Based on Michael Lewis’ nonfiction best seller of the same name, Moneyball centers around the Oakland Athletics baseball team during the 2001 season. An underachiever during his playing days, Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) is now the A’s General Manager. Entering the new season, the team is expected to disappoint, given their limited budget compared to big market teams like the Yankees, Red Sox, and Dodgers. The A’s simply can’t afford to pay the big salaries required to attract star players. Their best players—including Johnny Damon and Jason Giambi—are routinely pilfered by other teams.
While trying to negotiate a trade, Beane encounters Peter Brand (Jonah Hill). Young, and Yale educated with a degree in economics, Brand doesn’t know a lot about baseball, but he understands numbers. Brand has a theory that the principles of economics can be applied to the game. Intrigued, Beane hires him immediately. They use statistical analysis to build an inexpensive team of quality players. Much of Beane’s staff despair, including the owner, talent scouts, and veteran manager Art Howe (Philip Seymour Hoffman) who refuses to play the game the way it’s being suggested to him, resulting in the expected failure. With that, Beane forces his hand…
While Michael Lewis’ book is a fascinating look behind the scenes of professional baseball, to make the film work, much of what made the book worth reading has been removed. We get bits of the ‘Moneyball’ philosophy here and there, but it’s been significantly watered down. On the plus side, you can watch Moneyball even if you have no interest in baseball. This is really a story about resisting change. The A’s would rather lose in the same old way, than win in a new one. Fear of the unknown is a powerful emotion.
Originally written by Steven Zaillian, Aaron Sorkin agreed to do a script rewrite only if Zaillian kept his credit. This helps to explain the lack of sparkling dialogue that is a Sorkin trademark. Steven Zaillian is a fine writer (his credits include Schindler’s List and Gangs of New York) just a noticeably different from the usual vigor Sorkin brings to his work.
Brad Pitt is perfectly cast as Billy Beane. He has the kind of intensity that makes you believe he will do whatever it takes to win. Some of the films’ best moments have him wheeling and dealing—trading players, creating tension among managers—steadfastly working to make his team a winner. Jonah Hill is excellent too; a nerdy guy, nonetheless, sure of himself when it comes to implementing his theory. Director Bennett Miller (Capote) keeps the story moving, the characters constantly in motion. It’s no small feat to keep the audience engaged in a movie about statistics, but Miller does an admirable job.
Presented in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio, Sony’s recent 4K release of Moneyball is excellent. Reportedly approved by director Bennett Miller, this is the films third release on 4K. Never having seen the first two, I can’t compare them. This one offers realistic detail throughout, and a wonderful sense of depth. Film grain looks natural, and the HDR shines. Skin tones look lifelike and contrast is strong. Colors are vibrant throughout, and blacks are appropriately inky. The image is clean, free of any kind of scratches or other debris. Fans of the film should be very pleased with this transfer.
The DTS-HD MA 5.1 mix is notably dynamic and serves this dialogue heavy film very well. Dialogue exchanges are clean, clear, and concise throughout. occasional activity such as scenes in the locker room, offer appropriate surround sound. There are no hisses, crackles, or other anomalies apparent.
English, French, and Spanish subtitles are available.
The following extras are included, all of which have been previously released:
- Deleted Scenes (HD, 12:05)
- Brad Loses it Bloopers (HD, 3:11)
- Billy Beane: Re-inventing the Game (HD, 16:02)
- Drafting the Team (20:51)
- Moneyball: Playing the Game (HD, 19:28)
- Adapting Moneyball (HD, 16:33)
- Theatrical Trailer
