Moneyball: Pleasing, But No ‘Wow’ Factor
Brad Pitt has hit the big screen again for the first time in a while. This is in the form of a biography about a very unusual coach that comes to a baseball team and does things a little unconventionally. Moneyball is described as being a great social comedy with incredible actor chemistry. Brad Pitt is said to do a wonderful job in this, his first return to the big screen in a few years after a break to focus on his new family.
The storyline
The movie is based on a book written in 2003 by an author named Michael Lewis. The book is a simple, but well-written social commentary regarding the way baseball teams are selected and analyzed. It focuses on the background of the game and how it went through a major change with the introduction of computer analyses as a method of coaching and managing. And although the book itself is a New York Times bestseller, the creation of a movie version may very well be a great example of what books should not be made into films. Although the it’s overall viewed as a good watch and the actors were pleasing, there are some problems illustrated with it in general.
Speed bumps
The attempt to make the film gave a highlight to what exactly would be the outcome of the project in general. It took a long time because of a couple of major speed bumps, but eventually it all came together for something that was fairly pleasing. The filming itself was postponed before it even began to get everything on a rocky start. The original director, Steven Soderbergh, was released in favor of a new script written by Aaron Sorkin and directing by Bennett Miller. This took the story in a different direction, which Sony apparently favored much more.
Pitt gives a great performance
The movie stars Brad Pitt, who makes his return to the big screen as Oakland A’s general manager Billy Beane, a tobacco chewing ex-jock who has taken his role in the background of the sports business instead of making a big time career due to his extensive knowledge of the game and number knowledge. Brad is said to play the part of Billy Beane wonderfully, just as he really was and as he was expertly written by Lewis himself seven years before the film. The only complaints about Brad Pitt in no way have anything to do with his performance. There are complaints about how interesting and likeable Beane is as a character, but that is something that could not be changed, so it is accepted.
Hill may steal the show
Alongside Brad Pitt is Jonah Hill – everyone’s favorite funny sidekick. But here, we see a different side of Hill that is arguably a lot less funny than we are used to. Even though the movie is viewed overall as funny, Hill’s silly antics are not what are generally responsible for the laughs. But, even though we are unfamiliar with this side of Hill, overall the reception is very good. In fact, it is argued that Hill may in fact outshine Pitt in some parts of the movie. This is debatable, though.
Great acting
Other names in the cast include Robin Wright and Philip Seymour Hoffman, who plays the Oakland A’s manager. The cast overall is believed to have done wonderful job all around. The acting is great, and their scorn for the new computerized drafting system brought by Beane to the team is definitely understood. It gives lovers of the old ways a reason to be a little angry at the main character, while the general population pities the way he is treated for trying to make more effective decisions for the baseball game in general.
Drawbacks
The only downfall reported about the movie is that it really gets a little slow, especially if you are not too excited about learning how baseball works behind the scenes. The movie itself may be a little dialogue heavy, and you really don’t see much baseball at all. The main focus of the entire story is on the way the managers worked through the whole thing. It definitely won’t change your feelings about baseball, although it may change your feelings about the news in general, because the storyline of the movie really plays out more like an extended news segment more than anything.
In general, the production of the New York Times bestselling novel is a good watch and a great creation for what it had to work with. There were some minor complaints from people looking for a little bit more of actual sports, but for what it is, the movie is viewed as very pleasing. Some people may find it a little boring, but overall it was well-made and the actors performed exceptionally well in it. It may not be a two thumbs up, but it’s easily one and a half.
