Making Every Dollar Count; ‘Moneyball’ hits homerun

Take the story of the 2002 Oakland Athletics. Add Oscar nominee Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, and screenwriter of “The Social Network,” Aaron Sorkin, and what do you get? The result is “Moneyball,” Columbia Pictures’ newest film, released Friday.
The film is based on the true story of Oakland A’s General Manager Billy Beane (Pitt), who overlooks the struggling baseball team looking to rebuild its franchise after the loss of its three best players. With an unfavorable financial payroll, Beane works with player analyst Peter Brand (Hill) to put together a competitive roster full of undervalued, underrated players, using Brand’s scientific-based recruitment strategies. The story goes on to show the A’s miraculous rebound, leading to the team tying baseball’s record for 20 consecutive wins. The film also stars Philip Seymour Hoffman as A’s manager Art Howe, and Chris Pratt as first baseman Scott Hatteberg.
According to IMDB.com, the film has grossed $20.6 Million in its opening weekend, the most ever for a baseball flick. However, “Moneyball” finished 2nd at the box office to “The Lion King,” as the re-released Disney film rolled in $22.1 Million.
The film, first and foremost, is not a typical baseball movie. It is more about the inner workings of baseball, and the business that goes on within the game. Economic hardships affect sports management as well. Rich teams, such as the New York Yankees, often get richer, while other teams get poorer. “Moneyball” is the story of the reinvention of how baseball is played; from both athletic and business standpoints. A teenage baseball fan coming from the film said: “It was cool how they put the team together with the kind of money they had. I had no idea they could do that.” The film mentions Beane’s arrival in Boston, and eventual turn down of the offer to become the Red Sox’s GM, as well as the Red Sox winning the 2004 World Series, using the same financial plans that Beane and Brand pioneered.
“Moneyball” sports an all-star team, both in front and behind the camera. Pitt and Hoffman are both Academy Award nominees (Pitt for ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,’ Hoffman won for ‘Capote’). Nothing should be taken away from Jonah Hill, either; the man is an exceptional young actor. Screenwriters Aaron Sorkin and Steve Zaillian (Oscar winners for “The Social Network”, and “Schindler’s List”, respectively) developed the screenplay for the film, and Wally Pfister, who won an Oscar last year for “Inception” did the cinematography.
The film is solid, all around- great cast; great music; great cinematography; great storyline. Brad Pitt displays an extraordinary performance as the competitive, but often-vulnerable Billy Beane. As one woman raved after seeing the film: “This is one of [Pitt’s] better movies… He was phenomenal.” Pitt also displays great chemistry with Jonah Hill, as the two players wheel-and-deal quickly and constantly throughout the film.
The only flaw with Pitt is his character. During the film, Beane makes many controversial moves regarding trading, releasing, and starting players, which, in turn made many in the audience angry or confused. However, it’s all part of the story for Beane, and all part of the character for Pitt.
The script is full of quick, stat-based dialogue, the same kind that earned Sorkin an Oscar for “The Social Network”. Expect the pair to be headed to Los Angeles again this February for the Academy Awards.
This film has it all- Great acting and great technical work. With such sports-based movies as “The Fighter” gaining Oscar acknowledgement last year, look for “Moneyball” to be a threat at the Academy Awards this year.
If you’re a baseball fan, or a fan of seeing Brad Pitt throwing things at walls, go see this movie. The story is engaging, thought provoking, and interesting, and the acting by Pitt and Hill is superb. So make your dollar worth something: Go see “Moneyball”, currently in theatres around the area.