Moneyball

By Harry McPhaul

Moneyball was easily one of the best baseball movies of all time.   It was a film about the new age of scouting and forming a major league team.   I have lived in the Bay Area all my life and I always was confused on what exactly the Athletics’ (A’s) thought process was around building a successful organization.  Every year it seemed as if they were not trying to sign any of the big name players who were established in the league.  They were beginning to implant a new way getting quality players over the All-Stars in the hopes that one day they will be able to manufacture a championship team rather than just signing one. 

Brad Pitt who plays the A’s General Manager Billy Beane gave one of his best performances.   I could sense that he knew that by being a pioneer with this new system he could lose his job because of it not working out.  The determination to make it work was the main philosophy that kept Beane from giving up.  Pitt, I thought portrayed Beane excellently.  He gave off this vibe that he was an easy to talk to person but he knew his boundaries.  One example was that he would never fly with the team or get to close emotionally with the players so it would be easier for him to release or trade them later on in their career.   Pitt also created this persona as a guy who always seemed to stay positive.

Pitt had a few jokes and funny lines throughout the film but it did not take anything away from how serious baseball was to him.  Most of all they were not corny jokes that made me lose interest.  By having a quality humor throughout the film it was a nice way to break up and sort of just take a break from the current situation of his new system not working out.   To help with this comedic presence Jonah Hill was casted as a sort of assistant to Pitt.

Jonah Hill also gave a surprisingly well done performance.  He showed that he has the range to play a funny stupid kid and just a casual person who had jokes occasionally.    I was not sure if he would be able to pull it off but it turned out to be one of his better roles.   Of course he is going to have a few funny lines but the film was not driven by his comedic personality.   It was a film that I would highly recommend.  I would give it a 9/10.