Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game

Maybe it's when you have the least expectations that you can be the most enthused. I had not heard anything about this movie, did not know that the game had ever been banned anywhere, and have never played much pinball myself (never been any good at it, which helps, of course).

And I was absolutely delighted by this movie. It's an underdog story, obviously "based on real events", probably a little spiced up for the movie, and that's all right. The story is great, the characters are likable, the actors do a great job, the editing is neat, the direction efficient, the photography perfect. It's a very pleasant ride through and through, really uplifting. I loved it.

Others have written on this, and I find I cannot expound any further upon the topic-- tight editing, great cinematography, likeable cast, wonderful writing.

So, why did I give it a 7 instead of a 10? Well, a 10 is for an outstanding movie, that one that grabs you by the ...well, you know.. and makes you realize your life has been nothing but a daily bore; this movie doesn't accomplish that. Instead, it allows you to wallow in another's joy, to experience happiness not in the degradation of another but in the pureness of accomplishment, whether it be in a game or in a relationship. I mentioned $$ in the title-- yes, another few bucks for a decent fake mustache for Roger and a set of glasses WITH glass.. these, and only these, two items continually distracted me. Yes, I can be petty but hey- it's only my opinon, right?

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.

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.

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.