In a field of abundant underdog sports movies, Moneyball stands out by exposing the secret formula behind America’s greatest pastime.
The movie follows Billy Beane (Brad Pitt), a former professional baseball player turned general manager for the Oakland A’s. Hot off losing his star players, Beane tries to find replacements for his greatest teammates while, hopefully, staying within his $40 million dollar budget.
Battling teams with three times his payroll, Beane finds Peter Brand (Jonah Hill), a recent Yale graduate, who teaches him about sabermetrics. By focusing on statistics, the Oakland A’s are able to buy rejected players with decent run percentages and calculate their score using on-base percentages.
Looked at unfavorably by scouts, fans and the team’s manager, Art Howe (Philip Seymour Hoffman), Beane defiantly sticks by his young protégé as they work to assemble a winning team.
Meanwhile, Beane also tries his best to be a supportive father to his 12-year-old daughter despite the madness of his professional career.
Beane becomes the heart and soul of the narrative. Despite constant flashbacks to his former regrets, the scenes are free of needless drama, allowing sympathy to come naturally. His passion for the game and his team allows viewers to root for his success.
This is thanks to a strong script and Pitt’s solid performance. Although not as good as Pitt’s work in The Tree of Life earlier this year, his still plays his best performance so far.
The screenplay, written by Steven Zaillian (Schindler’s List) and Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network), is the film’s strongest aspect. Much like Sorkin’s work in The Social Network, Moneyball pulls the audience in with scenes full of quick, intelligent dialogue. Despite all the numbers thrown around, this human element allows the movie to remain engaging.
Director Bennett Miller (Capote) is able to capture power within the details. Despite being a sport’s film, Miller’s direction makes Moneyball feel grounded. He also allows each character their time to shine.
Moneyball is not without its clichés however, including slow motion sports scenes and Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” on its soundtrack. That, and Hill often finds himself overshadowed by the rest of the cast. (But who isn’t next to Philip Seymour Hoffman?)
Objectively speaking, Moneyball is one of the best films so far this year. Between the dynamic cast, script and directing, the film gives a very honest look at the players off the field. Overall, it’s an engrossing tale of the determination one has for the game, despite the odds.
4 out of 5 stars.
wa054010@ohiou.edu
