Rollerball

1975 science fiction sports movie

Rating: 16/20

Plot: In the not-so-distant future, corporations rule the world. On the one hand, this apparently means that everybody can live happily ever after in a world without war. On the other hand, individuality is outlawed and humans really don't act much like humans any more. Humans still need blood, however, so a mega-violent sport called Rollerball is used to feed that monkey. Jonathan E., in a ten-year career for the Houston team, has become the star of the sport in a society that is no longer supposed to have stars. The corporations attempt to announce his retirement from the sport, but Jonathan E. isn't quitting before he's got answers.

Rollerball is a fantastic sports movie if it isn't quite a fantastic science fiction movie. But it's probably that, too! The game sequences are top-notch with great camera work capturing the quick and dirty action of this invented sport involving roller skates, a metal ball, a blinking vagina, and motorcycles. I definitely enjoyed watching the choreography of the Tokyo team. There's also a philosophical message at the heart of this that, although heavy-handed at time, you really have to pay attention to grab. Caan's good here playing really the only character I think he can play, and John Houseman is nice and menacing as the head of the corporation or whoever he's supposed to be. I probably could have done without the romantic subplot, but you can ignore that to focus on the plushy symbolism and 70's coolness and come away with a rewarding experience.

The 2002 remake came with this one. I'm debating whether or not I should bother. It's got L.L. Cool J., so maybe it'll be great. Anybody seen it?