Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game

A few years ago a guy made a rather amazing ball machine that played music. Over the ensuing months, my FB feed was packed with "have you seen this?" It was sweet, it was funny, it was relentless.

And it's about to happen again. But for the record, yes, I've seen this, on the day it came out. My wife was reluctant at first - on seeing the title, she presumed it would be a nerd-fest like "A Fistful of Quarters - The King Of Kong" - but she was pulled onboard in the first 30 seconds.

We loved all of it. A piece of history told better than I could, and with a lot of stuff I didn't know, and a lot of Hollywood "treatment" to liven it up, and a determination make sure the audience knew the truth anyhow.

You don't have to be a pinball person to love this movie. It's beautifully shot, well directed, with credible characters and a story most of us haven't heard.

But if you love pinball as I do, it's even better.

You will only ever focus on one thing, the fake moustache, the highly ridiculous moustache, that moustache.

It will distract you from the main character, Roger Sharpe (Mike Faist) despite sitting uncomfortably on his face.

Mr. Sharpe, (Dennis Boutsikaris) Roger's older self and fourth wall breaking narrator, will never mention it but we know that he knows, how could he not?! He's right next to the thing, a lot.

Moustache has one skill, pinball. Learnt in a student bar and rediscovered in New York, the moustache wants to play. But New York doesn't like pinball, it's obviously a vice so must be hidden in the backrooms of 'adult' stores.

What follows is a really interesting, tongue in cheek journey in the quest to liberate the flippers and their corresponding steel balls.

Well worth a watch, but that moustache?! It can't be unseen, sadly.

Yes, 7.2 current rating as I write this is severely underrated for this movie. I can't imaging how damaged one has to be to give it a low score. I knew I am going to love this after about 10 second through the trailer so I never finished the trailer.

The narrating is hilarious, the mustage is just crazy funny. I was laughing at all the scenes with it as it was cute, gross, funny and weird.

All the actors did a great job and so is the directors of the movie. It is a gem. The story is great too and a part of the real history! I couldn't imaging how they could pull off a movie about a pinball yet it was done flawlessly at 9.3/10. Kept me entertained, laughing and smiling from start to finish.

I cannot believe 'Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game' does not even have a wikipedia page. The best lowest budget film I've watched. It's just so wholesome and whole and complete. Every element of the movie is doing its job. Foremost, the story is well organized with clear plot development yet it's not simple. Old Roger's narration in interview form and during the interaction with past Roger are the right amount of diversion to add more fun (and still be neat). Editing and the pace of the film are very up-to-date. They contribute to the upbeat and witty atmosphere of the movie. The color palette and the costume are trendy and vintage at the same time. They are old-time but not outdated. Message and theme are clear: taking a shot. It's hidden in pinball and manifested through Roger's work and relationship. Finally, MIKE FAIST.. He can act, man. He can lead 90 minutes of work with brilliant chemistry with his co-stars. His conveyance of emotion of Roger and his relationship with others seem genuine. The role really suits him because it can bring out his theater-ish personality.

This film left me feeling warm and fuzzy inside, without overdoing it. It takes a very interesting, relatively unimportant piece of American history and turns it into a wonderful story. Light without being superficial, educative without being preachy. A perfect pick me up on a rainy day.

The sets, clothing and actors are wonderful, the seventies are beaming from the screen, making me nostalgic for times I have never lived in. It feels very hollywood, which emphasises the American-ness of pinball, bringing you even more in the spirit of the movie.

The only thing that makes it a bit cringy at times (at least for me), is the breaking of the fourth wall. It's rarely done well, and I don't think this movie needed it. But again, that is just a personal preference, and it does add some extra information.

I would recommend this movie to anyone, especially those who like fun, interesting tidbits about history.