[EyeSore] Moneyball Review

[Moneyball]

   "Moneyball" being nominated for Best Picture this year came as a surprise to me. Not that there is anything wrong with the film, it is actually really good. It's just that nothing really separates “Moneyball” from the many, feel good sports movies before it, and no part of this film makes it worthy of the honor bestowed prior Oscar nominated sports films, such as "Field of Dreams".

   Brad Pitt plays the General Manager of a failing baseball team The Oakland Athletics. Having just lost the World Series, his team begins being sold off, forcing him to rebuild. The film then transitions into your standard sports movie formula. Brad Pitt hires Jonah Hill to be his creative force behind hiring a rag-tag team of nobodies ala “D2: Mighty Ducks” to create a World Series worthy team.

   Speaking of Jonah Hill, he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for this film. Thank goodness he did not win. Jonah Hill was just being Jonah Hill, not a scene went by where I was unaware Superbad was on screen. How this nomination happened was beyond me. -1

   “Moneyball” should be commended for it's ability to take the occasionally dull sport of baseball, and turn it into something truly interesting. Not only by making the sport itself interesting, but by making the 'behind-the-scenes' business side equally as fascinating. In fact the majority of the film puts a magnifying glass on this aspect of baseball, and props to Brad Pitt for being able to make it seem suspenseful as the games themselves.

   Near the end of the film, things take a turn for the worst. Without spoiling the results, the World Series does not end the film. Nor do we as viewers get to even see it. They simply tell you the results via a short voice over, followed by 15 minutes of worthless scenes telling the future of Brad Pitt's character. A part usually reserved for fading words during the ending credits. This ending may not have been as big a problem had the audience been able to see the World Series. After watching the team win 20 games in a row, the viewers are entitled to see how their story ends, and this early promise is just not delivered. -1

“Moneyball” Gets an 8 out of 10.