Moneyball

Moneyball is one of those rare sports movies that isn’t really about sports—it’s about thinking differently and taking risks when everyone else doubts you. Brad Pitt does a great job portraying Billy Beane, and Jonah Hill adds a quiet, smart presence that balances the film well. Even if you’re not a baseball fan, the story pulls you in with its focus on strategy, data, and challenging the status quo. It’s fast-paced without feeling rushed and keeps you invested the whole time. What stands out most is the message: you don’t have to follow tradition to succeed—you just have to be willing to rethink the game.

Even if you've never heard of the amazing 20-win streak of the Oakland Athletics, or Sabermetrics, this is just a good film. The entire sport and the conflict over the rise of statistic-driven baseball is told through a framing device where general manager Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) struggles to balance work and life during a momentous time in his career. At the end of the day, all he really wants is for his daughter to be proud of him. Any audience can understand that. The short version of the sports part of the plot is that even though baseball fans have always been obsessed with statistics, some economists and mathematicians figured out that the stats everyone focused on didn't correspond very well to wins. A new field- now referred to as Sabermetrics- was developed in an attempt to generate a new mathematical method for determining which factors of a game actually affect win rate. In short, "old" baseball relied on gut feeling and good looks. A player who looked strong and handsome and hit a lot of home runs was everyone's top pick. The New York Yankees spent hundreds of millions developing these sorts of players, since their nearly unlimited funding meant they could buy all the best talent. Meanwhile at the Oakland Athletics team where we meet Billy Beane, they couldn't afford much of anything. Instead, they had to use their limited resources to try and generate an edge. The new field of Sabermetrics told them that looks didn't really generate wins. What generated wins- in a very simplified form- was for batters to be very picking about when they swing at, and then get on base reliably. The best possible hitter wasn't someone who tried to hit a home run every time (home run hitters often have lousy averages). The best hitter was someone who would stand at the plate watching 3 balls and 2 strikes go by, and only then get a hit or a walk to first base. Repeat this over the course of the lineup, and you get reliable scoring, not to mention the pitchers get tired and have to be changed out for second- or third- rate replacements more quickly. The Oakland A's went on to generate the longest winning streak in the history of baseball, using relatively cheap players that nobody wanted, playing a style of baseball that people called boring. They even beat the Yankees on a few occasions, despite spending a fraction of the money to do so. The A's even made it to the doorstep of the World Series before finally losing- which as the statistics show- was probably just a fluke. There's so much to love about this film. There's an interesting core story- how a revolution in thinking changed baseball. There's a great human story of Billy Beane negotiating his life between the stress of his job and his home life. There are also a ton of great actors. Brad Pitt as Billy Beane is great. Jonah Hill plays his breakthrough role as Peter Brand, a hodgepodge representing sabermetrics figures of the time including Paul DePodesta. There's Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Robin Wright, and Chris Pratt. I'll give a special mention to Chris Pratt. Not only was this one of his first big roles, but his character Scott Hatteberg is amazing and crucial. Scott Hatteberg was totally washed-up under the old baseball system. He was a catcher who had a nerve problem which caused him to lose sensation in his fingers, making it impossible for him to throw the ball reliably to second base. He was done. That is, until the A's saw that Hatteberg had a habit of getting to first base every time he went up to bat, which went unnoticed since Hatteberg no longer "looked" like a good player. I won't spoil the movie for you but let me quote a line from the book, which says that if the A's could have stocked a team with people who could hit like Scott Hatteberg, they would have been projected to win every single game of the season including the World Series. This movie is therefore also a big story about redemption, and underdogs. It's beautiful.

