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Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game

  • 2022
  • 1h 35m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
4.8K
YOUR RATING
Crystal Reed and Mike Faist in Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game (2022)
The story of Roger Sharpe, the young midwesterner who overturned New York City's 35 year-old ban on pinball machines.
Play trailer1:22
2 Videos
7 Photos
BiographyComedyDrama

The story of Roger Sharpe, the young midwesterner who overturned New York City's 35 year-old ban on pinball machines.The story of Roger Sharpe, the young midwesterner who overturned New York City's 35 year-old ban on pinball machines.The story of Roger Sharpe, the young midwesterner who overturned New York City's 35 year-old ban on pinball machines.

  • Directors
    • Austin Bragg
    • Meredith Bragg
  • Writers
    • Austin Bragg
    • Meredith Bragg
  • Stars
    • Mike Faist
    • Crystal Reed
    • Dennis Boutsikaris
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.0/10
    4.8K
    YOUR RATING
    • Directors
      • Austin Bragg
      • Meredith Bragg
    • Writers
      • Austin Bragg
      • Meredith Bragg
    • Stars
      • Mike Faist
      • Crystal Reed
      • Dennis Boutsikaris
    • 36User reviews
    • 26Critic reviews
    • 64Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 5 wins & 7 nominations total

    Videos2

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:22
    Official Trailer
    Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game
    Trailer 1:22
    Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game
    Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game
    Trailer 1:22
    Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game

    Photos6

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    Top cast35

    Edit
    Mike Faist
    Mike Faist
    • Roger Sharpe
    Crystal Reed
    Crystal Reed
    • Ellen
    Dennis Boutsikaris
    Dennis Boutsikaris
    • Mr. Sharpe
    Christopher Convery
    Christopher Convery
    • Seth
    Connor Ratliff
    Connor Ratliff
    • Jimmy
    Mike Doyle
    Mike Doyle
    • Jack Haber
    Carlos Lopez
    • Mayor La Guardia
    Bryan Batt
    Bryan Batt
    • Harry Coulianos
    Olivia Koukol
    Olivia Koukol
    • Judy
    Todd Susman
    Todd Susman
    • Sam Gensberg
    Eric William Morris
    Eric William Morris
    • Danny Frank
    Victoria Giler
    Victoria Giler
    • Deborah
    Jake Regal
    Jake Regal
    • Wendell
    Zac Jaffee
    Zac Jaffee
    • Alvin Gottlieb
    Michael Kostroff
    Michael Kostroff
    • Chairman Warner
    Rosa Arredondo
    Rosa Arredondo
    • Gloria
    Kenneth Tigar
    Kenneth Tigar
    • Irving Holzman
    Supriya Ganesh
    Supriya Ganesh
    • Pamela
    • Directors
      • Austin Bragg
      • Meredith Bragg
    • Writers
      • Austin Bragg
      • Meredith Bragg
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews36

    7.04.7K
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    10

    Featured reviews

    7k_schember

    Surprising, but needed a couple more $$ spent

    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?
    7lewilewis1997

    If It Wasn't For The Moustache...

    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.
    9WatchAndSmile

    UNDERRATED!! Feel-Good-Movie

    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.
    10noahshlaes

    Delicious, fresh movie making

    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.
    8angelawagner206-245-75650

    We are of the Pinball Age

    Olympia, WA

    We wore the clothes. We stretched to places we'd never before seen or known. Polyester. Damn. I want that sweater.

    We played the game. We hoped to win. We watched the steel ball bounce, and dance and ping and sway.

    The Greyhound bus depot had a cafe and one pinball machine. We learned how to tilt, to cheat, and to love the game. Sorry for the cheating. Thank you for the winning.

    We ate. Sometimes it was food, and other times it was sustenance. Mostly it was survival. Pinball gave us hope.

    Corn dogs.

    The Future was ours, until it wasn't.

    Amen. God. Whatever. Pinball is alive and it lives within all of us. If you have a machine to sell, we'll buy it. May Be.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The pinball attendant at the bowling alley talking about machine with no flippers is named Steve Epstein. He was the owner and operator of the legendary Broadway Arcade in New York City and pioneer of competitive pinball. Roger Sharpe was one of the frequent customers of the Broadway Arcade.
    • Goofs
      When Roger takes Seth bowling, they both get a strike, with the back left and right pins falling over last. The exact same take was used for both bowls.
    • Quotes

      [Roger and Seth are playing bowling]

      Seth: I always beat my dad.

      Roger (young): Well, I'm not your dad.

      Seth: Obviously. You showed up.

    • Crazy credits
      The ending credits state: "no pinball machines were harmed in the making of this movie."
    • Connections
      References Tommy (1975)
    • Soundtracks
      No Matter What
      Written by Pete Ham

      Performed by Badfinger

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    FAQ15

    • How long is Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 17, 2023 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Pinball: el hombre que salvó el juego
    • Filming locations
      • The Delaware Pinball Collective - 1100 First State Boulevard, Second Floor, Wilmington, Delaware, USA
    • Production companies
      • MPI Original Films
      • Choice Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 35 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

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