Moneyball Review

I have always said that September is one of the worst times to release a movie, but there are always exceptions. Moneyball is one of those exceptions. It managed to get excellent reviews and right now it is nominated for six Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Actor (Brad Pitt), and Best Supporting Actor (Jonah Hill).

Moneyball, based on a true story, stars Brad Pitt as Billy Beane, the general manager of the Oakland A's. After losing the previous World Series and some key players, he has to reinvent his team on a tight budget. The onetime jock teams up with Ivy League grad Peter Brand, played by Jonah Hill, and they form an unlikely partnership. Their strategy is to recruit bargain players the scouts call flawed, but all of whom have an ability to get on base, score runs, and win games. They create a new plan that challenges old school traditions, and puts Beane in the crosshairs of those who say he is tearing out the heart and soul of the game.

I am not a big fan of baseball, but I did enjoy this film. The screenplay is fantastic because it is witty and full of sharp dialogue. Of course, this is no surprise as it is co-written by Aaron Sorkin, who wrote the award winning film, “The Social Network”. It also shows the audience the business side of the game, without making it too complicated for viewers. The majority of sports films rarely do this and I like this aspect of the film. Brad Pitt is the heart of the movie, and his character is deep and based on a real life figure. I can see why he got nominated.

Jonah Hill gives his best performance of his career so far and the Academy recognized his performance and gave him an Oscar nomination. However, his performance didn’t scream Oscar worthy to me. This spot should have been reserved for Albert Brook’s brilliant performance in Drive, but that’s another story. In addition, the film gives Philip Seymour Hoffman an underwritten role, which is a shame since he is an Oscar winner.

You do not have to enjoy baseball to watch Moneyball, but I do think it will appeal more to baseball fans. As far as its Oscar chances go I think it will go home empty handed. I think the film is too lightweight to win Best Picture and it lost a lot of buzz rather quickly into the awards season. However, it is possible that Brad Pitt can pull an upset on Oscar night and take home the Best Actor trophy.

Moneyball – 3/4