Who would even take an hour and a half out of their busy day to watch a movie about the legal battle that saved Pinball back in 1976? Clairvoyance or self-awareness, the Braggs brothers knew just how far the horse they’d gambled on would go on the racetrack. But we can’t have an unfinished race now, can we? So, fusing the acknowledgement of the subject matter’s limitations with an endearingly meta “distraction” in the form of a grounded and adorable love story, Pinball: The Man Who Saved The Game crosses the finish line and does a remarkable job at that. Let’s see how the film plays out and if there’s a thing or two to learn from the story of Roger Sharpe.
Plot Synopsis: What Happens In ‘Pinball: The Man Who Saved The Game’?
However difficult it may be for us to digest right now, the game of Pinball was,...
Plot Synopsis: What Happens In ‘Pinball: The Man Who Saved The Game’?
However difficult it may be for us to digest right now, the game of Pinball was,...
- 7/19/2023
- by Lopamudra Mukherjee
- Film Fugitives
Stars: Dennis Boutsikaris, Mike Faist, Crystal Reed | Written and Directed by Austin and Meredith Bragg
Writer/Director duo Austin and Meredith Bragg make their feature-film debut with this biopic of Roger Sharpe, a writer and game designer known for helping to end New York City’s 36-year ban on pinball. The film opens with an interview being conducted with Sharpe (Dennis Boutsikaris) as he’s asked about that fateful day, although he insists that important context must be given by first delving into the history.
Sharpe sets the scene while requesting they play Imagine, although the trip down memory lane is halted when the interviewer says John Lennon’s song is a little slow and expensive. Substituted is a less recognisable piece of music, while the story transitions into Sharpe narrating about his younger self (Mike Faist), recently divorced and trying to work as a writer. Through these confusing times,...
Writer/Director duo Austin and Meredith Bragg make their feature-film debut with this biopic of Roger Sharpe, a writer and game designer known for helping to end New York City’s 36-year ban on pinball. The film opens with an interview being conducted with Sharpe (Dennis Boutsikaris) as he’s asked about that fateful day, although he insists that important context must be given by first delving into the history.
Sharpe sets the scene while requesting they play Imagine, although the trip down memory lane is halted when the interviewer says John Lennon’s song is a little slow and expensive. Substituted is a less recognisable piece of music, while the story transitions into Sharpe narrating about his younger self (Mike Faist), recently divorced and trying to work as a writer. Through these confusing times,...
- 4/27/2023
- by James Rodrigues
- Nerdly
While Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game may be about, well, the man who saved the game (Roger Sharpe – played here by Mike Faist), the story also involves a complex supporting lead in the form of his partner Ellen. To mark the film’s release we had the pleasure in speaking to the actress who brings the character to life, Crystal Reed.
Reed talks to us about the importance is having a layered role to work with, and her experience meeting the real life woman the role is based upon. She also talks about collaborating with Faist, and of course, we speak about that moustache. She also looks back over a career that has included credits such as Swamp Thing and Teen Wolf, while looking ahead, and where she hopes her career will take her.
Watch the full interview with Crystal Reed here:
Synopsis
An unsettled writer with a fantastic mustache,...
Reed talks to us about the importance is having a layered role to work with, and her experience meeting the real life woman the role is based upon. She also talks about collaborating with Faist, and of course, we speak about that moustache. She also looks back over a career that has included credits such as Swamp Thing and Teen Wolf, while looking ahead, and where she hopes her career will take her.
Watch the full interview with Crystal Reed here:
Synopsis
An unsettled writer with a fantastic mustache,...
- 3/20/2023
- by Stefan Pape
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Plot: An unsettled writer with a fantastic mustache, Roger Sharpe, finds solace and confidence in the one thing he has mastered: pinball. When a police raid destroys the only machines he can find in 1970s New York City, he learns the game is illegal. Roger reluctantly joins forces with the Music and Amusement Association to overturn the ban while falling in love with Ellen, an artist and single mother. Roger’s path to save pinball ultimately rescues him. He and Ellen overcome their pasts and take a shot at love. Roger learns what it means to take a chance—and that commitment is the most rewarding gamble of all.
Review: If you are a longtime reader of this website, you may notice we tend to post about pinball machines. Our founder, JoBlo himself, is a huge fan of the game and even served as a producer on a documentary about them called Arcade Dreams.
Review: If you are a longtime reader of this website, you may notice we tend to post about pinball machines. Our founder, JoBlo himself, is a huge fan of the game and even served as a producer on a documentary about them called Arcade Dreams.
