Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Rollerball Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf September 27, 2022

1975’s “Rollerball” presents a future where corporations control the world, using their power to keep the public subservient through the use of propaganda and violent entertainment, often going to extremes to maintain authority. The feature is set in the year 2018, and it’s really not far off from the real 2018, with screenwriter William Harrison (adapting his own short story) managing quite an impressive feat of prescient thinking, providing a vision of horror that’s been somewhat realized in the decades since the picture’s initial release. That’s part of the appeal of “Rollerball,” which digs into the terror of conformity and the liberation of awareness, tracking the lead character’s awakening as a life of fame and fortune provided by corporate overlords is gradually revealed to be a prison, and one he’s looking to escape. Harrison has a vivid imagination to offer, and director Norman Jewison provides passionate leadership with this Kubrick-ian take on a strange dystopia, generating an intriguing sense of intimidation and frustration as he carefully realizes a mental breakthrough.

In the future, the game Rollerball commands global attention, with corporate rulers of the world putting on a big show with the violent sport, giving the public a distraction while they organize and oversee society. In his tenth season, Jonathan (James Caan) is a hero of the roller derby-esque game, leading Houston to victories with his toughness and skills on the banked track. The Energy Corporation, led by Bartholomew (John Houseman), is pleased with Jonathan’s continued performance, but his popularity is rising, and that’s not allowed, with the moneymen planning the star player’s retirement. However, Jonathan doesn’t want to quit, pushing back on his orders, which inspires him to start questioning all that’s around him, including a forced separation from his true love, Ella (Maud Adams). Such rebellion isn’t tolerated by the corporations, who look for a way to eliminate Jonathan while maintaining their covert control.

“Rollerball” isn’t a thriller, with Jewison summoning a sense of doom instead, creating an atmosphere of dread with help from ominous classical music pieces and careful reveals when it comes to the details of this world. He’s also attentive to the game, with a Rollerball match serving as the film’s introduction, providing a vague understanding of rules and scoring while more emphasis is placed on the brutality of the sport, with players skating around a track on the hunt to pummel one another, delighting fans who gather in the arena and watch the contest on television. “Rollerball” opens with the furious ways of gameplay, but Jewison also identifies power, as the match commences with the “corporate anthem,” and Bartholomew takes his seat with other figures of authority, enjoying the view of complete societal control.

A plot soon develops in “Rollerball,” following the birth of Jonathan’s curiosity as he’s ordered to retire, reminded of all that the Energy Corporation has given him during his life, expecting him to be subservient in return. Jonathan isn’t ready to disappear, soon poking around his life, pursuing forbidden information about his handlers and Ella, unable to get past the loss of his loved one. “Rollerball” is partially a detective story and mostly a study of consciousness, with Harrison offering a potent psychological study with Jonathan, who begins to recognize his own power and how it makes Bartholomew nervous, inspiring corporate leaders to cook up ways to get rid of the Rollerball king without disrupting the system.

For additional information and analysis, please read Jeffrey Kauffman’s 2014 Blu-ray Review.

Rollerball Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "Rollerball" is sourced from a "Brand New 4K Scan." Detail is excellent throughout the viewing experience, taking in the battered, sweaty faces of the Rollerball players and the aged appearance of corporate influences. Skin particulars are defined, and costuming is textured, from sporting gear to softer casual wear. Exteriors retain dimension, exploring unique Munich locations, and interiors are loaded with decorative additions to explore, while arena scenes preserve depth. Colors are alert, handling bright period hues that favor orange and yellow. More causal wear is also memorable, examining earth tones, with deeper blacks on formal wear. Skin tones push a bit too red at times. Greenery is sharp. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is fine and film-like. Source is in excellent condition.

Rollerball Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix for "Rollerball" remains most active during game sequences, which offer a sense of channel movement and power with violent events. Sound effects are amplified, prioritizing hard hits and motorcycle activity, creating nicely defined chaos on the track. Dialogue exchanges are sharp, with crisp performance choices and intelligibility with some mumbled lines. Scoring is authoritative, leading with heavy organ presence, also providing some low-end heft. Surrounds aren't sustained, but music pushes out, and atmospherics are appreciable.

Rollerball Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary #1 features director Norman Jewison.

• Commentary #2 features writer William Harrison.

• "From Rome to Rollerball: The Full Circle" (7:54, HD) is a 1975 featurette on the making of the movie, featuring interviews with director Norman Jewison and actor James Caan. The helmer discusses his vision of the future, using inspiration from Roman days of gladiatorial combat and the freewheeling spectacle of the 1970s (including Evel Knievel) to help shape the world of "Rollerball." The nature and potency of violence is explored, with Jewison hoping to repulse his audience with such savagery, and characterization is analyzed. Power plays are dissected, along with the game itself, with the rules briefly detailed. Most interesting is BTS footage from the shoot, getting a sense of the work day and the Rollerball set.

• "Blood Sports" (10:58, HD) is a 2014 interview with actor James Caan, who examines his take on the main character, noting a negative film review that precisely described his intended performance. The shoot required ten weeks of roller skating, demanding specialized training that still wasn't enough for the banked track set. Caan details his work with stuntmen and his time in Munich, which provided the futureworld for the picture. The interviewee explores the themes of "Rollerball" and its prescient ways, also briefly recalling plans for a sequel that didn't make it far in development.

• Interview (3:45, HD) is a brief conversation with stuntman Bob Minor, who recalls his initial hiring for "Rollerball." The interviewee explores the rough shoot, his presence throughout the feature in various roles, and he shares a few memories about working with James Caan and John Houseman.

• T.V. Spots (SD) provide three commercials for "Rollerball."

• A Theatrical Trailer (2:56, HD) is included.

Rollerball Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Rollerball" has a few issues, including length, with Jewison so caught up in generating a steely mood for the picture, he becomes unwilling to trim superfluous scenes, leading to some sluggish areas of storytelling and atmosphere. Some pacing problems are encountered, but the forcefulness of the material isn't diluted, hitting hard with Rollerball matches and strange games of manipulation with the Energy Corporation, who work to threaten Jonathan without confrontation. As with a majority of movies from the 1970s, "Rollerball" deals with paranoia and regulation, and it delivers an unnerving view of the "future," which is ruled by the few, maintaining control through chemical distortion and entertainment distractions. In terms of understanding where society is heading, Jewison and Harrison display remarkable accuracy.