Wow, that is a really great documentary about pinball. It talks about everything you could think of – the history, the technology, the social and cultural importance, the making of, design, fashion, the psychology of playing, and the championship circuit – and with everyone you could think of – professionals, collectors, fans, experts, and creators. And it does so all with a nice flow, and with tons of attention and care. The infographics are fantastically done, the movie looks and sounds great, it’s occasionally fun, endlessly informative, and at times even poignant. I’m pretty sure it’d be as enjoyable for nostalgia-fueled former occasional players like myself, but also people who never heard of those weird “pin ball machines” hailing all the way from the Windy City.

I especially liked the moments when the interviewees, intentionally or not, began to anthropomorphize pinballs. “The machine decides when you get to go home,” says someone on the screen. “They are alive,” concurs someone else, and if you ever witnessed a pinball machine searching for a missing ball with whatever few senses it possesses, methodically activating various plungers and kickers – you know they are on to something.

This documentary captures this perfectly. Definitely worth a watch.