There are elements here we've definitely seen elsewhere, and at its roots it's a classic story: a little bit of a coming-of-age feel as a skilled youth pairs with an older person who's less than honest, and one way or another the partnership will end badly and/or change them both. With 14-year old Brooke Shields starring there are aspects of school-age humor or dialogue, to say nothing of the bluster and boasting that follows from the pinball match-ups. Still, even for all the playfulness and levity, 'Tilt' seems like it declines some of the more ham-handed hooks and embellishments we'd expect of similar fare from the subsequent four decades. In their stead we get somewhat somber portraits of the seediness, hypocrisy, or judgmental swarthiness of US culture, and some commentary thereon, as well as reflections of the ethics and habits of some of the figures in this tableau. One way or another, though, the core remains fairly straightforward - and if imperfect, it's suitably enjoyable.
There are some definite indelicacies on hand, especially frank, unnecessary, and tired fatphobia surrounding Charles Durning's character. Though their characters' partnership is stated to be strictly business, there's something untoward about the two leads being a 29-year old man and a 14-year old girl. The movie also runs a tad long - did it need to be almost two hours? Put these bits aside, though, and more than anything, the "trouble" with 'Tilt' is that it just isn't especially remarkable in its content; again, we've seen other titles of a like slant. Even at that, though, the cast is actually pretty swell: Shields is perhaps limited somewhat by her youth and inexperience, but her portrayal of "Tilt" Davenport is solid and believable. Durning depicts Mr. Remmens with strong personality, and it's a small delight to see him let loose a little compared to other roles. And while Ken Marshall is hardly a household name, here in his film debut he plays Neil with boyish energy that's a touch endearing. I also think Rudy Durand's direction is quite able, guiding his cast and the orchestration of shots and scenes into the best arrangement they could be. True, one had better like pinball, because there's a lot of footage of machines in play - but I appreciate the detail, and it helps to maintain engagement with a hint of exciting tension even as the picture draws on.
I suppose it could be said that the writing feels slightly imbalanced. Marshall gets the chief spotlight as Neil, even as Shields' character inspires the title of the film. The feature seems to be more about how the course of events changes Neil, and Tilt's story kind of seems unresolved and left blowing on the wind. This is unfortunate, because there was untapped narrative potential between the two of them - alas. Nevertheless, more so than not the plot is reasonably sturdy, if light, and where it leave something to be desired, the scene writing picks up the slack. Each actor appearing here does a great job of carrying scenes by themselves, and are even better as scene partners. And with that, each passing moment we see of the tale being stitched together arguably bears the most value in the screenplay.
If my words seem a smidgen non-committal, consider that an echo of 'Tilt' itself. It's not at all bad, and I had a good time watching it. Only - unless you're a specific fan of someone involved, a pinball connoisseur, or just deeply curious, there's no particular reason to seek this out. You could definitely do a lot worse, however, and to be honest I think it's capable enough to warrant checking it out if you come across it. With the cast and scene writing standing out the most, 'TIlt' is hardly an essential watch, but a pleasant, satisfying, and even quietly rewarding way to pass the time if you have the chance.
