Directed by:
Norman JewisonScreenplay:
William HarrisonCinematography:
Douglas SlocombeComposer:
André PrevinCast:
James Caan, John Houseman, Maud Adams, John Beck, Moses Gunn, Pamela Hensley, Barbara Trentham, Burt Kwouk, Ralph Richardson, Steve Boyum, Mac McDonald (more)VOD (3)
Plots(1)
In a corporate-controlled future, the world's nations have been disbanded and conflict is a thing of the past. But blood continues to be shed on the tracks of Rollerball - a brutal contact sport which pits players in a battle of life and death. James Caan plays Jonathan E., celebrated captain of the Houston Rollerball team whose prowess on the track has earned him renown across the globe. But this fame has also attracted the ire of the games' corporate sponsors, who wish to suppress any displays of individual achievement - fearing this could encourage the populace to revolt. With the powers-that-be pushing for his retirement, Jonathan is faced with a choice - concede to the Corporation's will or take a stand, by continuing to compete in the increasingly deadly games. (Arrow Films)
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Reviews (3)
A not at all silly view of a future controlled by corporations, where a brutal sport serves as a means to control the masses and to convince them about the insignificance of the life of the individual. It’s unnecessarily tedious and, due to the limited communicativeness that focuses on the protagonist, we don’t get to know much about that fictional world, but the motif of personal rebellion and the sketching of the social mores through the titular sport and its mysterious bigwigs work very well and there are two climactic scenes that make us keep our fingers crossed for tough-man Caan. The vision is not that unrealistic and it fulfils its purpose thanks to the competent direction and the music score. And I also didn’t mind seeing so many beautiful women… 70%
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If it wasn't unnecessarily stretched out and focused too much on the characters, which almost bothered in this case, it would be great. That opening scene from the game is absolutely great. Dynamic, action-packed, and it even has a great concept. However, then the movie tries to be something more, which simply doesn't suit it. It should have ended with just being a packed action. The sport itself is a great concept.
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2018: There are no more wars, people are living a brutal game of rollerball, taking pills for everything and nothing.... And they forgot the most important rule, which we fortunately still know: Never piss off James Caan. Rollerball may look like a B-movie, but it contains a very interesting idea and a very disturbing depiction of the future that I think we are getting closer and closer to. The matches are filmed really well and you don't even feel like you're watching a fictional game, everything is also perfectly acted and above all musically scored. The finale is thrilling and breathtaking. Four pure stars.
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Gallery (90)
Photo © Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.
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