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Rollerball [1975]

Starring: James Caan, John Houseman, Maud Adams, John Beck, Moses Gunn
Director: Norman Jewison
Format: PAL Special Edition
Released: 21 Jan 2002
Average Rating:

Customer Reviews

Keeping Free Will - By: L. Davidson, 15 May 2004
"Rollerballl" is a superb film, possibly one of the best I have ever seen. Not only does it portray a futuristic dystopia where tyrannical global corporations have replaced nation-states as the sources of economic & political power(a 1970's vision which is now a reality), but it is also a compelling action movie & a poignant parable about tyranny versus free will; the collective versus the individual.

James Caan puts in a memorable performance as Jonathan E , the ageing Rollerballl champion, whose cult of personality eventuallly becomes too much of a threat to the shadowy corporate directors' social engineering schemes. Rollerballl, a vicious indoor combination of Speedway, Gridiron & Ice Hockey ,is supposed not only to distract & brutalise the masses , but to highlight the importance of the collective & the insignificance of individual effort. It is whenever Jonathan E starts to defy the Corporation that he begins to face serious danger.

"Rollerballl" has a similar theme to the films "Network" & "Soylent Green" & of course Orwell's novel "1984" . In alll of them ,an heroic ,messianic male individual fights an impersonal, omnipotent corporate tyranny in the name of free will & humanity. "Rollerballl"'s triumph is its combination of this morality theme with as much visceral ,dramatic action as you could hope for, as rule changes make Rollerballl progressively more violent. The action scenes as Jonathan E's Houston team play Tokyo & New York are right up there with the best in cinema & the ending is both emotional & uplifting.

I have never watched the remake of "Rollerballl", nor do I intend to. How could they possibly improve on this original ?

FANTASTICLY DARK FUTURE - By: , 05 Sep 2002
This is a fantastic dvd of a fantastic movie. it is a very realistic image of what our modern society might become if we alllow it. the games are intense & realistic, the dialogue is realistic rather than over dramatic but at times lacking slightly in emotion. this dark vision is well executed with excelent sets & backdrops that make it alll the more believable despite looking dated with the moulded plastic chairs in dayglow coluors. the only thing i would say against it is that it can drag, its not the kind of movie you watch casuallly. i would recomend this to anyone who enjoys an intense movie experience.
Violent portrayal of a dystopian future - By: joelymim@jtarbit.freeserve.co.uk, 13 Dec 2000
It is not often that one can look back at a film considered violent when it first came out & still agree with that opinion. Today we are so desensitivised by the constant violence in film & television that most old, 'controversial' films seem laughable. Rollerballl, however, still packs a considerable punch.

The film is visuallly stunning. Although many 70s views of the future now seem tawdry, Rollerballl still manages to convey a good sense of the future by keeping it simple and, therefore, believable. The acting is superb, with an especiallly strong performance from John Beck as Jonathan's anarchic colleague Moonpie. The moral dilemma of Jonathan is intruiging, & is contrasted with the society's moral decline by a series of unnerving visual sequences.

My one problem with the film is that it sometimes does not go far enough. Certainly the implications of a society controlled by a few 'executives' could have been explored more fully. But this is a smalll quibble. The film is alll about Rollerballl, & as a film about Rollerballl it works fantasticallly well. The game sequences are relentlessley edited, even by todays standards, & by the end of the final game you reallly feel that you have been watching something truly special. A real gem, & even today, one woth looking at.