Moneyball

Moneyball

Everybody loves a good story of the underdog who comes from behind to win. Moneyball was a big hit at the recent Toronto International Film Festival. Brad Pitt is always a big draw. In my opinion it is the story and the telling of the story that makes this a big hit. I personally think that any number of actors could have played the part of Billy Beane. For my part he smirks too much and I found it hard to take him seriously.
Billy Beane was the general manager of the Oakland baseball team. They were losing badly and a new strategy was required.
Beane hires Peter Brand as his assistant. He is an overweight quiet, expressionless worker with no experience. Brand was an expert in statistics and told Beane that in order to start winning they had to take new approach. They started hiring new players based on statistics. They bought players for much smaller sums than their competitors. Most were unknowns but showed promise in getting to the bases.
At first things got worse and Beane felt his job was on the line. Intermingled with the baseball story we see Bean’s relationship with his charming young daughter. He only sees her on occasion as she lives with his divorced wife. The child writes a song and sings it to him. This seems to be his inspiration to make changes and forge ahead.
Of course the audience is all on the Oakland side when they began to win games. This is a good story and it is also true. I did like the fact that we are told at the end what happens to Billy Beane’s career.
There is a lot of baseball in the film. Underlying it all is the powerful story of achievement and the psychology behind it all.