Film Review – Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game

“Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game” is an unusual story about an unlikely hero, at least for those who enjoy arcade time, especially in New York City. The picture tells the story of Roger Sharpe, an obsessive fan of pinball who worked to overturn an NYC ban of the game in 1976, pulled into a legal fight to prove that pinball wasn’t just for gambling. Writer/directors Austin and Meredith Bragg look to spotlight a strange story of fandom and determination, offering a faux docudrama approach to generate a special spirit for the production, which touches on the allure of pinball and the ups and downs of Sharpe’s love life. “The Man Who Saved the Game” has its low-budget limitations, but it works as a study of a life pulled in unexpected directions, with lead Mike Faist (who was very impressive in Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story”) providing an enjoyable performance as the unlikely instrument of change. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com