Amazon Holiday

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Moneyball


Q: What’s the movie about?

A: The true story of how the General Manager of the Oakland A's, Billy Beane (Brad Pitt), took average players with nearly invisible gifts to create a record breaking team, and in so doing, revolutionized the game of baseball... Even though Peter Brand (Jonah Hill) really did all the work.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Robin Wright, Chris Pratt, Stephen Bishop, Casey Bond, Nick Porrazzo, Reed Thompson, Kerris Dorsey

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: PhotobucketGo! Yay for sports movies! You just can't go wrong.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Yes, and it will also make you want to play fantasy baseball-- even if you don't like baseball. Here's a good place to start: Razzball Fantasy Baseball site

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: No, but it did make me a little nauseous to see the amount of food Brad Pitt shoves down his throat in every scene, for no apparent reason. (Does that really count as a character trait?)

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: This is this year's Facebook movie.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Sometimes we forget that Brad Pitt actually has a skill for which he's famous. This movie is here to remind us. And Jonah Hill is charming, despite being in the body of Jonah Hill.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: The integration of real life documentary footage with actors playing real life people is subtle, and nicely done. And while the flashbacks do a good job of helping us understand Billy Beane's inner motivation, they are heavy-handed, and we all remember what Brad Pitt looked like at 18, and it wasn't Reed Thompson... And one more thing, can somebody tell me why Brad Pitt wears a wedding ring in the movie, even though he's clearly been divorced for quite some time?

Q: How is the story/script?

A: Most of the time it's interesting and clever and engaging... and then there are the scenes where he hangs out with his daughter, which seem like they're in the script because some executive read a book called, "To Make a Character Likeable, He has to Have a Child," and which bring the movie to a full stop every time they appear.

Q: Is there anything else worth mentioning about the movie?

A: The score noticeably drives the emotions in ways that are sometimes meant to throw you off, and add some nice suspense within the highly predictable sports movie format. And speaking of music, the song Brad Pitt's 12-year-old daughter (Kerris Dorsey) makes up and beautifully sings to him, is a definite radio hit that proves that America really does Got Talent!

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: Moneyball Trailer

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4 comments:

Annette said...

Saw it last night. Disappointing. It just didn't have the heart I hoped it would. The emotion was flat. It says something when I can make it through an entire movie without crying once.

Anonymous said...

Interestingly, I heard the real Billy Bean is gay. interesting that the movie omitted that...

Anonymous said...

Just saw the movie. Loved it! Never been a huge Brad Pitt fan but he is great in this movie. The acting is great, the directing is great and it is a great story. It is definitely worth admission price.
I also noticed Brad Pitt was wearing a wedding ring in the movie and wondered about this myself - as his character is supposed to be divorced and his ex wife is remarried.

PS Hoffman was fantastic as was Jonah Hill. Wish we had seen more of Robin Wright.

ArtsBeatLA said...

I agree with Annette! Disappointing movie.

Lots of guys keep wearing their wedding ring after they are divorced. I don't think that was a fuck-up as Pitt doesn't wear a wedding ring in daily life.