Rollover

Directed by Alan J. Pakula, Rollover details the chaos that unfolds after two strangers (Jane Fonda’s Lee Winters and Kris Kristofferson’s Hubbell Smith) stumble upon a financial scheme that could have calamitous consequences. Filmmaker Pakula, working from a script by David Shaber, delivers a perpetually (and distressingly) uninvolving drama that remains almost impossible to comfortably follow throughout, as the movie boasts a predominantly impenetrable narrative that’s focused on the banking-heavy exploits (and conversations) of its various characters – with the arms-length atmosphere perpetuated by a general lack of sympathetic, interesting protagonists. (Fonda and Kristofferson admittedly do share a fair degree of chemistry with one another, but neither performer proves able to infuse their respective figure with any real charisma or likeability.) And while Pakula’s steady directorial hand ensures that the picture never becomes quite as tedious or dull as one might’ve feared, Rollover‘s pervasive lack of forward momentum ensures that its near apocalyptic closing stretch is hardly able to pack the exciting, visceral punch one might’ve anticipated – with the end result a disappointing misfire that feels like it should be much, much better.

** out of ****