'Moneyball' loses focus on baseball
"Moneyball" is fundamentally a baseball movie and not a movie about baseball, which is a finite yet distinct difference. The movie, which is based on a 2003 book of the same name, focuses on the Oakland Athletics baseball team in the early 2000s and their general manager, Billy Beane (played by the always magnetic Brad Pitt). Oakland is a small market baseball team with a budget millions of dollars smaller than the teams they play against.
Moneyball follows Beane as he embraces a philosophy of evaluating players that is counter-cultural to the baseball norm. Beane's right-hand man during this transition is 25-year-old Peter Brand (Jonah Hill) whose awkward social skills are eclipsed by his clear understanding of how to determine the value of a baseball player.
The movie is a tense affair, dominated by long pauses and punctuated by moments of humor. Pitt's portrayal of Beane is captivating, as he depicts a man who appears outwardly to be in control but inwardly deals with enormous conflict. Beane is haunted by the ghosts of his own failed baseball career; a career he entered after he was overvalued by traditional scouting methods.
One of the major differences between "Moneyball" and classic baseball movies is the lack of a major climax. The A's, buoyed by Beane's moves and draft picks, end up winning their division on the strength of a MLB record 20-game winning streak. The movie highlights the 20th win, a nail-biter that was won when Scott Hatteberg, a converted catcher that everyone but Beane had given up on, hits the game-winning homer.
But the win was simply a regular season game, and the Athletics are booted from the playoffs in the first round. Beane is offered a huge contract by the Boston Red Sox, a sign that at least some in baseball recognize the revolutionary power of his methods, but he turns it down to remain with Oakland. Boston goes on to win two World Series titles and Beane is still in Oakland, trying to compete in a league that has now embraced his philosophy and in doing so negated his personal effectiveness as a general manager.
Beane's ultimate triumph, changing the game of baseball, is therefore somewhat hollow, because it doesn't result in lasting success for him or his team. Moneyball does all it can to attach significance to what Beane accomplished, but it is restricted by real-life events. In the end, fiction is more interesting than non-fiction, even if the non-fiction is told very well.
Get Top Stories Delivered Weekly
Recent The East Texan News Articles
Discuss This Article
GET TOP STORIES DELIVERED WEEKLY
FOLLOW OUR NEWSPAPER
LATEST THE EAST TEXAN NEWS
- 'Expendables 2' epitomizes dumb but fun action
- 'The Bourne Legacy' disappoints with same old thrills
- Tasteless 'Total Recall' remake leaves audiences underwhelmed
- Actor chemistry saves 'The Watch' from being boring waste
- Batman goes out strong in final 'Dark Knight' film
- 'Ted' marks promising film career for McFarlane
- Stylistic choices sink 'Savages'
RECENT THE EAST TEXAN CLASSIFIEDS
OUTSIDE THE LINES
- Moving Resources For Military Families
- Historic Agreement Signed By Red Cross and Armed Forces
- Salonpas® Brand Stands the Test of Time
- Tips to “Yard Your Way” This Spring
- Upgraded Upstate Power Grid Will Deliver a Smarter,...
- A Story To Sing About
- The Gap in Gum Care: Why Caring For Your Teeth’s F...
- Top Tips for Signature Scents and Better-Smelling Laundry
- A Dog Trainer’s Top Tips to Support Pets Through Life S...
- Clear the Air of Indoor Pollutants This Spring
FROM AROUND THE WEB
- Moms Kick Back with Mamaritas
- Youth Apprenticeship Week Spotlights Opportunities
- New Expo Showcases AI Innovation
- Self-Care and Mental Health Tips for Caregivers
- Adventure Awaits: Discover the Playset that Brings...
- Need Auto Glass Repair? Don’t Despair
- Pioneering Fast and Affordable Broadband for the Underserved
- 7 Reasons Renting an RV Should Be On Every Family’s S...
- Don’t Let Diabetes Shortchange Your Golden Years
- No Child is Forgotten By Marine Toys for Tots
COLLEGE PRESS RELEASES
- Guidenar Launches New Career Test for Gen Z
- GotIt! Education Offers MathGPT Free to All State & Community Colleges
- Shoff Promotions Comic Book & Sports Card Show
- Semiconductor Research Corp unveils 2024 Research Call, $13.8M Funding
- Charles River Associates Opens Second Scholarship Cycle, Expands to the UK