Moneyball Scores

Sport movies are certainly a genre only a specific group of people enjoy. In part, you have to possess at least an appreciation for a game, if not a steadfast and loyal love. Also, they tend to run along the same lines as far as plot is concerned, especially when based on a true story. A lot of those plots involve underdogs rising to the top, down-and-outers coming from behind, or heroes overcoming great obstacles to claim victory. And if you’re a fan of sport-themed movies, the thrill never ceases to grab at your heart. Even if you know who wins, you stand up and cheer every time.

Although not entirely outside the typical sport movie genre, Moneyball, opening this week and staring Brad Pitt, offers something a little different.

Moneyball is based on the true story of Billy Beane and the Oakland A’s professional baseball team. In the early 2000s, the A’s lost three of their top players to the draw of big money – in short, other teams could afford to pay them more. A lot more. Beane, the A’s General Manager, practically begs the owner for a larger payroll to rebuild their dismantled team, but is denied. So on a tiny budget, as far as Major League baseball is concerned, Beane puts together a risky team of has-beens and hurt players who agree to play for the meager salaries (again, in terms of Major League baseball). He makes his player choices based on the statistical and analytical brilliance of a young, just out of Yale economics major he finds working for the Cleveland Indians, Peter Brand. Together, and against much opposition, Billy and Peter take a losing, gutted team and gain a winning season.

The difference in this movie, though, is that the A’s may have achieved a winning season (more wins than losses), setting a historical League record of most consecutive wins ever in the process, but they didn’t win their pennant. For the second year in the row, they fell short of the playoffs.

Sounds like a downer, right? Sorta, but the story makes an amazing life point that all of us can benefit from.

In the meantime, we are also graced with decent acting from Brad Pitt, whom I’ve always contended can’t act. As Beane, Pitt offers a believable, brooding, ex-baseball player whose tough exterior doesn’t always keep the tenderness inside from showing through. Interaction with his twelve-year-old daughter strums the heartstrings without being sappy. And his awkward but solid working relationship with Peter keeps us smiling.

Peter is played by usual funny-man, Jonah Hill, who impresses me here. Other faces to look for also add to the overall effect – Phillip Seymour Hoffman as the team’s manager and Robin Wright as Beane’s ex-wife.

The pace of this movie is much like sitting through nine innings of a baseball game – long stretches of hitless at-bats followed by stunning, grand slam homers. You might find that annoying, especially if you don’t enjoy a night at the old ballpark, but it works for this story. And in the end, you realize you’ve experienced something great.

The perception of winning/losing is closely examined in this true-story tale. The result enlightens and encourages. I recommend Moneyball for anyone, no matter your bent for sports or sport movies.

Happy Movie Watching, Billings!

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