Movie Review: Brad Pitt may not hit a homer in 'Moneyball,' but at least it is a triple
Submitted by Carson Now Reader on Mon, 09/26/2011 - 5:27pm
The baseball-computer film "Moneyball" now playing at the Fandango Galaxy multiplex in Carson City, is the story of how computer analysis came to baseball through the then lowly Oakland A's. Brad Pitt is Billy Beane, general manager of the A's and a one-time hot prospect for baseball fame but who stuck out.
He's faced with a loss of the final game of the season as well as the free agent departure of three of his stars. Billy flies to Cleveland and meets a rotund Jonah Hill, of Yalie econ major with a new way of viewing talent — how many times a player got on base.
Pitt faces his crew of veteran scouts as they weigh picks to make up for the departing stars.
Billy listens but overrules their choice and goes with Jonah's laptop.
The A's pick up a potential losers who check out with Jonah's system and after a disastrous season start go on to win 20 games straight.
Billy and Jonah are vindicated as the Majors begin buying computers and econ majors.
While this is a baseball film, there's not a lot of baseball in it. What's there is good. No baseball expert I, despite an enjoyable afternoon with the Reno Aces recently, but as one who played right field a lot in his youth, I enjoyed what I saw.
Pitt is at his dynamic best here, going from intelligent talk to smashing furniture when the world overtakes him. Jonah Hill as Peter Brand the econ whiz is excellent and he grows into his role as the movie unreels. Philip Seymour Hoffman is dependable as the manager of the A's as a dour doubter. Kathryn Morris as Billy's daughter is sort of drug into the plot with worries about her dad being fire from his job. Human touch.
The ballplayers are a varied lot who play their film positions well. Bennett Miller as director keeps the action moving at a reasonable pace.
This is Pitt's film and he carries it well, possibly his best role yet. He seems to ponder life a bit but always ready to play ball.
A winner. Let's cheer a contemporary film without an explosion of a care race. There's hope for Hollywood.
— Sam Bauman
Cast
— Brad Pitt as Billy Beane, general manager of the Oakland Athletics.
— Jonah Hill as Peter Brand (a pseudonym for Paul DePodesta), Beane's assistant general manager.
— Philip Seymour Hoffman as Art Howe, the manager of the Oakland Athletics.
— Chris Pratt as Scott Hatteberg, A's first baseman
— Casey Bond as Chad Bradford, A's submarine relief pitcher
— Stephen Bishop as David Justice, A's outfielder
— Royce Clayton as Miguel Tejada, A's shortstop
— David Hutchison as John Mabry, A's utility player
— Kathryn Morris as Tara Beane
— Robin Wright as Sharon
— Robert Kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard, makes an uncredited cameo appearance as former A's owner Stephen Schott.
Director - Bennett Miller
Screenplay - Aaron Sorkin, Steven Zaillian
Producers - Michael de Luca, Brad Pitt, Rachael Horovitz, Gregory Jacobs
Co-Producer - Alissa Phillips
Executive Producer - Scott Rudin
Executive Producer - Andrew Karsch
Length: Runs 2 hours, 6 minutes, rated PG-13
