Rollerball (B-)
STARS...
James Caan, John
Houseman, Maud Adams, Pamela Hensley, Ralph
Richardson, and John Beck.
PLOT SUMMARY...
In the near future, a violent, multi-national athletic competition
replaces wars between countries.
QUICK SCAN...
This film could be compared to "The Running Man". ROLLERBALL
features action and philosophy. A buffed James Caan ("Misery")
is totally convincing as a top rollerball player. Ralph Richardson ("Time
Bandits") has fun with a small role as a computer scientist.
DIRECTOR: Norman Jewison
YEAR & RATING: 1975 (R)
BEST BETS:
In the future, nations play a violent game called rollerball to release their aggressions. Jonathan E., the best player in the game, shows his stuff.
In between games, Jonathan pursues a relationship with his girlfriend, and grapples with personal and philosophical issues. His best friend, a fellow rollerball player, is severely injured in a game.
Jonathan takes part in a rollerball game with no rules, and no set time period. Against all odds, he survives and wins the game.
The Review:
Director Norman Jewison's ROLLERBALL is a sometimes interesting, at
other times boring Sci-Fi adventure.
The film's Screenplay (by William Harrison, based on his Story "Roller
Ball Murders") contains some great ideas. It's too bad more life
wasn't breathed into them.
In the not too distant future, wars between nations no longer occur.
Instead, countries play each other in the international game of rollerball,
a high tech, deadly form of roller derby.
James Caan ("Alien Nation"), as ace American player Jonathan
E., is great in the rollerball sequences, and has probably never been
in better shape. Unfortunately, he is given too many scenes where he
sits around talking, or thinking/brooding. A fine actor, he frequently
is given too little to do here.
John Beck ("Sleeper") offers good support as a lighthearted
teammate of Caan's. When Beck's character is seriously injured in a
game, we feel for him.
Ralph Richardson ("Time Bandits") has fun with the small role
of a scientist working with a highly advanced computer. His character
is one of the most human in the film, so it's too bad he's not on screen
longer.
John Houseman ("The Paper Chase") does another stern turn
as the head of the corporation that owns Caan's team and runs the game.
We've seen him play this kind of character so many times that it's no
longer interesting.
Director Jewison was apparently at least as interested in having his
characters engage in philosophical, political, and relationship chats
as he is in showing us energetic rollerball scenes. Needless to say,
the scenes outside the rink fare less well than those inside.
ROLLERBALL has a fair amount in common with the Big Arnold Sci-Fi movie,
"The Running Man" while that film may have less lofty goals
than ROLLERBALL, "The Running Man" is both better made and
more fun to watch.
Director of Photography, Douglas Slocombe, delivers vivid screen imagery.
His large grain, on top of the action shots, during the rollerball sequences
are rousing. These are my favorite scenes in the film.
The film's Music was Composed by Andre Previn and performed by the London
Symphony Orchestra. Quasi-classical, it's as pretentious as the film's
philosophical chats.
ROLLERBALL may be somewhat interesting for some Sci-Fi viewers. James
Caan and/or "American Gladiator" fans will probably enjoy
this one.
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