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Best movie of this year hands down!

Thanks for the memories!

Highly Overrated But Still Good

Fresh and Exciting

The interesting thing about reviewing old films, especially old science fiction films, is seeing how incredibly wrong their version of the world is. But, sometimes the world building might be wrong in structure but very right in terms of spirit. This is the world of Rollerball. Rollerball, set in the distant future but actually next year (2018) is a 1975 sci fi film directed by the great Norman Jewison and based on a short story in Esquire called "Rollerball Murder" by William Harrison. The premise is that after a world war and a series of corporate wars, universal peace and prosperity has been found at the price of a subservient population who are moved like chess pieces by the elite managers of the various corporation cities. With no shortages of any kind, the population has become sheeplike with the one distraction being Rollerball, a highly violent cross between gridiron and roller derby. The game also serves to highlight that no one individual is above society, that the team always comes first. That was till Jonathan E (James Caan) became the greatest player in Rollerball history. Strikingly there is little Rollerball for large chunks at a time. The film starts and ends with long set piece games and there are some folded into the narrative but the core of the film revolves around the governing elite pressuring Jonathan E to retire as he has ostensibly become to big for the game and by extension is a rallying point for any subversive elements in society. As Jonathan E pushes back he tries to unravel how society got to this point using his stardom to access information unavailable to the rest of the population. It is actually in these little moments that the movie sharpens, such as when Jonathan visits the largest library only to hear that the entire record of the 13th century has gone missing and without any other reference points and certainly no books, it will not come back. There are quite a few philosophical debates between Jonathan E and Bartholomew (John Houseman) who is chairman of the corporate council in which they discuss free will, the need for barbaric practices in a civilised society and what it means to be happy in a world in which boredom is your greatest enemy. The cast is surprisingly A list considering there is no hiding how speculative it is and really on paper must have looked batshit crazy. James Caan is really good and is only three years removed from being in The Godfather. Caan embodies complete physical aggression while showing that he is the greatest player because he is also extremely smart and questioning. His nemesis, Bartholomew is played by the imperious John Houseman, who uses that immense voice to control all around him. All the players especially John Beck as Moonpie, do a good job of looking the part. A large piece of the sub plot revolves around how your wife (in 1975, there are no female executives) can be traded to a higher ranked executive. This is the weakest part of the film and does not work nearly as well as the world building and action scenes. For a film over 40 years old to talk about a population which is compliant while being drugged constantly and only consumes vapid TV while giving up all claim to individuality, it is incredibly striking and stands up extremely well.

Rollerball is both a sci fi film and a social commentary on mankind. Set in the near future of 2018. War is no more same with poverty and crime. Also politics. the world is ruled by corporations dedicated to having complete power. In order to hide their illegal acts or at best The Shadier aspects they introduce a violent sport and recreate the bread and circus atmosphere of Rome and her Gladiators. Rollerball is designed to hold the population's attention to give them something to dream about argue about and gamble . And Rollerball is also designed to show the futility of individual achievement. Except. Jonathon E is a complete Champion. he's been rewarded more times then any other Rollerball Champion. He's popular. He's an idol to billions and he's setting the wrong example. Jonathon has the distinction of being the oldest player in the game. ten years and running. Quite a feat in a game designed to do one thing and that is to maim or murder. Jonathon's popularity worries the corporation and they fear that Jonathon E could be used as a sign to the people to revolt. Jonathon has no such designs. Until he's told he is retiring. He has no such idea he doesn't want to. But the corporate world wants him to. Do it nicely or have it done by force. Jonathon decides that now is the time for action and refuses to retire which sets the stage for the Championship Rollerball game where the objective for the other team is simply Kill Jonathon E.The Film was written back in 75 and adapted from a short story called the Rollerball Murder. And it was such a far fetched idea Corporations ruling the world giving us everything and the only thing we give up is freedom and will.Now its 2017 And suddenly the World of Rollerball doesn't seem so far fetched. It feels like the truth.

I've just watched this film for the first time in many years, probably over 25. I remember it as being violent but compulsive viewing and it remains the same.The film is futuristic but clearly reflects the world of its time, the mid-1970s. No doubt many will be able to draw a range of pseudo-philosophical meanings from it but I prefer to be a little more simplistic. One man stands out against the corporation which aims to control both the game and the people who watch it; he threatens to become bigger than the game and the bosses want rid of him. Yes, this can be seen as an allegory for the Vietnam War and in general for the feelings of a significant part of the population of the USA at the time. In the end, the 'hero' wins, for the moment at least.The film is undoubtedly powerful and, despite a few slow moments, it is exciting; it's also quite brutal. However, by the standards of the 'cgi' world of 2015 it's actually pretty tame and there isn't really that much blood and gore. I have no idea what a modern youngish audience makes of it, but I still find it an interesting and oddly enjoyable offering.

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 deftly crafted dystopian sci-fier with literate smarts and lusty blood letting. 7.5/10