First. I am not a sports fan. I am a stadium junk food fan, but, according to my boyfriend, that is apparently not the same thing as being a sports fan. Whatevers. But then, I was going to iPic to see a movie, which was sold out, and I don't even remember what it was, and this movie was playing just at that time and frankly, i didn't even bother to see what movie it was, I just heard 'Brad Pitt' and I was like 'Yes, please.' And really, 'Moneyball'? How am I supposed to guess it's a sports movie, right? So, I was there. I watched it. Hooked from the first few minutes, really. Maybe it's because I like math and it's as much a math movie as it is a baseball movie. Well, it's not, but let's pretend it is. There is a line in the movie about baseball that I wouldn't have gotten before I saw this movie. Billy Beane says, "How can you not get romantic about baseball?" If you had told me that this line was said in a sports movie in a non-self-mocking way, I would have snorted and dismissed the comment. But now, I kinda get it. Kinda. Frankly, I still go to the games to watch the stretching and to eat garlic fries and Dippin' Dots. Woohoo! But now, I acknowledge the possibility that there might be other reasons why people might go. As to the "what about the movie?!?" portion of this review - Brief synopsis: So, Billy Beane hires Peter, an economics wiz from Yale (and apparent Baseball Fanatic) to help him put together a team that doesn't completely suck on a shoestring budget. And that's what they do. In a tremendous overkill type way. Great points: * I dislike Jonah Hill in virtually all of his movies. When I saw him in this movie, I realized that I had been wrong. It was the characters in his other movies that I hated. Jonah Hill himself is (apparently) a fine actor and was brilliant in this role as a high-functioning geek (FYI: High-functioning geeks are much like high-functioning sociopaths but with fewer manners and with less of the complete lack of morality). * Brad Pitt was also amazing. He was not in anyway heart-throb-y, which made him all the more heart-throb-y in my book. I mean, how can you not like a guy who turns down a bajillion dollars because he is loyal to his loser-ish team and because he doesn't want to leave the state that houses his daughter? Nice, right? Yah. I thought so as well. * Amazing acting by supporting roles, not the least of which being the greatly missed Philip Seymour Hoffman. * Chris Pratt of Guardians of the Galaxy fame also makes an appearance as Scott Hatteberg in one of the more touching scenes in the movies. Here again, was an example where I was surprised by the depth of a performance by an actor I had pretty much written off as a character actor, mainly put in to movies for laughs. My bad on that one, Chris. Oh, and Jonah. You both rocked it in this movie. In serious roles, yet. Kudos. Not-so-great: * The amazingly talented Robin Wright has not had luck in finding movie or roles that best display her talents, and this was another one. Brilliant movie but she was under-used as the ex-wife of Billy Beane. * Music soundtrack not the best. An amusing song (fictionally authored) by Billy Beane's daughter aside. On the other hand, this wasn't a movie where the soundtrack was pivotal (unlike say, in any superhero movie made, ever), so I give it a pass. *Not a lot of baseball players stretching on screen, which was kind of a let down for me since this was, in fact, a *baseball* movie. And, as mentioned previously, one of the two reasons I go to games in the first place. Hmmm..... Conclusion: All-in-all an excellent film. Great for sports-lovers and sports-meh-ers alike. As to the rating (for those who are sensitive to those things), there are some obscenities which is why this is PG13, but it was in keeping with the locker-room setting of the movie and so entirely appropriate. At no point did I roll my eyes and say 'Ah! The f-bomb. That must indicate the character is tough / angry / hungry / under 25, etc.' I have a pet peeve about gratuitous swearing being used in place of actual dialog. That was not the case in this movie.

I thought maybe this movie would be somewhat of a boring look at the business side of baseball. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that it had some real heart and also involved an intimate look at the experiences of some of the characters. This movie is based on the true story of the Oakland Athletics of the early 2000s who found some success as a small-market, low-budget team through the use of statistical analysis and the signing of unconventional but affordable players. The main character is the general manager who is forced to try something different and happens to discover a number cruncher while visiting another team during the off season. Along the way we get to meet a few of the players for that season and experience some of the highs and lows of the team such as a poor start to the season which eventually transformed into a record-breaking string of victories and an unexpected but bittersweet trip to the post season. This movie was interesting enough to make me want to read up on the real-life characters in the movie and the statistical techniques that changed the world of baseball signings. If you have even the slightest interest in baseball, this is a movie you will like. It is well-written, well-acted and well-filmed.

Great movie, I wasn't planning to watch it but I was lead to watch it, Lol...!!

Great cast, screenplay and acting

This is a very wonderful film. Having bought the book when it was originally released in 2003, I wondered how well the adaptation would go to the big screen. I found out right away: I liked it immediately. Brad Pitt shines as A's general manager Billy Beane. While dealing with the realities facing the 2002 team, he also reaches back into his past, where he was arguably the most talented high school prospect in America coming out of high school--only to fail to pan out as a big league player. Yet, as a general manger, he has clearly made his mark, as the A's, on his watch, went on to be a serious contender at the turn-of-the-century, contending for the World Series for nearly a decade. Despite the team's recent struggles, Mr. Beane has never stopped trying to field a competitive team in light of the team's meager payroll, aged stadium, media market, etc. Mr. Brad has come a long way as an actor and really showed me a lot in this role. Another person who showed me a lot is Jonah Hill, who earned his Oscar nomination, amongst the many this film received and earned in addition, as A's assistant GM Peter Brand, who is based in part on Paul DePodesta, who actually held the position with the A's at the time. Brand really brought a lot to his role as the assistant who helped opened Mr. Beane's--and baseball's--eyes and minds to the possibilities of saber metrics as a way and means of evaluating player talent as opposed to the time-and-true conventional methods of player evaluation and talent. It is very hard to believe that one of the more foremost younger comedians in entertainment today would make this role so dramatically believable, but Jonah pulls this off with quiet passion and aplomb. Even Phillip Seymour Hoffman does well as Art Howe, who was in what would be his final year as A's manager. He is able to convey the frustrations he feels with a team he is handed to manage and keep together given all he is able to work with by the team's GM. Even more understated by Mr. Hoffman's standards, the less-is-more approach for Howe plays well here. I like the way this film unfolds. Using some key players from this team as actual characters, namely David Justice, Scott Hatteberg, Miguel Tejada, John Mabry and Chad Bradford, amongst others, the season blends into one of curiosity and hopefulness in hoping the A's are able to work this plan of theirs out. The film also blends actual game footage into the mix as well, using actual A's broadcasters of the time--and even now--throughout the game portions of the film. Though knowing how the film will end, for those who followed the team as I did back in 2002, even bringing back such sweet memories, the journey is one which never grows old, tired, repetitive or boring. This is a movie which begs to be seen--and can be seen again. The Blu-ray Disc presentation is a solid one, with a fine, clear 1080p picture and a very strong DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack. Even the extras are worth viewing in comparing some of the actual characters vs. their film counterparts. This move hits a home run!!!! No, it hits a grand slam!!!! Go see this movie!!!!!! Buy it for your collection--regardless of whether you are a baseball fan, a fan of good movies--or just both!!!!!

