Movie looks at baseball through a different lens
Published on Wed, Jan 11, 2012 by Bob ConnallyRead More Arts & Entertainment
Moneyball
(PG-13, Avail. 1/10)
In 2001, the Oakland A's won 102 games, earning a second consecutive trip to the playoffs. Their season ended, however, when they lost the Division Series to the New York Yankees, a team with over three and a half times the payroll. With the loss of three key free agents whom the team can no longer afford, A's General Manager Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) faces the seemingly impossible task of finding suitable replacements.
In preparation for 2002, Beane attempts to solve a problem with no existing solution. With no new ideas coming from his scouts, Beane buys Yale economics major Peter Brand (Jonah Hill) from the Cleveland Indians.
Brand doesn't bring a wealth of baseball experience with him, but he does bring an understanding of a formula originated by security guard Bill James--one that baseball has ignored for 25 years.
"Baseball thinking is medieval," Brand insists. Instead of buying players, Brand believes, "You should be buying wins. And in order to buy wins, you need to buy runs."
Taking James' formula and running with it, they set about putting together an unconventional championship team, the only kind a $38 million payroll could buy.
Directed by Bennett Miller ("Capote") and with a screenplay by Aaron Sorkin ("The Social Network") and Steven Zaillian ("Schindler's List"), "Moneyball" is a film that will appeal to non-baseball fans. It takes us inside what goes on behind the scenes of the world of baseball without being too "inside baseball." Beane is shown as a man of passion who has ambition beyond just winning and who loves his daughter more than anything in the world. Appropriately for a lifelong baseball man, Beane is also superstitious, to the point that he won't allow himself to attend games or even watch them on TV.
Pitt has always had an ease on screen and this may be his most naturalistic performance yet. He infuses Beane's relentless passion with a sense of wry humor that would be very much needed to try and change the way baseball works.
"Moneyball" features a fine supporting cast as well. Philip Seymour Hoffman is solid as A's manager Art Howe, who doesn't understand the new philosophy and fights against it daily when filling out the lineup card. Chris Pratt ("Parks and Recreation") is funny and likeable as Oakland's unlikely new first baseman, Scott Hatteberg, who's never been anything but a catcher.
The real standout though is a seriously toned down Jonah Hill. Funny in an entirely different way than he's ever been before, Hill gives the most impressive performance of his career. The demeanor he brings to Brand belies the importance of his role as the true architect of the team.
For lifelong baseball fans like me, "Moneyball" is a brilliant film within a brilliant film. It acknowledges that nerds like baseball too, which is, after all, the only way that Bill James' sabermetrics approach could come about. There's a sense of excitement in the moments of Beane's and Brand's meetings with players to get them onboard with the mindset. With a philosophy that includes, "no more stealing bases or bunting," legendary Orioles manager Earl Weaver would be proud.
The baseball scenes in "Moneyball" are more realistic than in the vast majority of baseball movies. Granted, there are only a handful of them, but you never find yourself shaking your head at an actor's terrible swing or pitching motion. It just looks and feels the way it should. Miller also does an excellent job of creating tension within these scenes even if you know the outcome.
"Moneyball" cannot be tagged with the qualifier of being a great baseball film. It's a great film, full stop.
Besides, as Beane puts it near the film's end, "How can you not be romantic about baseball?" With a movie this good, you have to be. 9.5/10.
(PG-13, Avail. 1/10)
In 2001, the Oakland A's won 102 games, earning a second consecutive trip to the playoffs. Their season ended, however, when they lost the Division Series to the New York Yankees, a team with over three and a half times the payroll. With the loss of three key free agents whom the team can no longer afford, A's General Manager Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) faces the seemingly impossible task of finding suitable replacements.
In preparation for 2002, Beane attempts to solve a problem with no existing solution. With no new ideas coming from his scouts, Beane buys Yale economics major Peter Brand (Jonah Hill) from the Cleveland Indians.
Brand doesn't bring a wealth of baseball experience with him, but he does bring an understanding of a formula originated by security guard Bill James--one that baseball has ignored for 25 years.
"Baseball thinking is medieval," Brand insists. Instead of buying players, Brand believes, "You should be buying wins. And in order to buy wins, you need to buy runs."
Taking James' formula and running with it, they set about putting together an unconventional championship team, the only kind a $38 million payroll could buy.
Directed by Bennett Miller ("Capote") and with a screenplay by Aaron Sorkin ("The Social Network") and Steven Zaillian ("Schindler's List"), "Moneyball" is a film that will appeal to non-baseball fans. It takes us inside what goes on behind the scenes of the world of baseball without being too "inside baseball." Beane is shown as a man of passion who has ambition beyond just winning and who loves his daughter more than anything in the world. Appropriately for a lifelong baseball man, Beane is also superstitious, to the point that he won't allow himself to attend games or even watch them on TV.
Pitt has always had an ease on screen and this may be his most naturalistic performance yet. He infuses Beane's relentless passion with a sense of wry humor that would be very much needed to try and change the way baseball works.
"Moneyball" features a fine supporting cast as well. Philip Seymour Hoffman is solid as A's manager Art Howe, who doesn't understand the new philosophy and fights against it daily when filling out the lineup card. Chris Pratt ("Parks and Recreation") is funny and likeable as Oakland's unlikely new first baseman, Scott Hatteberg, who's never been anything but a catcher.
The real standout though is a seriously toned down Jonah Hill. Funny in an entirely different way than he's ever been before, Hill gives the most impressive performance of his career. The demeanor he brings to Brand belies the importance of his role as the true architect of the team.
For lifelong baseball fans like me, "Moneyball" is a brilliant film within a brilliant film. It acknowledges that nerds like baseball too, which is, after all, the only way that Bill James' sabermetrics approach could come about. There's a sense of excitement in the moments of Beane's and Brand's meetings with players to get them onboard with the mindset. With a philosophy that includes, "no more stealing bases or bunting," legendary Orioles manager Earl Weaver would be proud.
The baseball scenes in "Moneyball" are more realistic than in the vast majority of baseball movies. Granted, there are only a handful of them, but you never find yourself shaking your head at an actor's terrible swing or pitching motion. It just looks and feels the way it should. Miller also does an excellent job of creating tension within these scenes even if you know the outcome.
"Moneyball" cannot be tagged with the qualifier of being a great baseball film. It's a great film, full stop.
Besides, as Beane puts it near the film's end, "How can you not be romantic about baseball?" With a movie this good, you have to be. 9.5/10.
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