Rollerball

Rating:
Summary: An Intelligent But at Times Needlessly Slow Movie
Review: "Rollerball" is set in a future free of war and poverty and nationalism, a world that anticipates "globalism," but here in the form of a corporate rule. The world is run by several large corporations who deliver all goods and services and ask only in return that society, as one corporate member played by John Houseman states, "not question management decisions." In such a world, the individual must subjucate himself to the corporate organization and to this end corporate managers have invented "Rollerball," a hybrid of hockey, football, and roller derby, a death sport designed to show that individual effort is futile, for while one lone player may achieve greatness at the game, the nature of the game makes his demise inevitable. Enter Jonathan E. played by James Caan, a player who excels at the game. Indeed, he is called "the Champion." Jonathan has played the game so long and so well that corporate leaders have decided his example is a threat because Rollerball and, by extension, corporate rule cannot last if a man is greater than the game, if a component becomes more important than the machine. Corporate leaders set out to force Jonathan into retirement, but Jonathan loves the game and resists, and therein lies Jonathan's flaw: he dares to place his individual wants and needs above the corporations' decisions. For this, Jonathan must be eliminated, so corporate leaders change the rules of the game, redesign it as the season winds to a close to make certain that Jonathan's demise will be inevitable. James Caan portrays the surly, morose Jonathan E. well, but his role does not call for much depth, and so Caan sometimes sleep walks through his lines although some scenes are delivered with intensity as well. John Houseman is always a treat to watch, and here he plays well the tip of the corporate iceberg, always hinting of what sinisterism lies beneath the surface. The movie is slow in some places, and some scenes are needlessly long, but we are willing to plod through them because they are sometimes symbolic of the themes running through the movie. I was distracted by the 70's style costumes. Even though this movie is set in an indefinite future, society is still running around in tight fitting jump suits with zippers pulled down to the navel and wide collars that rival the wings of a 747. Everyone looks like a porno-star. The movie does, however, take to task the decadence of the 70's as it creates in scenes an Andy Warhol-like nightmare in which society mindlessly chases pleasure while disregarding the destruction such pleasure-chasing causes. Overall, a good movie with a good story, but the plot line is slow and at times monotone.

Rating:
Summary: Puttin' the hurt on you
Review: Being both an avid fan of violent sports and sci-fi/action flicks, 'Roller ball' was definitely a must-see for me. Some great moments of fast-paced gladiator-style violent sports action are sandwiched in between the lulls filled with the movie's message of the difference between happiness & security and true freedom... or somethin' like that. Hey, when you're into the hard-hittin' game action, pileups, and grievous injuries, who really cares about some lame message? I ain't watchin' this for no stinkin' philosophy lesson, I wanna be entertained! And goshdarnit, there's nothing more entertaining to me than depictions of people inflicting pain & suffering upon each other for fun and sport!

Unfortunately, 'Rollerball' isn't without its share of cheese. Well, maybe not so unfortunate: in my case, it ups the entertainment factor a few notches! The so-called 'future tech' look of the movie hasn't held up all that well- like its fellow 70s sci-fi flicks 'Logan's Run' and 'Silent Running', it does have a less-than-timeless look to it. One good example is the players' skating of the old-fashioned 2-axle roller skates, rather than the in-line "blades" commonly used nowadays. Then there's a few scenes where our hard-hitting heroes are doing their between-game sojourns to the library in plain white polyester leisure/jump-suits. Director Norman Jewison acknowledges a few other shortcomings that kept 'Rollerball' from transcending the dated look in the feature-length commentary track.

Now a review of the features: the picture quality's pretty good, and the sound's decent, although nothing really spectacular. There's a mini-doc featuring more of the director's explanation as to what this movie's message is, and the obligatory trailer. Another neat thing- widescreen format on one side, pan-&-scan on the other. Y'know, just in case those black bars on the top & bottom just aren't your thing. Then there's the 'RollerGame', where you have to match up 16 scenes in their proper chronological order to win. This one's no biggie- it gets pretty predictable after three or more tries.

