Moneyball (PG-13)
Mike:
Scott:
Michael I: Ah, the fall. When moviegoers start to focus on things that really matter -- like Oscar contenders! This week, Mike and I are reviewing Moneyball starring Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill as baseball executives that try to outsmart and outmaneuver their way to the baseball's postseason.
Mike: This just might be the best movie that I have seen all year.
What did you think?
Michael I: That's a pretty big statement considering you're not an avid baseball fan!
Mike: I am not. I was when I was a kid. I was a huge Pittsburgh Pirates fan and I idolized Roberto Clemente.
Michael I: I can't say that Moneyball's my favorite, but it definitely deserves some praise.
Mike: The great thing is you don't have to be a baseball fan to appreciate this movie.
Michael I: And with Aaron Sorkin and Steven Zaillian's script, you're right.
Mike: There are favorite movies and best movies. This one ranks in the best category. For instance Star Wars is my favorite movie, but if you ask me what the best movie is, I would say Citizen Kane.
Michael I: Fair assessment.
Mike: Speaking of the writers, this script is definitely going to get recognized come awards season.
Michael I: In that case, Moneyball probably is the best that I've seen this year too.
Mike: This year my favorites include Bridesmaids, Horrible Bosses and Captain America, but this is the
first one I've seen that I thought was award worthy.
I'm sure between now and the end of the year there will be a number of movies to challenge that.
Michael I: I noticed that you're leaving out Win Win, another sports movie.
Mike: True. That was a little known movie that impressed me earlier this year.
You know, speaking of sports movies this reminded me of The Blind Side, a movie with a great script, great acting and heart.
Michael I: Brad Pitt stars as Billy Beane, the Oakland Athletic's general manager, trying his best to field a decent team with an indecent budget. When he spots Peter Brand (Hill), in a meeting, Beane becomes intrigued and decides to hire him as his assistant. Beane and Brand put together an unorthodox, mathematics-based system for player management.
Mike: You mentioned the script earlier and this one has quite a pedigree. I would watch just about anything that Aaron Sorkin writes.
Michael I: Steven Zaillian's no lightweight either. He's writen American Gangster, Gangs of New York, Schindler's List and other smart blockbusters.
Mike: This is based on a true story and not being a baseball fan, it was all new to me. Some of the suspense may be missing for people who are familiar with the story.
Michael I: I'm a Yankees fan and I usually just focus on the American League East, so the story behind the A's season passed me by, too.
Mike: Yes, Zaillian's talent is to adapt books in to great motion pictures. I am looking forward to his take on The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
There is something about baseball movies that always grabs me. I love Field of Dreams and The Natural among others. What is unique about this movie is that it is not from either the player or coaches point of view.
This is from the point of view of the head office, specifically the General Manager of the team. This sounds like it might be bad, but this is as gripping as many other sports movies before it.
Michael I: I think it shows fans a perspective that they may not have seen before, like how Jerry Maguire unveiled what sports agents have to endure (albeit in a fictional way).
Mike: Brad Pitt is very likeable as Billy Beane. Even though he is not a player, but a former player, you still want ot follow where this guy is taking us.
Michael I: And he also adds a lot to the character, which is of a player that never quite lived up to his potential. And that drive pushes his perspective of the game.
Mike: Yes, plus its interetsing to watch someone that is willing to risk trying something considered crazy and unorthodox to give himself and his team a chance at winning.
Michael I: And in sports, some people will try anything in order to win.
Mike: Yeah, but it wasn't anything shady or illegal, just novel.
The real surprise to me, though was Jonah Hill. I don't know whose idea it was to cast Jonah. On the surface it seems like a really bad idea.
I have only seen him in comedies, but he is a pleasant surprise here.
Michael I: But Jonah's got a great 'serious role' talent. He's not just that fat kid from Super Bad.
Mike: Yes, but I had not seen it before. Just think if they had tried to put Superbad's Michael Cera into this role. It wouldn't work.
Michael I: Absolutely not. Cera's not there yet in his career. But Hill has a maturity that Cera doesn't and that's what works for him in this role.
Mike: I was both surprised and glad to see it.
Michael I: All of the supporting cast was wonderful, from Robin Wright to Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Mike: Even though this movie is a drama, there are plenty of laughs. The funny thing is most of them come from Pitt, not Hill.
Michael I: And the jokes are what breaks this up and keep the audience on its toes.
Mike: The supporting cast is also rounded out by a number of actors who are familiar, but not big names. Chris Pratt and Stephen Bishop are both standouts as Oakland A players
.
Michael I: Pratt's been all over the place lately. He's usually seen on the Parks and Rec tv show and I just watched him in Take Me Home Tonight.
Mike: So, final thoughts?
Michael I: Moneyball is a solid watch. Much like The Social Network, it keeps you entertained but it doesn't leave a huge impression on me. I'm giving it 3 1/2 stars.
Mike: I don't think it will be any surprise that I give this movie a solid 4 stars. This one did leave an impression on me and I have been thinking about it all day.
