Moneyball

September 23, 2011

Jays Rating:
Actors: /
Director:

In 2001 the Oakland A’s, a low budget baseball team lost 3 key players to the big market teams and the book now made into the film titled Moneyball tells how they leveled the playing field to compete. In order to build up the Oakland A’s for the lowest price possible the general manager Billy Bean played by Brad Pitt hires a Yale economic major played by Jonah Hill who rates players by a new set of guidelines. The coach of the team played by Philip Seymour Hoffman is skeptical along with the entire scouting department but Billy continues with his plan that eventually changes the face of baseball. Bennett Miller does a fine job directing this biography after Steven Soderbergh decides not to direct the film and drops out in the ninth inning. (Don’t worry I have more baseball lingo) Before Soderbergh quit he cast Brad Pitt as the lead and it was a fantastic choice. Pitt really showed his full range of acting skills and this may actually be one of his best roles. Jonah Hill was also outstanding and in fact the whole cast was above par. The script was fresh and I think the audience will enjoy this film even if they aren’t baseball fans. (Of course knowing baseball helps) With this movie running over 2 hours it really needed a little more humor, some action or a couple real emotional moments to keep the excitement during the longer stretches. This film isn’t a home run but it is a triple and I’m giving it a B rating.

This movie has been given a PG-13 rating by the MPAA

Although I am blind, I can appreciate a good movie as well as sighted individuals.
I rely more on a good story line than special effects.