Moneyball
effortlessly rounds the bases after blasting a home run; that's my obligatory
phrase to say that I enjoyed this baseball movie.
Full disclosure: I absolutely hate
baseball. The sport is not only
one of the most boring competitive activities to watch, but most baseball films
tend to be lousy (see Fever Pitch).
So with that in mind I would like to clarify one tiny thing about this
film. Yes, Moneyball has baseball in it and is centered on the Oakland
A's. That much is easily uncovered
thanks to the previews. But at
it's core the film is actually a study of how economics and statistics plays a
hand in winning; not to mention the added bonus of a Cinderella story about a
ragtag group of baseball outcasts (this The
Bad News Bears).
The film opens up with a comparison
between the budget of the A's and that of the New York Yankees. To put it frankly the numbers are
nowhere near the same ballpark of one another. This noticeable contrast in the ability to spend is evident
in the opening of the film where Oakland's General Manager Billy Beane has to
assemble a team after his three star players bolt for a higher salary. Brad Pitt plays Billy Beane perfectly
as we witness an at times calm and reflective manager who occasionally opens up
a more aggressive side. His
flirtation with his vulnerability makes him human, and ultimately allows us to
see a different, deeper side to Pitt.
Brad Pitt has long been considered
nothing more than a handsome leading man.
Movies like Moneyball prove
he's more talented than you think. His performance sets the entire tone of the
movie and both Sorkin and Zaillian write his character intelligently for the
screen. The perfect foil for Beane is Peter Brand, played refreshingly by Jonah
Hill. Hill, known for comedies, makes a stance here, giving audiences a solid
turn as a nervous underling economist who convinces Billy to revamp how the A's
scout players by using a formula that bases their effectively on how often they
create runs.
For
all the positives in Moneyball there
are certainly a few negatives. Phillip Seymour Hoffman is completely underused
as Art Howe, a coach who butts heads with Beane over the best use of his
players. Also, the film is not easily categorized. It is presented as a baseball story yet it plays more like a
melodrama with baseball in the background. All in all, the fact that it isn't
trying to be a Rocky meets Bull Durham adventure is
commendable. It stands on its own
merit as a good film, baseball lover or not.
