From: "Devine, James" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
I don't think that this movie is "immers[ed] in ... the philosophy of Ayn Rand." Nor is it "fascist" as some leftist mag described it. It presents the standard individual (family) vs. society theme (along with the good guys vs. bad guy theme) that shows up in a lot of U.S. films, e.g., Westerns. And some of the rituals that schools have are pretty stupid: the one that "celebrates mediocrity" is a graduation ceremony from 4th grade. The bureaucrats -- including the one in the private insurance company -- are pretty bad, but one doesn't have to respond to that in an Ayn Randian way. Socialists and anarchists also have problems with bureaucrats.
Not to mention that capitalism itself is the greatest engine for generating mediocrity ever conceived. Wage discipline achieved through deskilling of jobs and fungibility of workers is the essence of the system. As I always say, capitalism doesn't tolerate mediocrity; it insists on it.
Carl
