I love baseball. It's all about the fact that both players and fans won't ever know where the ball will fall next. That's part of the fun. Similarly, sports-related films about underdogs who manage to make a comeback, speak much to all of us who yearn to do better, improve, win or excel.
Moneyball does just that, showing us that despite a lack of perfection in technique and effort, the road to the eventual result is often more rewarding than the destination itself.
What is Moneyball All About?
Billy Beane (Brad Pitt, in a award-worthy role) is the general manager of the Oakland Athletics Major League baseball club, and the year is 2001. The A's were on the verge of making their way to the World Series, when the New York Yankees came back from two divisional losses and won their way to the finals, leaving the defeated Oakland players to lick their wounds.
Shortly into the off-season, Billy and his team discover that three of their star players have moved to richer teams, hoping to score bigger bucks. With less than a third of the super teams payroll and a dire need to rebuild his team, Beane heads off to meet with different team managers, hoping to grab some worthwhile players with little money.
During his travels, Beane meets Peter Brand (Jonah Hill), an economics graduate working with the Cleveland Indians, who approaches him to explain that the game is flawed, with most teams hoping for wins based on star players rather than statistics. Convinced of this theory, Beane and Brand set out to rebuild the Oakland team using lesser known, discarded players with established statistical worth.
The 2002 baseball season which follows is the film we see, as we discover whether their unusual gamble pays off.
Moneyball as Engaging as Sports Movies Get
We've all seen our share of uplifting, feel-good sports films: Rudy, Hoosiers, Miracle, The Express, even goofy ones like Major League and Necessary Roughness (what can I say, I'm an equal opportunity film-title dropper), all of which feature less-than-stellar sports teams who come back from defeat, only to later bask in their shining moment of glory.
Rather than make it too perfect a fairy tale, master scribes Steve Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin have crafted a modest-yet-earnest tale refocused on the hopes of the men behind the players, rather than the sport itself. Relying heavily on the book by Michael Lewis and story by Stan Chervin, the writers and director Bennett Miller take us through a baseball season step-by-step, showing us a glimpse of what the game should be like, rather than what it usually is, namely a business sport filled with marquee names and big salaries rather than the spirit of the game.
There's a quote often repeated throughout the film, "How can you not get romantic about baseball?" I believe that's exactly what the filmmakers have done here, with much help from Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill as the two men who dared to see their crazy plan through to the post-season.
Bonus Features?
Lots of discussion about the new face of baseball, a few interviews with the real-life Billy Beane, and some behind-the-scenes moments. For levity, check out the sole blooper on the the blu-ray disc, that of Brad Pitt having giggle fits trying to stay serious in a personal scene with Jonah Hill. It may not be for everyone, but anyone who's had trouble keeping a straight face when struck with a funny thought will probably join Pitt in doing the same. It's infectious.
The Final Word on Moneyball
I daresay that viewers who may not have the slightest interest in baseball will still get something out of watching this film. The core message of this story is more important here, and I believe it's one about integrity and the important question of personal goals versus the almighty dollar. If there ever was a film which could do justice to the age old adage "Money doesn't make you happy", I'm pretty sure Moneyball would fit the bill perfectly.
Moneyball: 4 out of 5
Dominic Messier - Dominic Messier is a Toronto-based Film & TV writer, Sci-Fi TV and Film Dramas Topic Editor, and creator of PopCultureLandscape.com