- 3/17/2023
- by Alex Maidy
- JoBlo.com
"I play pinball all the time – helps me focus." "Are you any good...?" Have a look at this little indie. Vertical Ent. has revealed an official trailer for an true story indie film called Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game, marking the feature directorial debut of filmmakers the Bragg Brothers. Starring Tony and BAFTA nominee Mike Faist (best known as Riff from Spielberg's West Side Story), Crystal Reed, and Dennis Boutsikaris, Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game is based on the true story of Roger Sharpe, the GQ journalist and real-life pinball wizard who in 1976 helped overturned New York City's 35-year ban on pinball machines. Believe it! This is set for release starting in March. Based on true events, the film centers on the captivating story of Sharpe, who took a pinball machine to City Hall. The cast includes Christopher Convery, Connor Ratliff, Mike Doyle, Carlos Lopez, and Bryan Batt.
- 2/15/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Exclusive: Vertical has secured North American rights to the MPI Original Film Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game, starring BAFTA- and Tony Award-nominated West Side Story breakout Mike Faist and Teen Wolf‘s Crystal Reed, slating it for a day-and-date release on March 17, 2023.
The film based on a true story centers on Roger Sharpe (Faist), a GQ journalist and real-life pinball wizard who, in 1976, helped overturn New York City’s 35-year ban on pinball.
An unsettled writer with a fantastic mustache, Sharpe finds solace and confidence in the one thing he has mastered: pinball. When a police raid destroys the only machines he can find in 1970s New York City, he learns the game is illegal in the state. Roger then reluctantly joins forces with the Music and Amusement Association to overturn the ban while falling in love with Ellen (Reed), an artist and single mother. Roger’s path...
The film based on a true story centers on Roger Sharpe (Faist), a GQ journalist and real-life pinball wizard who, in 1976, helped overturn New York City’s 35-year ban on pinball.
An unsettled writer with a fantastic mustache, Sharpe finds solace and confidence in the one thing he has mastered: pinball. When a police raid destroys the only machines he can find in 1970s New York City, he learns the game is illegal in the state. Roger then reluctantly joins forces with the Music and Amusement Association to overturn the ban while falling in love with Ellen (Reed), an artist and single mother. Roger’s path...
- 12/19/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Gia Sandhu (The Mysterious Benedict Society) has signed on to executive produce and star in Alterations, the first feature from writer-director Sean Wainsteim.
In the film, a woman and a non-verbal girl serving as live-in caregivers are invited to stay in a house where their every desire is fulfilled, as long as they mend mysterious clothing for fairytale creatures.
Sandhu will play Leila, the woman traveling with rebellious 12-year-old Nadia and a suitcase of her belongings, who is desperate for a safe place to call home. When she finds a situation that seems too good to be true, she’s willing to ignore some… odd occurrences and make the best of things. As she starts to uncover her role in a larger narrative, Leila is forced to balance her time with Nadia with explorations into her own power, creativity and ability to change.
Rosemary Dunsmore, John Stocker and Shazdeh Kapadia...
In the film, a woman and a non-verbal girl serving as live-in caregivers are invited to stay in a house where their every desire is fulfilled, as long as they mend mysterious clothing for fairytale creatures.
Sandhu will play Leila, the woman traveling with rebellious 12-year-old Nadia and a suitcase of her belongings, who is desperate for a safe place to call home. When she finds a situation that seems too good to be true, she’s willing to ignore some… odd occurrences and make the best of things. As she starts to uncover her role in a larger narrative, Leila is forced to balance her time with Nadia with explorations into her own power, creativity and ability to change.
Rosemary Dunsmore, John Stocker and Shazdeh Kapadia...
- 10/20/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Joel Courtney and Crystal Reed have signed on to star in Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game for MPI Original Films.
The dramatic comedy produced by MPI is based on the true story of writer and pinball wizard Roger Sharpe, chronicling his journey to overturn New York City’s 35-year ban on pinball.
Austin and Meredith Bragg wrote and directed the film, which heads into production in October.
Stacey Parks, Lana Link, and Rob Pfaltzgraff will produce, with Nick Reid and Roger Sharpe on board as exec producers.
“Joel and Crystal bring so much remarkable talent and warmth to the project,” said The Bragg Brothers. “We’re thrilled to have them on board to bring Roger’s story to the screen.”
Courtney is currently in production on the Netflix film Players, starring alongside Damon Wayans Jr. and Gina Rodriguez. He...
The dramatic comedy produced by MPI is based on the true story of writer and pinball wizard Roger Sharpe, chronicling his journey to overturn New York City’s 35-year ban on pinball.
Austin and Meredith Bragg wrote and directed the film, which heads into production in October.
Stacey Parks, Lana Link, and Rob Pfaltzgraff will produce, with Nick Reid and Roger Sharpe on board as exec producers.
“Joel and Crystal bring so much remarkable talent and warmth to the project,” said The Bragg Brothers. “We’re thrilled to have them on board to bring Roger’s story to the screen.”
Courtney is currently in production on the Netflix film Players, starring alongside Damon Wayans Jr. and Gina Rodriguez. He...
- 7/28/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
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