Rollerball (1975)

Director: Norman Jewison
Starring: James Caan, John Houseman, Maud Adams

Synopsis:
The captain and star player of a bloodsport team resists pressure to retire by the sponsoring corporation, but playing hardball with the corporation is a more dangerous game than even Rollerball.

Impressions:
Do you like dystopia? Do you like stories about a corporate-controlled future? Do you like bloodsports? Do you like James Caan? If you answered yes to two or more of these questions, then I might have just the film for you. The 70s were a bleak era for fiction (fairly bleak for real life too, I suppose), so it goes without saying that things here are pretty dire. A killer version of roller derby may not seem like so dread a thing, but the games get pretty brutal. There are three matches in the film and each one is rougher than the last.

James Caan does a good job in the lead and I also liked John Beck as his lancer Moonpie. John Hoseman wasn't bad as the villainous Bartholomew and Star Wars fans will note the small role of Richard LeParmentier as Bartholomew's aide (before he developed a disturbing lack of faith).

If you like the sort rough films the 70s gave us, then you'll probably want to see this. I haven't heard much positive about the remake, but this isn't terribly surprising. Anyway, give this one a shot.

Rating:
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