When I read Michael Lewis’ Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game when it was published in 2003, I never dreamed it would be turned into a movie. Brad Pitt, in an obvious labor of love, took this story about Billy Beane, General Manager of the Oakland Athletics major league baseball team and produced an insightful and off-beat film. Brad Pitt plays Billy Beane as a man struggling with his own failure in baseball. But Pitt’s character also has the instincts to go with a new concept. You wouldn’t think that audiences would be interested in watching an exercise in sabermetrics, a statistical approach to building a team. But Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin’s screenplay captures the initial condemnation of Beane’s approach and, later, the thrill of victory. Jonah Hill as Yale University trained economist Peter Brand who introduces Billy Beane to sabermetrics delivers a solid performance. Even people who don’t care for baseball will enjoy Moneyball. GRADE: B+
Know it sounds a bit crazy, but I would vote for that for best picture of the year. If you can make me understand money and sports and like it, that’s an achievement. Brad Pitt should win Best Oscar too.
Brad Pitt’s performance in MONEYBALL is very good, Patti. I doubt if the Academy will go with a baseball movie, though. I think THE HELP might get the nod as BEST PICTURE.
I agree with you, George. Of course I’ve read Bill James and other sabermatricians (as well as the book by Michael Lewis) so I knew what it was all about, but Jackie – a casual baseball fan but not someone who knows or cares about statistics – understood and liked it too. I thought Brad did an excellent job, as did Jonah Hill, though Philip Seymour Hoffman was not well cast as Art Howe, a manager I never liked.
Incidentally, the Hill character is largely based on Paul DePodesta, who did not want his name used in the film. He is currently Vice President of player development and scouting for the New York Mets.
Patti, I considered this as Best Picture. Then we saw HUGO yesterday, which is the only nominated film I consider really “big” enough to be worthy of Best Picture, though I doubt it will win. Scorsese deserves another Oscar for that one, IMHO.
Incidentally, the picture isn’t coming through for me.
Grrrrrr! I hate these graphics that show up in one browser but disappear in another browser, Jeff. I’ll try to get it fixed after I give my Saturday class their first exam.
No picture for me too. Loved the movie.
My wife and I watched it last weekend and both found it a solid film. Great performance by Pitt. I enjoyed the pace of the film and certainly thought it was better than your average sports film. I agree that even non-fans will find this an interesting and insightful movie.
I was also impressed that Billy Beane turned down $12.5 million from the Red Sox to stay close to his daughter, Carl.
Jackie felt the same way, George.
Thanks for the heads-up on the missing graphic, Jeff. I think I fixed it…for now.
I think Scorsese deserves best director for sure.
Scorsese did a great job with HUGO, Patti.