Rollerball

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Rollerball

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Rollerball

James Caan, John Houseman, Moses Gunn

In the year 2018, violence and crime have been totally eliminated from society and given outlet in the brutal blood sport of rollerball, a high-velocity blend of football, hockey, and motor-cross raci...( read more  read more... )ng sponsored by the multinational corporations that now control the world following the collapse of traditional politics. James Caan plays Jonathan E., the reigning superstar of rollerball, whose corporate controllers fear that Jonathan's popularity has endowed him with too much power. They begin to pressure him according to their own ruthless set of rules, but Jonathan has rules of his own--the rules of a man determined to retain his soul in a world gone mad. As directed by Norman Jewison (who was enjoying a peak of success during the early and mid-1970s), Rollerball creates a believable society that's been rendered passive and compliant by the homogenization of corporate dictatorships, where the control and flow of information is the only currency of any importance. It's a world in which natural human aggressions have been sublimated and vented through the religious fervor toward rollerball and its players. Rollerball now looks like one of those 1970s science fiction films (another example being Logan's Run) that seems a bit dated and quaint, but its ideas are still provocative and fascinating, and the production is visually impressive. The DVD includes full-screen and widescreen versions of the film, audio commentary by director Norman Jewison, a behind-the-scenes featurette, an interactive "rollergame," trivia, and production notes. --Jeff Shannon

Id: 10900070

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Recent Reviews

Rollerball Recent Reviews
  • markymarkslunggnome
    January 18, 2009
    markymarkslunggnome
    They blow up trees. I was tired. I didn't get it
  • bradwest
    October 5, 2008
    bradwest
    One of the great 70's SF movies. We inch closer to that future every day.
  • RCCLBC
    August 20, 2008
    RCCLBC
    Worth watching for the cheesy 70's Vibe alone!. The set design and clothing is amazing!

    The message (while powerful) seemed to be a bit convoluted. Could have been much more powerful.
  • jsd35
    December 29, 2007
    jsd35
    The plot of this film is, to say the least, sketchy. I mean, basically it's like some guy said, 'Hey, I gotta great, high concept idea. Let's make a film centred around the star of an ultraviolent sport.' ...

    'Right, okay. What's the story?'

    'That's it. We'll just show this ult...( read more)raviolent sport, and have the guy in some kind of career crisis or something.'

    'Riiighhhtt...'

    'And we'll cast James Caan.'

    'Brilliant! Let's do it. What's the sport?'

    'Umm. It's football meets basketball, meets roller-hockey meets motocross.'

    'That's some mixed-up sport! What shall we call it?'

    'How about baseketball?'

    'Nah, thats some piece of pap, namby pamby comedy name. Only an idiot would use it. How about, 'Rollerball.''

    'Cool.'

    And that's it. Credit must go to James Caan for underplaying the role, and the production team for giving the film a naturalistic look and feel. The effect is almost to pull a decent bit of film out of nothing. But in the end, there is no story worth heck, and even the mechanics of the sport are left vague, so afterwards you are left with a somewhat underwhelming, 'Oh.' Still, I wouldn't actively avoid this film, unlike its more recent remake.
  • lavenderfawn
    March 14, 2007
    lavenderfawn
    James Caan rolerskating? GOTSTA be good!
  • MightySparks
    November 28, 2009
    MightySparks
    I hate sport movies, but I lovez dystopian-y future movies. But I was sooo bored. I was looking forward to it, but nothing seemed to happen.
  • thepowerofthebunny
    October 29, 2009
    thepowerofthebunny
    Better than the other version.
  • TheQueensShilling
    October 10, 2009
    TheQueensShilling
    This superb story is not so much science fiction as an Orwellian vision of our corporate future. Regrettably, much of it is already coming true.






    A not so futuristic Orwellian study of corporate evil. A possible companion to American Beauty, Nor...( read more)th Dallas Forty, Office Space and Soylent Green.
  • inspecteursexuel
    August 16, 2009
    inspecteursexuel
    mieux que le remake moins stupide
  • comeinandjointhariot
    April 3, 2009
    comeinandjointhariot
    Dystopian future at its best, a brilliant mirror for the modern day. Not as violently striking as it must once have been but its themes remain absolutely current
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