Norman Jewison's prescient dystopian action film portrays a future where corporations control every aspect of life, including a brutal, gladiatorial sport. A star player's ambition to maintain his individuality and autonomy clashes violently with the powerful syndicate's desire for absolute control. It's a stark commentary on corporate power, media manipulation, and the price of heroism in a soulless society.
from “9 Unsettling Visions of Ambition's Price Tag” →
Norman Jewison nailed corporate modernism by contrasting smooth circular arenas with bone-breaking violence. The burnt-orange uniforms, heavy leather padding, and spiked steel gauntlets look unbelievably hard on 35mm film. Outside the rink, you get massive glass executive suites, wood-paneled boardrooms, and Bach organ music blasting over cold industrial displays. James Caan gliding through the velodrome in a haze of motorcycle exhaust creates a frame that feels genuinely legendary. The 70s design choices hit without a miss.
from “11 dystopian movies with immaculate frames and elite mood boards” →
