Moneyball

[Steve Williams]

I didn't see this film in the theaters but did last night On Demand as it seems to be in the top 10 of most reviewers for 2011. I must say that I really enjoyed it.

The story of Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane's successful attempt in 2002 to put together an Oakland A's baseball club on a budget by employing computer-generated analysis to draft his players.

Brad Pitt plays Billy Bean and Jonah Hill (yeah him from Super Bad) plays the young genius Peter Brand who was the brains behind the computer generated analyses of all the players

I am not a big Brad Pitt fan but I can say that he played a very believable role. All in all the movie was enjoyable and worth seeing.

Philip Seymour Hoffman plays Art Howe. Robin Wright (Penn) plays Sharon, Beane's ex wife in a smaller role.

Definitely worth seeing but not in my top 5 this year

 

[LenWhite]

Also watched and enjoyed this film on DVD. I thought Brad Pitt was very believable and warranted his nomination for Golden Globe Best Actor although George Clooney's Descendants won that award. I remember reading about Billy Beane exploits as the A's GM and the film amplified that great story for me.

 

[Steve Williams]

For me, it was Brad Pitt's best role (although I still have to watch Tree of Life where he is also getting acclaim)

 

[jazdoc]

Much like another Michael Lewis sports book "The Blind Side", a great adaptation of a book that I thought would be difficult to bring to the big screen. I enjoyed it more than anticipated.

 

[Steve Williams]

I guess it's a "guy flick" and with all of us knowing that baseball era, it seemed very real to me

 

[Bruce B]

I really liked it.

The thing that struck me odd was the character "Peter Brand" was actually made up. The real person, Paul DePodesta, didn't approve of his portrayal in the movie.

 

[Soundproof]

Hook, line and sinker. Watched it on Apple TV, and a good measure of whether a movie's engaging is whether I pause it. I didn't, was too absorbed.
Loved the story - an improbable subject showed there are good movies to be found in the unlikeliest of places.