks.
First, anyone who has read the book will be frustrated by the compression and omission of many details in the novel. It's almost on par with what Cecil B. DeMille must have faced when he made 'The Bible', although DeMille certainly had the luxuries of far more time, money, and studio support. (In fact, "Atlas Shrugged' is ranked second only to The Bible by many readers asked to rank the most influential book they have ever read.)
The movie gets off to an uneven start, as if both the scriptwriter and director had trouble finding the right scope and pace. But by a half-hour in, I found myself fully engaged by the characters and the plot development.
The acting is remarkably solid, with Dagny Taggart and Henry Rearden both very well-portrayed. The supporting cast is good, and the lighting and camera work are seamless.
There are points to quibble with. In particular, I thought the film needed better editing -- some shots are slightly too long, others too short, and the absence of alternative camera angles and 'pick-up' shots made for some distracting cuts. Most of this is probably due, again, to the extremely limited budget. An editor can only assemble a film from camera takes that actually exist. Some of the CGI was also noticeable; again, invisible effects are almost impossible to achieve without spending a great deal of money.
Overall, though, I was impressed. By the final third of the film, everyone in the theater was fully engrossed in the story. The pace and direction flowed well, and the actors were obviously fully committed to their roles. The message became more focused and powerful, and I was left wanting more.
Both my wife (who hasn't read the book), and I (who read it many years ago) are eagerly waiting for the second and third installments of this trilogy. I'm frustrated that parts II and III are not planned for release until 2012 and 2013. I'm hoping that this first installment will do well enough to guarantee the completion of the next release, and wishing that someone like a real-life Henry Rearden would step up and fund the project to the tune of $100M or so.
Considering the political and financial hurdles this production faced, it's really surprising that 'Atlas Shrugged' has made to the theaters at all. It's not perfect, but well worth your time. Go see it.