The true story of Oakland A's manager Billy Beane, who managed
to craft a winning team on a budget using statistical analysis. BIOPIC/DRAMA/SPORT
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Moneyball (2011)Directed by Bennett Miller
Written by Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin Starring Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Chris Pratt, Robin Wright, Stephen Bishop, Ken Medlock, Kerris Dorsey Based on the book Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game by Michael Lewis Oscar Nominations - Best Picture, Best Actor (Brad Pitt), Best Supporting Actor (Jonah Hill), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Film Editing, Best Sound Mixing |
I should probably start out this review by saying that I don't give a rat's ass about baseball, or any sport for that matter. That being said, sports movies tend to be wasted on me. I don't usually get invested, nor do I understand what's going on half the time. Moneyball is a rare gem that had me engaged within five minutes, and kept my interest so much throughout that I actually started to finally understand baseball. This movie is phenomenal, and the story it tells is inspiring to anyone who dares to go against the status quo and fight for their convictions.
Brad Pitt plays Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane, who used statistics, economics, and game theory to craft a winning team on a shoestring budget. He was laughed at by his peers and considered a joke at the end of his run by everyone else. Until his team started winning. And then they kept winning. Soon after, Beane's model became standard use in baseball, and it led to the Red Sox winning the World Series for the first time since 1918. Pitt and Hill both do an incredible job, as does PSH as an over-the-hill, stubborn coach. It's cool to see the theory in action, and the tension is through the roof as you start to wonder if this algorithm really works. Moneyball is easily the best baseball drama I've ever seen and just may propel me to check out more of them. It's not just a baseball movie. It's a drama about a figure in sports, Billy Beane, who changed the game forever by thinking outside the box. He believed in his way when everybody told him he was crazy, and now he's got Brad Pitt playing him in a movie. If there's anyone reading this who is like me, who hates sports, I urge you to watch this movie regardless. You will be pleasantly surprised. |