Review of Rollerball (2002) by Joe A — 08 Jun 2012

In a future where the world is no longer run by governments but, by corporations, the world is taught the importance of teamwork and the folly of individual achiement throught the vicious sport of Rollerball.

Rollerball was created specifically to be a total team sport emphasizing the importance of being one of the team (in other words following orders and doing what you're told) but, against the games intentions, a hero rises Jonathan E (James Caan).

Jonathan is the greatest player the sport has ever known but, a hero is the last thing the corporate heads want and seek to stop his example of the power of individual achievement at any cost. At first he is asked to retire after an illustrious 10 year career.

But, as Jonathan resists, they begin to change the games rules making each competition more and more dangerous till Jonathan submits or is killed. Rollerball has it's flaws, the movie is very somber and talky and the pace is a bit slow until the game sequences which the film then comes alive with a furious energy.

Director Norman Jewison has a bit more of an artsy style then the film needed but, the contrast between the sober almost sterile everyday life and the brutal viciousness of the rollerball games does actually work to the films advantage.

We can see how this game has become the only excitement for the masses and the only avenue to vent their emotions. The cast is fine. Caan's performance echoes the film's tone. Outside the arena he is softspoken and somber but, comes alive when thrust into the competition of the games he loves.

At first he is confused and frustrated but, the more he resists and the more he realizes how scared his hero persona makes the corporate leaders, the more powerful he realizes he is. This sets up for a final showdown when the corporate heads (represented by a sinister John Houseman), desperate to destroy him, remove all rules and time limits from the final championship game, turning it into a virtual blood bath.

The film's corporate run world is probably more relevent today then when the film was made in 1975 and the depiction of the audiences bloodthirsty love of the violent game is also more relevent as our own sports events suffer more and more violent incidents.

So, to a degree, this 70s sci-fi thriller actually works better in context with today's world, then it did in '75. A cool flick despite it's flaws. Also stars Moses Gunn, Shane Rimmer and Maud Adams.