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Rollerball poster

Rollerball

year 1975decade 70sdirector Norman Jewisongenre dystopian science-fiction sports

129

IMDb
Cast

Selected cast credits · Film reference

James Caan Jonathan E
John Houseman Mr. Bartholomew
Maud Adams Ella
John Beck 'Moonpie'
Moses Gunn Cletus
Ralph Richardson The Librarian
John Normington Ballard
Shane Rimmer Rusty
Burt Kwouk Tokyo Doctor
Nancy Bleier Girl In Library
Richard LeParmentier Bartholomew's Aide
Robert Ito Houston Strategy Coach

Rollerball | The Rewatchables

host Bill Simmonshost Brian Koppelmanproducer Craig Horlbeckproducer Ronak Nair theme One-Word Movie Month
Explore episodeClose episode

The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

James Caan gives a fascinating sports performance that alternates between athletic charisma and sleepy line readings.

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 00:13:07Read transcript
  • One host calls James Caan's work his favorite performance in a sports movie that can be great in one minute and terrible in the next.
  • Caan is praised for looking like a credible athlete and carrying an elite athlete's mystique and charisma.
  • The sleepy delivery is interpreted as a man lulled by a world that supplies his house, partner, and money while he comes alive during the sport.

Roger Ebert's review

Contemporary critics were lukewarm; Ebert gave three and a half stars but the text was unavailable.

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 00:36:50Read transcript
  • Vincent Canby's review is described as dismissing the film as frivolous rather than satire.
  • Gene Siskel is reported to have awarded two stars and called the film vapid, pretentious, and arrogant.
  • Roger Ebert is reported to have awarded three and a half stars, although the panel could not find his review online.
  • James Caan is reported to have rated Rollerball eight out of ten while saying the character gave him little to do.

Most Rewatchable Scene

The opening game, dystopian party, Tokyo game, final, and Jonathan-Bartholomew argument form the field.

In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 00:38:06Read transcript
  • The opening credits, pregame warmups, corporate anthem, and first Houston-Madrid game are proposed together as a rewatchable opening sequence.
  • The opening game is praised for making the invented sport understandable through wide shots, close-ups, scoring, and Moonpie's swooper role.
  • Jonathan's team lecture and the interview that introduces his scoring and injury records are added as scene candidates.
  • The futuristic party is praised for revealing designer-drug use, assigned relationships, social control, and casual environmental destruction without exposition.
  • The Houston-Tokyo game is nominated for its no-penalties premise, escalating violence, ball-to-the-head impact, and Moonpie's injury.
  • Jonathan erasing Ella's videos during their breakup is proposed as another rewatchable scene.
  • The final against New York is nominated for its no-penalties setup, attrition, strategy, and Jonathan's survival.

The most "year the movie came out" thing

The 1975 future lacks phones and internet, features a centralized computer, and lets Caan hit a heavy bag bare-handed.

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 00:55:59Read transcript
  • The women's distinctly mid-1970s styling is proposed as the clearest period marker.
  • The future's lack of cell phones and internet, despite its centralized computer, is proposed as a 1975 conception of technology.
  • Allowing James Caan to hit a heavy bag bare-handed is selected as an unsafe 1970s production detail.

What’s Aged the Best?

The invented sport, corporate critique, production design, pills, violence, and Enberg's call have aged best.

In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 00:56:58Read transcript
  • The convincing design of Rollerball as a playable sport is the first Aged Best choice.
  • John Houseman's villain, the bright interiors, enormous televisions, pills, empty cityscape, and tracksuits are praised as durable parts of the imagined future.
  • The film's corporate-control metaphor and prediction of corporate branding are judged more resonant over time.
  • Book censorship and erased history are singled out as ideas that have aged well.
  • The film's anticipation of football violence is identified as another element that aged well.
  • Dick Enberg's game commentary is praised as an enduring strength.

The Great Shot Gordo Award for Most Cinematic Shot

Moonpie's helmet removal and the ball striking a player's head lead the visual nominations.

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:03:33Read transcript
  • Jonathan scoring against Tokyo with fans visible behind the glass is nominated for its 1970s-hockey feel.
  • Moonpie's helmet removal after his injury is proposed as another visual choice.
  • The ball striking a player's head wins because the impact remains vivid decades later.

The Butch’s Girlfriend Award for the Weakest Link in the Film

The corporation's convoluted effort to remove Jonathan and the blonde girlfriend are weak links.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:04:37Read transcript
  • The corporation's elaborate attempt to force Jonathan out is questioned when it could instead have removed him quietly.
  • The blonde girlfriend and her confrontation with Jonathan are criticized as a weak part of the film.

What’s Aged the Worst?

Domestic violence, racist Tokyo material, CTE, and the 2002 remake have aged worst.

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:05:53Read transcript
  • Jonathan nearly hurting the blonde girlfriend is identified as a poorly aged moment.
  • The stereotyped treatment of the Tokyo team is criticized as racist.
  • The sport's brain-injury implications are judged to have aged badly.
  • The 2002 Rollerball remake is called one of the worst remakes and evidence that the property aged badly.

The Ruffalo / Hanna / Rubinek / Partridge Overacting Award

The coach and Jonathan's ex firing the weapon are the nominees.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:09:39Read transcript
  • The Houston coach's intensity is nominated for the overacting award.
  • Jonathan's former partner firing the incendiary weapon with an exaggerated expression is the other nominee.

The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Rollerball is argued to be better and more accurate than The Parallax View.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:10:29Read transcript
  • The second take argues that Rollerball is better than The Parallax View.
  • Rollerball is said to create a more relatable paranoid feeling through sports and corporate power.

