Special Guest: Ashlie AtkinsonGuest Co-Host: John Kenneth Muir
In the future there will be no war. There will only be Rollerball.
Writer John Kenneth Muir joins us in our discussion of Norman Jewison's 1975 dystopian film, Rollerball wherein Jonathan E (James Caan) is a star in a game where individual achievement is a threat to the Corporate powers that be. We discuss the 2002 remake, and the two adult versions of the film(s).
We also talk to actress Ashlie Atkinson of the Gotham Girls about life as a present day roller girl.
Listen/Download Now:
Links:
Buy Rollerball on Blu-Ray
Buy Rollerball (2002) on DVD
Buy Rollerball by Andrew Nette
Buy Rollerbabies on DVD
Buy Roller Balled on DVD
Buy The Mutations of Rollerball by William Harrison
Buy Roller Ball Murder by William Harrison
Buy Rollerball (the novelization) by William Harrison
Buy Rollerball: The Home Game
Buy Science Fiction and Fantasy Films of the 1970s by John Kenneth Muir
Visit the official John Kenneth Muir website
Visit the official Ashlie Atkinson Facebook page
Follow Ashlie Atkinson on Twitter
Visit the Gotham Girls website
Read The Evolution of Rollerball by JP Trostle
Music:
"Rollin' with a Rollergirl" - Uncle Leon & The Alibis
"Rollerball" - The Teens
"Jonathan E (Feeling Mean)" - Shiryu
"Toccata for Jonathan Redux" - Shiryu
Watch:
This was an excellent choice of topic (kudos to sir or madam who suggested it to mr. Mike & mr. Rob) and although the look of the movie is somewhat stuck in the 70s and feels a bit dated, the concepts, the writing and certainly the action are still top notch. That's why it's indeed ironic how something that should've worked great as a remake, gets remade in such an overtly-early-2000s stereotypical B-movie way. I don't hate the remake (in fact, I think the main reason for its shitiness was the decision, probably by the producers, to make a cash in B-movie for teens instead of an epic Sci-Fi picture like the Running Man), but you just ought to do much more with such a prolific concept. That's why it saddens me to hear that Caan hates the original as well.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I was hoping that this episode means that sometime in the foreseeable future we we'll get to see 1984 (the John Hurt version) in the Projection Booth? Or am I full of false hope, here?
By the way, I read somewhere (probably imdb) that this movie (Rollerball) was the first movie to have full end credits featured at (duh) the end, which became quite popular and caught on soon after, which led to this (having full end credits and not just the credits at the start of the picture) becoming he norm. Have you heard about this rumour while preparing for the show?
Thanks for a fun episode. Cheers!
You can hear the original story here:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fd4cqK9Y2uo
Great Podcast! Downloaded & listened to it twice. I haven't seen Rollerball since it was shown on TV in the late seventies. Not only am I going to get the DVD of the original Rollerball, but I'm compelled to get the 2002 remake as well.
ReplyDeleteJust watched ZPG today after hearing you guys talk about this. Glad I did, really good stuff and an episode on that could be pretty interesting.
ReplyDeleteAnother great episode for a favorite cult movie of mine. I'd also like to mention Bob Peak's awesome poster art and promotional illustrations for Rollerball.
ReplyDeleteAlso worth pointing out is Rollerballs influence on the whole "future death sport" genre of video and computer games, including "Speedball" and "Mutant League Football", etc.
French electronic band Justice did a somewhat recent music video as a rad tribute. Might amuse you if you never saw it. :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gxu248aD6PY
Thanks again! /Billy