"Moneyball". Who would have guessed? Because the film APPEARS to be about baseball- which is fine with me- it waited unwatched on my shelf for many months. I purchased the film because of Aaron Sorkin- a writer for whom there is no equal today though for the past he is with Ibsen, Shaw, Shakespeare. Sorkinis responsible for so much but you all know him for writing the famous Nicholson line: ":You can't handle the truth!" Now part of LAmerican vernacular, like Sophie's Choice and Are You Lookin' at me? But I discovered a lot more. "Moneyball" is not about Baseball; it is about human beings who produce entertainment for America. After 32 years in the business of music and theatre, I spent 50% of my time with suits, agents, meetings and contracts, ownership of rights and a percent of the gross and box office and press and publicity and total lack of privacy- well, Theatre, film, music sports: America wants it and this film will show you the behind the scenes truth. Expertly, emotionally and with intense suspense. It is impossible to cite specific indivduals for the excellence of this film because the collaborative efect is so spectacular that one almost fails to notice. This film is based on the book of the same name by Michael Lewis (Norton & C0) but then, in a moment of brilliance, by executive producer, Scott Rudin, the screenplay was as mentioned, written by Aaron Sorkin and the remarkable Steven Zaillan. The screenplay is flawless and one can tell that there was very little- if any- improvised lines in the filming. There is a musical fluidity to the speach and soundtrack that line up flawless;ly, almost as if the two playwrites and fim composer, Mychael Danna, were all in one brain with a clear view off the final edit. The score is spectacular and Danna is not the only one responsible. The entire music department- including and additional composer- has created a musical masterpiece to sync with all else. Christopher Tellefsen's film editing is so beautiful, masterful and- yes, as the film teaches us- manipulative that even the most rugged 55 year old man will find a lump in his throat at times. But Bennett Miller, director, gets the credit for it all as the man with the final say and the man who, along with the written word, pulled these moving and remarkable performances out of some remarkable veteran actors. Brad Pitt has established himself as a serious actor here, though had he not been so remarkably attractive and half naked in "Thelma and Louise" the world would have seen it there. As a fourty-four year old man, divorced with a 13 year old daughter we see the sincere emotions that tug at the inside of his soul. He has a passion for baseball and at age 18 gave up a Scholarship at Stanord to sign with The New York Mets; a first draft pick that lasted only one season. Now he is the General Manager o the Oakland A's during the 2002 season and it is his intent to change baseball. He does this with the help of the very gifted actor, Jonah Hall by using statistical data to create a low budget baseball club, something for which everyone thinks is insane, particularly the team manager, played by the legend Phillip Seymour hofman in yet another dazling character performance. Pitt plays Billy Beane, a man pulled in many directions: baseball, his past, and his undying devotion to his daughter (expertly played by the miraculous Kerris Dorsey who twice in the film exhibts a singer-singwriter talent for her father perfformed by her without the use of studio fixing or embelishment- a true talent.) who, it turns out, delivers the most remarkable wisdom that the film offers. Her acting is something we haven;t sen from a 13 year old since Jpodie Foster did "Taxi Driver." This credit is indeed shared with Miller's direction, who clearly explained many adult and kid situations rather than the Hollywood tradition of cute, crying wide eyes children. In fact, the scenes between her and Pitt are some of the films most powerful. Still, I must mention Robin Wright, Chris Pratt, Brent Jennings and- in a small but powerful performance, Diane Behrens, first amazing us in 1989 wit the film adaptation of Bob Woodward's "Wired." Her time on screen is so short; she has few lines and all in flashback memory (she plays Beane's mother) but what this woman conveys with her face and eyes is on a par with Meryl Streep.Arliss Howard, as the owner of the Boston red Sox, gives a remarkable eight minute performance filmed on location at Fenway Park-doing character work unlike anything he's done before. Most of us take the Director of Photography for granted, but, as with "Out Of Africa" this is one where we must pause. Wally Pfister has created a myriad of images that capture bnoth granduer and subtlety using angles, lighting, weather, composition in ways that are rarely seen on film. All of these elements, and many many more, come together to create a masterpiece of film. It will entertain and move you with one watch. That won't satisfy you. You will return, as most people do with Sorkin's writing, and you will begin to notice details in every department that you had;t seen previously. In an era when most of what Hollywood is producing is mindless special effect fantasy and Comic Book dreck, this is more exciting, more moving and more artistic than any film I have seen this decade. At this price, buy the thing. No matter what. For baseball fans this will be a vertible orgasmic event- better than the 86 world series.