Recasting Couch

Gene Hackman is proposed as the coach; Burt Reynolds and Warren Beatty are considered for Jonathan.

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:13:01Read transcript
  • Gene Hackman is proposed as a stronger choice for the Houston coach.
  • Burt Reynolds is considered for Jonathan because of his athleticism and swagger, though Caan is preferred.
  • Robert Redford is rejected as insufficiently credible for the violent athletic role.
  • Warren Beatty is considered a plausible alternate lead because of his athletic credibility.

Half-Assed Internet Research

Research covers the Munich shoot, the unrealized video game, stunt injuries, and Devo's response.

In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 01:13:58Read transcript
  • The production is recalled as having shot the arena material in Munich.
  • The episode notes that the film uses several operatic pieces whose details can be researched separately.
  • A planned 1998 Rollerball video game is reported to have been delayed before its publisher went bankrupt.
  • The production is reported to have caused major stunt injuries but no deaths.
  • Devo is reported to have responded to the film by writing a corporate anthem.

Apex Mountain

The film is near Caan's apex and wins for invented fictional sports.

In the discussion (8)
Approx. transcript time · 01:15:20Read transcript
  • James Caan is placed near his career apex because of his recent run, star status, and the film's commercial performance.
  • Rollerball wins the apex for invented fictional sports over Dodgeball.
  • Dick Enberg's film apex is rejected in favor of Heaven Can Wait.
  • Maud Adams is tentatively placed at her apex here because she was also a major model.
  • Norman Jewison's apex is debated among In the Heat of the Night, Moonstruck, and his late-1960s run.
  • Houston's sports-city apex is debated against the Hakeem Olajuwon Rockets and the Dan Pastorini-Earl Campbell era.
  • John Beck's apex is assigned to his sixty episodes of Dallas, and John Houseman's to The Paper Chase.
  • The film wins apexes for burning pine trees and for making roller skating look cool.

Picking Nits

The unclear penalty rules and absence of gambling lines are the main objections.

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:18:38Read transcript
  • The panel questions which violent acts count as penalties before the rules are removed.
  • The film's failure to explain that violence is legal during play is criticized as requiring more commentary from the announcer.
  • The absence of gambling lines is criticized despite the sport existing in a period with established sports betting.

Sequel, Prequel, Limited Series, or All-Black Remake

A prestige series is endorsed after the failed remake made the property dormant.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:21:10Read transcript
  • A prestige television adaptation is endorsed because the political and corporate world could support a contemporary series.
  • The failed remake is blamed for scaring people away from the property.

Is This Movie Better With…?

Norm Macdonald and John Cazale are the favored additions.

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:21:41Read transcript
  • Norm Macdonald is the favored addition as a game commentator.
  • John Cazale is proposed as Jonathan's concerned ally after the confrontation with Bartholomew.
  • Meryl Streep is proposed in place of Maud Adams, with the possibility of adding both Streep and Cazale.

Just One Oscar

Production design wins, with stunts also proposed.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:23:29Read transcript
  • Production design wins the film's single Oscar for creating the future and arena.
  • Stunt work is proposed as an alternative once the panel notes that the award now exists.

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Jonathan's surname, advanced statistics, possible androids, and team ownership are debated.

In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 01:23:41Read transcript
  • The panel asks whether Jonathan E.'s surname might be Evans based on a line heard at the party.
  • The panel asks how advanced statistics would change strategy if Rollerball continued for another fifty years.
  • Injuring opponents and finding better swoopers are proposed as possible analytical advantages.
  • Two lines prompt a theory that the players may be androids repeatedly rebuilt without knowing it.
  • Moonpie's coma is raised as a possible flaw in the android theory.
  • The panel asks whether the Dolan family owns New York's Rollerball team.

What Piece of Memorabilia Would You Want From This Movie?

Jonathan's number-six jersey, glove, motorcycle, and a used ball are selected.

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:27:58Read transcript
  • Jonathan's orange number-six jersey is the primary memorabilia choice.
  • A glove is proposed as another collectible.
  • A motorcycle used in the sport is proposed as another collectible.
  • A battered Rollerball is proposed as another collectible.

Most Rewatchable Scene

The post-vote producer selection is the Jonathan-Bartholomew argument during the tree-burning party.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:31:17Read transcript
  • Producer Craig selects Jonathan's argument with Bartholomew during the tree-burning party as his most rewatchable scene. — Craig Horlbeck
  • Craig also praises the party as the film's most interesting sequence. — Craig Horlbeck

Picking Nits

Producer Craig objects to the uniforms and to the players not looking like elite athletes.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:32:04Read transcript
  • Craig calls the jerseys and helmets the worst-looking uniforms he has seen in a sport. — Craig Horlbeck
  • Craig objects that most of the players look like ordinary workers rather than elite athletes. — Craig Horlbeck

More from the conversation

The episode treats Rollerball as a sports movie, paranoid thriller, dystopian science-fiction film, and worker-revolt story at once.
Approx. transcript time · 00:02:32Read transcript
The invented sport combines hockey, football, roller derby, motorcycles, and staged combat with legible rules and positions.
Approx. transcript time · 00:07:42Read transcript
The corporation-run future removes nations and individual choice while giving executives control over housing, partners, and history.
Approx. transcript time · 00:11:17Read transcript
The production built a working arena in Munich and separately credited the stunt performers because of the demanding practical action.
Approx. transcript time · 00:30:33Read transcript