Rollerball

2018… Norman Jewison and William Harrison expand Harrison’s short story into a full length feature film, with great results. Story takes place in 2018 and the world is a global corporate state, a hegemony of six ruling cartels. There are no wars, poverty and etc, so the cartels provide the antidote to pent up frustrations with Rollerball, a bloodthirsty arena sport where no quarter is given or taken. But when the sports number one star, Jonathan E, becomes a free spirit and too big for the sport, the corporations aim to retire him… Headed by a superb James Caan as Jonathan, the performances are from the high end, the photography superb and the action during the games themselves is beautifully choreographed. The use of classical music to run concurrent with the themes in the narrative is smartly rendered to the tricksy plot, while the writing is sharp and deserving of the utmost attention from the viewer. It’s folly to suggest that when the film is away from the Rollerball ring it sags a touch, so patience is required and a respect of literate posturing is also expected to get the most out of it. A deft crafted dystopian sci-fier with literate smarts and lusty blood letting. 7.5/10

"Rollerball" is a violent, quickly paced and ruthless sport and "Jonathan E" (James Caan) is it's acclaimed hero. Dominant and popular, the crowd love him - but his boss "Bartholomew" (John Houseman) tells him it's time to retire. Their world is run by big corporations and these are not to be readily defied - but "Jonathan" isn't going to play ball. He is not going to sacrifice his fame, fortune and adulation without exacting some conditions of his own. One of which is that he be reunited by his wife (Maud Adams) who was apparently "reallocated" at the behest of another company bigwig. He also tries to find out just who is behind his dismissal - and why, and luckily has the help of "Cletus" (Moses Gunn) on that particular quest as his options narrow and "Bartholomew" becomes ever so slightly more menacing. The action scenes with the ball and skaters racing around the track is quite scintillating to watch with intense photography and plenty of high-speed tumbles, but the rest of it is all sort of "Logan's Run" with an Houseman who really only knew how to play one role. That worked well in the "Paper Chase" (1973) but here, it's just a bit underwhelming. Caan puts his heart and soul into the story, but there are too many holes in that to resonate beyond the obvious and rather undercooked swipe at a sterile authoritarianism that reminds us of the Nero and the Coliseum style of entertainment for the obedient (or else!) masses. It's fine - but nothing more.

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John Chard

CinemaSerf