A classic Hollywood formula = All-star Actor (Brad Pitt) plus a catchy theme song (The Show, by Lenka) plus a plot where the underdog wins. That is how Hollywood plays money ball, and they play that game well. Moneyball may be formula, but it's a damn good one.
Moneyball is a formula film, so what? While the film tracks the story of Billy Beane, general manager of the Oakland Athletics, it is also about the underdog status of the team. More importantly, it is about the impact of a game-changing philosophy on the game of baseball. Billy Beane was heavily influenced by Bill James. Beane was intrigued by James' baseball statistical theory, which influenced his formula for gaining a tactical advantage with the lowest payroll in baseball.
When Beane is faced with losing three stars from his 2001 starting line-up he decides to find a new way to approach scouting. Beane was a player and scout before becoming general manager, giving his insight into the process. In discussions with his scouts, Beane finally decides to set off on a different course. This course is charted by his new assistant, Peter Brand (Jonah Hill), who was based on Beane's assistant in 2002, Paul DePodesta.
Using statistical analysis, Beane recruits an unorthodox team built around on-base percentages. He and Brand then work with the players to develop a statistical analysis of pitching to help them hone their skills at the plate using scientific method along with vision. The formula is initially rejected by team manager Art Howe (Philip Seymour Hoffman) who refuses to field the team the way Beane structured it. Beane ends up taking drastic measures to force Howe's hand, culminating in the longest winning streak in AL history. But this was not enough for Beane. His objective was simply to win the last game of the post-season, a validation of his game-changing philosophy.
To date, the Athletics still have not given Beane his championship. However, Beane still changed the game. Several other teams (including the Boston Red Sox, who offered Beane 14 million dollars per year to switch teams) adopted the philosophy. It is the philosophy Boston employed when they finally broke the "Curse of the Bambino." There are currently a half dozen MLB teams that employ statisticians as part of their drafting/scouting programs.
The story of Billy Beane and the Oakland Athletics has already been written. Oakland hasn't won a World Series since 1989. This story isn't like the Bad News Bears or Anaheim Might Ducks. While the story is about a team overcoming adversity (the lowest payroll in baseball) it is also about Billy Beane's willingness to sacrifice his career on a theory that he felt would revolutionize the game of baseball. His "moneyball" has entered the vernacular of baseball and has influenced the game. Beane has yet to win his World Series, but he has won the "end game."
Brad Pitt is an incredible actor. While I am not familiar with Beane, I would guess that Pitt spent some time with Beane to emulate some of his traits. Small things, like a protruding lower lip and penchant for sunflower seeds could easily be viewed as stereotypical, but I think it might actually reflect the real man. Maybe I am wrong on that. Either way, Pitt was rock solid in his performance...and probably in his portrayal, as well. I like Jonah Hill and enjoyed his performance as Brand. Hill had a few challenging interactions in the film which he nailed with an amazing subtlety that impressed me. I am a long time fan of Hoffman as well. It was nice to see him in a mainstream role. He was gritty and credible. The rest of the supporting cast was solid, with only one stand out performance. Kerris Dorsey as Beane's daughter Casey. She was awesome. She also performed the catchy theme song The Show with an alternate ending. The girl has a great voice and delivered a solid performance.
Moneyball has some strong language and is rated PG-13. However, I would recommend this film for any age group. There were no qualities that seemed overdone for family viewing. It is a heart-warming story with great performances, strong chemistry between Pitt and Hill, great dialogue, an intriguing twist on the underdog story and yes, a catchy tune. While Moneyball may have some formulaic underpinnings, the story is damn good. Plain and simple. My wife, who is not even a baseball fan, loved this film. So don't let the subject matter confuse you. It is a great story with baseball as the backdrop. The story development between Beane and his daughter was never fully explored, which is about the only thing that could have made this film better. 8/10.