Moneyball - 2011

Columbia Pictures, Scott Rudin Productions, Michael De Luca Productions

Directed by Bennett Miller

Cast:

• Billy Beane – Brad Pitt
• Peter Brand – Jonah Hill
• Art Howe – Phillip Seymour Hoffman
• Sharon – Robin Wright
• Casey Beane – Kerris Dorsey

Story: Based on the book “Moneyball, the Art of Winning an Unfair Game”, this film gives us insight into the predicament of Billy Beane, General Manager of the Oakland “A's”. In 2002, the A's are the lowest funded ball team in professional baseball, and they are about to lose their top three players to free agency. Billy Beane is at wits end, and is meeting with various ball clubs to arrange player trades when he runs into Peter Brand in a meeting with the Cleveland Indians. Brand is a young, rotund man just out of Yale with a degree in economics who has developed a system for analyzing player stats that goes against everything in use at the time. When Billy questions him on his methods, he sees a way to build a championship team without the huge contracts that are awarded to star players. Brand's method is simple, he looks at the probability that a player can get on base, and by doing so, increase the odds he will score. While Beane fails to get the Championship with the team he builds, they do succeed in winning 20 games in a row, a record never before achieved in professional baseball.

Review: Here is a sports film that talks about more than just the players. Brad Pitt gives us a stellar performance as Billy Beane, a General Manager who started out as a player who never reached his potential. He gives us not only insight into the professional life of Billy Beane, but the man himself. We learn he is divorced, involved in his daughter's life, and trying to remain civil with his ex's new partner. He has ideas that he can't support in the accepted method, but with his reputation, he has a lot of leeway with the owner, and when he discovers Phillip Brand (Jonah Hill), he sees a way to make the kind of team that has the potential to win a championship. Jonah Hill is excellent as Brand, developing his character from the fresh out of college statistician with little self confidence to the man who learns to accept the responsibilities of management. Phillip Seymour Hoffman is strong as Manager Art Howe, but I get the feeling there are missing scenes because we just don't get enough of him in the film. Kerris Dorsey is impressive in the role of Casey Beane, and also co-wrote the song “The Show” and performs it for us in a touching scene where Billy is buying his daughter a guitar. For baseball fans, this is a movie about a pivotal moment in baseball history. For Brad Pitt fans, this is a chance to see Brad in a role that doesn't involve spies, cons, wars, and explosions. For the rest of us, this is a film to watch and enjoy. Rated PG-13 for a few scenes with harsh language, I'd recommend it for the entire family. Collectible for sports fans and lovers of good “slice of life” films.