Like a classic David and Goliath story, “Moneyball” is the underdog tale of a poor, small market team led by an obsessive general manager, who wants to win a world series.
The problem is that manager Billy Beane is in charge of the Oakland A’s, a team that has the second smallest payroll budget in baseball.
Beane devises a way to statistically determine the best players for the time based on their talent and the team’s tight budget.
The story focuses less on the number system created to evaluate players, and more on the passion and past of Billy.
The star characters, managers Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) and Peter Brand (Jonah Hill) are what really bring the film to life.
Brad Pitt succeeds in holding your attention, and amazingly, he manages to do so without even a hint of sex. No kissing, no hugging and not even the casual holding of hands. The absence of such material is hardly missed, as Pitt brings alive a character that is driven, cagey, forceful and loving all at the same time.
Hill’s shy portrayal of Brand complements Pitt’s characterization of Beane wonderfully. Soft spoken and intelligent, Hill brings the teddy bear aspect to the duo.
Surrounding these lead characters is a motley collection of baseball brains, ranging from a supportive owner to a rebellious manager and scouting team. The variety of talent and opinions supplement Pitt and Hill without becoming overly busy.
“Moneyball” is a movie that has something for everyone. Baseball fans will love the history behind the story, comedy fans will enjoy the banter between Pitt and Hill, and action junkies won’t be able to help themselves from cheering for the underdog.
While baseball fanatics will probably find more to enjoy in this film than others might, “Moneyball” is still worth the cost of a ticket for anyone who has been wanting to see a great film.
