ROLLERBALL
US, 2002, 98 minutes, Colour.
Chris Klein, Jean Reno, LL Cool J, Rebecca Romijn, Naveen Andrews.
Directed by John Mc Tiernan.
1. The status of the 1975 classic? Its plot, characters? As science fiction? The need for a remake?
2. The quality of the remake? Universally bad reviews? Audience testing poor? The elimination of some violence to get a PG rating?
3. The story set in 2005 – the not-distant future? Making it any more credible?
4. The action? The nature of Rollerball, the skates, the ball? No rules? The arena, the course? The cyclists? Impediments?
5. The audience, like a gladiatorial audience? Wanting violence and blood? The cheering? The media commentators? International? The rights for television? Alexis Petrovich and his wanting the rights? Unscrupulous? The criticism of the media and the media audience?
6. The setting in central Asia? Touring around? The interiors, the arenas? The dressing rooms? The comparisons with ordinary life, the streets, fast cars? Nightclubs and dancing? A surreal world? The musical score?
7. The opening, the rollerblading in San Francisco, the dangers, the recklessness? Jonathan Cross and his being a champion? Marcus and his friendship? The police? The discussion between Marcus and Jonathan? The suggestion that he go to Rollerball?
8. Jonathan, his character, bland? His Rollerball skills? Entering Rollerball, the contracts, the discussions with Petrovich? His achievements, his fans? The clashes in the game? Injuries? His behaviour outside? The relationship with Aurora? Secret? His continued friendship with Marcus? The warnings about the dangers, the deliberate violence? His discussions with Petrovich? With Sanjay? The build-up to the climax? Petrovich’s threats? The game? Jonathan going into the observation box? The confrontation, the guns, shooting? Sanjay and his wanting to take control? Jonathan killing him? A future for Jonathan? What had happened to him, had he grown or changed?
9. Marcus, his friendship with Jonathan, his character, marriage, family? Involved in Rollerball? Persuading Jonathan to enter? His work, at the games, behind the scenes? With Petrovich? The dangers and his injury, hospital? Going into the final game?
10. Petrovich, his character, the Russian background and his explanations of the past? Officials? The KGB? His owning the company, the invention of Rollerball? His following the games? His mixing with the international executives? His reliance on Sanjay and his treatment of him? His taking on Jonathan, wanting to control him? Jonathan’s reactions, especially discovering the truth about the injuries? Their clashes, Jonathan’s defiance? His plan for the final game? Wanting the American rights? His watching, Jonathan crashing into the box, the clash, his injuries, trying to get the gun, his death?
11. Sanjay, his background, working with Petrovich, yes-man, the way he was treated? Persuasive, the suggestion of the final game? His wanting to control Jonathan, his being shot?
12. Aurora, as a warrior, at the game? The relationship with Jonathan? The end?
13. The background of the coaches, the other players, the locker room? In the clubs? The other executives?
14. The film considered a failure and one of the worst films of 2002?
