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ROLLERBALL
review by Joseph B. Mauceri
REVIEW: A few weeks ago I received an episode of AMC's "The Back Story" for "Predator," which was directed by McTiernan. He talked about how he used certain elements of the film to make social commentary. And here I thought it was a cleverly directed hybrid of a war/sci-fi film. So, the director of "Die Hard" and "Die Hard With a Vengeance" took aim on Norman Jewison's classic ROLLERBALL. The 1975 film is good science fiction because it is socially conscious, but presents those issues in a futuristic setting. In similar fashion, Paul Verhoeven's 1987 "Robocop" was also a remarkable social commentary, with a nice helping of satire. It's more then a few years since I last read Harrison's short story, but I haven't got a clue as to what McTiernan was thinking or trying to say with this film. The opening scene has Cross (KLEIN) engaged in some type of illegal street sport on the hilly streets of San Francisco. I guess he wants us to think that we've arrived "ten minutes into the future," but it's not clear as to when exactly. His daredevil stunt places him on the wrong side of the law so the location jumps to Eastern Europe. A good idea for a setting, but it gets lost in the excitement of the game. All of a sudden we're into the tick of it and we're supposed to be "oohed" and "ahed" by the sets, costumes and stunts. The first and longest game sequence in the film - I didn't time it but it felt longer then even the film's climax - gets old really quick. There was more action in the old roller derbies they use to show on television. Maybe we've become a bit desensitized by all the violence and sports on television, but McTiernan should have brought in Vince McMann of the WWF to choreograph these sequences. The film flips through several matches in other third world countries, and we're supposed to follow the story of the corrupt Petrovich (Reno) and his third world thugs. The character is written like a stereotype, so are we supposed to be surprised by his motives? In fact, are we really supposed to care about Cross or Ridley? These less then squeaky-clean characters have fled the States in hopes of fortune and fame. When they have a change of heart we're supposed to feel for them? Even Cross' motives in the climax can be reduced to your basic selfish principles. The actors are limited in their performances by the numerous characters that populate the plot. They also must contend with numerous Rollerball competitions, and car chases. I think the flashy cars and motorcycles end up with more screen times then the actors. Smacked into the middle of the film is a chase sequence McTiernan chooses to shoot as if it were filmed through night vision goggles. You know, the washed out green screen we've seen from war footage. It might have been use as an effect, or it could have been thought of as "stylized," I was more compelled to think it was employed for budgetary reasons - they couldn't afford a light package to shoot in the desert. As in the original, the "villain" is concerned with the ratings of the show. Maybe McTiernan should have been a bit less socially conscious and more concerned about the basic Hollywood principle of filmmaking - Entertaining! This attempt at updating ROLLERBALL has several elements that could have render this a more engaging film then its predecessor, but it is a cluttered collage of ideas that lacks any clear definition or purpose. Fine performances go to waste, as does almost two-hours of my life. OFFICIAL
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SYNOPSIS:
Jonathan Cross (KLEIN), a young aspiring athlete, is waiting for
his turn at the professional sports when he gets in trouble with
the law for illegal street racing. Taking his friend's, Marcus Ridley
(LL COOL J), he heads for Eastern Europe and the growing sport of
Rollerball. As part of the team known as the Horsemen, Cross becomes
a star, and along with Ridley is leading the team to a championship
season. The owner of the team and the majority shareholder in the
sport, Russian business mogul Alexi Petrovich has his eye on a bigger
prize - a global cable franchise deal of the sport. Keeping a watchful
eye on viewer demographics and ratings for the sport, Petrovich
will let nothing stand in his way of securing this big deal, even
his charismatic American stars.