Guest Author - Valerie Valdez
Director Bennett Miller (Capote) and writers Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network) A+ story is aided by Pitt's most nuanced performances as the temperamental and enigmatic Billy Beane. He hires a Yale computer graduate, Peter Brand (played to pure geeky perfection by Jonah Hill)and his computer-driven statistical analysis to compute the numbers of lesser-known ball players. Beane uses the data to determine trades of expensive players and plan game strategy, all to save the team.
The movie rests on Pitt’s strong shoulders and performance as he juggles the team and a family life. It is great to see Pitt flex his dad acting muscles so effortlessly. His equal is an almost unrecognizable Phillip Seymour Hoffman as the team’s field manager. Sparks really fly when these two lock horns over everything from the line-up to critical trades. However, without a doubt, it is Pitt’s movies as he tells Beane’s story of struggle and ultimate triumph. The scene with him in a meeting with ball club members gives a look into how some only steer their organization with their head while others use their heart.
The editing was brilliant as it covered a lot of ground, figuratively but still does not skip a beat as the film flowed well from game to game. The action off the field is often more exciting than the games. The touching scenes between Beane and his daughter and her sad song about divorce added to the film sweetness. Everything feels authentic in Moneyball, which showed the scruffiness of the sport in which Pitt, Hoffman and Hill worked surprisingly well as an ensemble. I give credit to the tight, solid direction of Miller and the witty script. But it left me with one question about Beane’s story, why did he give up a full college scholarship in his youth to be a ballplayer at age eighteen? Instead, he became a scout, then a trainer and worked behind a desk in team management. This question was never answered to my satisfaction, but it is a minor point I can excuse. Still, Brad Pitt had better win some major awards for his performance because he hit a grand slam with Moneyball. So, if you love baseball, you will happily be swept up in this film. Moneyball is simply the best baseball film since Bull Durham, and one of 2011 champions.
