Rollerball (1975)

Today is the 50th anniversary of my favorite 70s dystopian movie.

The sport itself is what attracted me to it to begin with, and a good portion of the runtime is filled with gameplay. The iaction is so impressive, that this is the first movie that gave stuntman credits.

It has a great opening, as the Rollerball track is prepared for gameplay, with Bach playing in the background. The opening game itself plays for 15 or 20 minutes with lots of great action.

I also like the middle, "thinking" portions of the film. The future society is not completely explained - corporations have replaced nations and everyone is kept comfortable in return for unquestioning obedience. We don't see how the masses live, but are told freedom has been given up for luxury. In fact, one character states "Luxury IS freedom."

Jonathan, played by James Caan, is the best Rollerball player in the world, but is suddenly told to announce his retirment. He is hesitant and questions why, but everyone, including his own coach tells him to just do as he's told.

Jonathan tries to find books to learn how corporate decisions are made, but only summaries are available to the public. He even travels to the central computer to ask questions, but the computer refuses to give much of an answer. The computer operator apologizes for its stubbornness and notes it has forgotten a whole century entirely. (This scene seems to be played for laughs, strangely.)

Caan has said he couldn't do much with this role, but I liked him in it. There is a scene where he refuses to sign off on pulling the plug of a friend who is brain dead after a Rollerball injury. He sets him up in his own room to spend the rest of his days. It is supposed to be another example of Jonathan thinking differently than the rest of society and valuing the individual. I thought it interesting that today, 50 years later, pulling the plug is usually seen as the more humane choice.

The climax of the movie is the championship game. We find out Rollerball is a tool of the ruling class to demonstrate to futility of individualism. Jonathan is a threat because he has become more popular than the game itself, and the rules have been changed to be even more violent and hopefully for them, ensure Jonathan's death.

The ending is great, the violence and chaos of the game, followed by the dead silence of the crowd as they watch how the game ends is very well done.

Anyone else have memories of this 70s classic?