'Late

Rating:
Summary: JEWISON SHOOTS - -HE SCORES !!!
Review: Sci-fi Schmi-fi. If you are interested in good filmmaking I recomend spending an evening with Norman Jewison's ROLLERBALL.
There are moments of visionary calibre imagimation throughout the film starting with the stage setting ( similar to the intro to his later film JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR ) set to the merciless Tocata and Fugue and culminating in a series of freeze frame blow-ups to close the last scene. The mood is, like the world the film represents, businesslike and icy cold from the targeting of the last vestige of the natural world on the horizon by hedonic revelers to the hollow sounding cannon and blunt, brassy goal horn that signals a point scored for some corporate sponsered team at the cost of human blood. Appreciating art from past eras rquires viewers to be able to put themseves back there too. (If you can't watch films in the context of the era in which they were made you're in the wrong hobby.) ROLLERBALL is not a masterpiece but it is a very good film especially considering the fairly outrageous themes the director had to make palatable.
Imagine what a total comic book a film like this would be if directed by, say - Stephen Spielberg or worse yet - Tim Burton.
Jewison Shoots - - -He scores.

Rating:
Summary: "This was never meant to be a game! Never!"
Review: The rollerball game of the future was created for a special reason. "To show the futility of individual effort." To make anyone that wants to go his own way, bow dowm to the powers that be. James Cann, in one of his best roles, is Johnathan E, rollerball's super star. He's relaxed and friendly off the track, and a determined gladiator on.

The action is great and strangly hypnotizing as skaters and motorcyclists race around a large circular track, trying to throw a steel metal ball into a basket.

John Housman makes one of the best establishment heavys as he hints, demands, and threatens Johnathan to retire. For people that like gladiator movies, sports action, or the lone man trying to survive, Rollerball will excite you. You'll be shouting Johnathan's name along with the crowd. And after it's over, you'll feel like taking on the world. Yes, a great motivational movie as well.

Pay no attention to remake. This is the one and only "Rollerball".

Rating:
Summary: Highly Underrated, Highly Accurate Look Forward
Review: A friend came over the other night and poped the "Rollerball" DVD into the player - for a moment or two I grimaced, imagining some sort of .. poor 1970s version of "The Running Man" - little did I know it would be MUCH BETTER!

Was I surprised when the movie that unfolded was more like a cross between the stories of "1984", the computer game "Syndicate", and the court case against Bill Gates.

The story is about the fact that the world has evolved into a place where six major companies run everything, with very basic names: "Energy Corporation", "Leisure Corporation", "Food Corporation" etc., where each company has its own anthem and logo/colour scheme.

The corporations control EVERYTHING, including the main pastime for the people of Earth, "The Game", Rollerball.

Are you still with me? While it sounds very totalitarian, it is very realistic, with much of what goes on today reflected into this film...

Anyway, the plot revolves around a champion of "The Game", Jonothan E., who is so great, so popular that the Corporations Committee becomes scared and decides to force him to quit. But Jonothan has other ideas - the Committee has already taken his wife away, now his career... It is all too much for him, and the film develops into a battle (both violent and covert) against the Committee of Corporations.

A brilliant film which is about to be remade - directed by John McTiernan, the guy who did Die Hard, Predator, Hunt for Red October, 13th Warrior etc... But watch the original and be able to see what maes it a great film.

The story is truly imaginative and clever, James Caan is brilliant, the art direction is great (winning a BAFTA). Watch this film, BUY IT!

Rating:
Summary: Great Movie - But You'll Need Coffee for the Commentary
Review: The commentary uhhhhhh option for this film, dirrrrr, uh, director Norman Jewison, uhhhhhhh, talk..... ing about the making of, uh, the film, really makes one wonder ahhhhhhh how a narcolepsy-inducer like this could ever make an action film as fine as Rollerball. Buy the DVD for sure, but -- uh, errrrrrr -- SKIP the director's comments!

