REVIEW: Moneyball (2011)

Based on true events, Moneyball tells the story of Billy Beane (Brad Pitt), the general manager of the Oakland A’s in his quest to reinvent the conventions of baseball. After his team loses in the 2001 postseason and the departure of the A’s three star players, Beane is forced to create a new team on a limited payroll. Going against the better wishes of his scouts, he enlists the help of Yale economics graduate Peter Brand (Jonah Hill) to help build a team based on their base percentage rather than their characteristics.

The performance between Pitt as a no-nonsense and upfront general manager and Hill as his intelligent but hesitant assistant is wonderful and it leaves you questioning why they haven’t been put together before now. Philip Seymour Hoffman also stars, although he is massively underplayed in his role as the A’s manager. Pitt is the star of the show here as he masterfully portrays the struggles Beane goes through in order to reinvent the future of baseball on a small budget.

Although there is a touching subplot between Beane and his daughter Casey, it feels underappreciated and to an extent tacked on, as the rising triumph of Beane’s team go from strength to strength hogging the limelight of this films plot.

As a sports film, you’d be forgiven for not being interested by the subject, especially if you’re not a fan of baseball. However, this should not matter. Although I knew nothing about baseball before I had watched Moneyball, the film does an excellent job of shifting the focus from the game to what goes on behind the scenes, particularly the people and the problems of matters that most viewers can relate to.

The film does however seem to move at a slow pace, one that conflicts with its nature for what it is: a sports film. The films strengths do derive from its moments that feature Beane and Brand at odds with everyone else but with few sporadic scenes that feature any actual baseball, you’ll be left needing a bit more action by the time the credits roll.

Verdict: a well acted, well scripted look behind the scenes of the sport and the reimagining of old conventions. Moneyball will leave wanting more despite its somewhat slow pacing.

Score: 8.0/10