Rating:
Summary: An Intelligent But at Times Needlessly Slow Movie
Review: "Rollerball" is set in a future free of war and poverty and nationalism, a world that anticipates "globalism," but here in the form of a corporate rule. The world is run by several large corporations who deliver all goods and services and ask only in return that society, as one corporate member played by John Houseman states, "not question management decisions." In such a world, the individual must subjucate himself to the corporate organization and to this end corporate managers have invented "Rollerball," a hybrid of hockey, football, and roller derby, a death sport designed to show that individual effort is futile, for while one lone player may achieve greatness at the game, the nature of the game makes his demise inevitable. Enter Jonathan E. played by James Caan, a player who excels at the game. Indeed, he is called "the Champion." Jonathan has played the game so long and so well that corporate leaders have decided his example is a threat because Rollerball and, by extension, corporate rule cannot last if a man is greater than the game, if a component becomes more important than the machine. Corporate leaders set out to force Jonathan into retirement, but Jonathan loves the game and resists, and therein lies Jonathan's flaw: he dares to place his individual wants and needs above the corporations' decisions. For this, Jonathan must be eliminated, so corporate leaders change the rules of the game, redesign it as the season winds to a close to make certain that Jonathan's demise will be inevitable. James Caan portrays the surly, morose Jonathan E. well, but his role does not call for much depth, and so Caan sometimes sleep walks through his lines although some scenes are delivered with intensity as well. John Houseman is always a treat to watch, and here he plays well the tip of the corporate iceberg, always hinting of what sinisterism lies beneath the surface. The movie is slow in some places, and some scenes are needlessly long, but we are willing to plod through them because they are sometimes symbolic of the themes running through the movie. I was distracted by the 70's style costumes. Even though this movie is set in an indefinite future, society is still running around in tight fitting jump suits with zippers pulled down to the navel and wide collars that rival the wings of a 747. Everyone looks like a porno-star. The movie does, however, take to task the decadence of the 70's as it creates in scenes an Andy Warhol-like nightmare in which society mindlessly chases pleasure while disregarding the destruction such pleasure-chasing causes. Overall, a good movie with a good story, but the plot line is slow and at times monotone.

Rating:
Summary: "How bout a good old American fist in the face!"
Review: Future corporate gang warfare sponsored by Enron.

Amazing synchronicity with current day events and forecasts of the near future. James Caan in his absolute prime and John Houseman at his malevolent best as a chief exec of the Energy Corporation that runs half the planet. Much better than the new release and a fantastic soundtrack laced with some classic and very haunting pipe organ wizardry ala. Phantom of the Opera.

The DVD release is very very good. Aside from a stunning video presentation and spinejiggling 5.1 audio, we also get a very revealing audio commentary by Director Norman Jewison, additional behind-the-scenes footage, trivia, and more. 4 Facemasks

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating speculation of a possible future society.
Review: This is a story dealing with the struggle of one man to stand against society's establishment in a future society dominated by huge mega-corporations. Nation states are gone, bankrupt, and society's needs are met by huge corporate entities that demand complete loyalty and obedience in exchange for material comfort and security.

Wars are no more, and people's need for aggression and conflict are directed to the violent sport "Rollerball" in which the players are routinely killed and maimed. The subtle, underlying purpose of Rollerball is to show the futility of individual achievement, and that individual stature and excellence must always be subordinated to society and the larger organization of the corporation. Players play and then are maimed or killed off, but the game goes on. James Caan is superb as "Jonathan E" the longest-surviving star of the game Rollerball, who seeks to rise above the game rather than either retire from it, or be destroyed by it. John Houseman does his usual fine job playing the consummate establishment "corporate executive"--which is the ruling class. This is a man-versus-establishment story with an interesting twist.

By the way, the cinematography and special effects of this film are quite good even by today's standards. The Rollerball scenes are very well done, and very imaginative.

In some respects the movie is campy, reflective of its 1970s origins, but it still entertains. The storyline moves along briskly, with very few pointless interludes and draggy mid-movie scenes that are so typical of too many movies today. While the film does intend to send a message, it also manages not to take itself too seriously, and is much more fun as a consequence.

By the way, this film is incomparably better than the remake "Rollerball" which recently came out, and don't confuse the two. This is the original, and this is the one to get.

Rating:
Summary: A very cool movie
Review: And one of James Caan's finest. I'm glad it hasn't been forgotten.

It's the future, and the corporations have taken over, providing bread and circuses to the masses while doing all the things corporations are known for doing. The popular blood sport Rollerball is the 'circuses' part, and Jonathan E (Caan) is one of its great stars.

For the rest of the story, watch the movie. After you do, you'll never again feel quite the same about Super Bowl Sunday.

This is classic dark-SF cinema, well acted and filmed, with high production values and a cyberpunk edge that predated cyberpunk. It's something like _Mad Max_ on anabolic steroids.

And give the remake a miss. This is the good one.