Moneyball (2011)

Starring:
Brad Pitt - Billy Beane

Jonah Hill - Peter Brand

Philip Seymour Hoffman - Art Howe

Chris Pratt - Scott Hatteberg

Stephen Bishop - David Justice

Brent Jennings - Ron Washington

Casey Bond - Chad Bradford

Robin Wright - Sharon

Synopsis: 

Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane's successful attempt to put together a baseball club on a budget by employing computer-generated analysis to acquire new players.

Review:

This year was the first year in about 14 years that I hadn't seen all of more most of the movies nominated for the academy award for best picture (I only saw Moneyball & Tree Of Life). However this was easily my favourite movie of the whole year. Not only because I am a baseball fan, or a Brad Pitt fan but because the story brings to the screen the love & passion a man can bring to his job & team in an attempt to win a world series & to compete with the high spending clubs in Major League Baseball. The movie also shows the hardships faced by sports prospects who's life is constantly in a struggle to make the right decisions about there future at such a young age. I thought Pitt & Hill had amazing on screen chemistry even though when I heard that they were in this film together I had serious doubts about it. Especially because you have Hill playing a character out of his usual element. But not only did he deliver in a role that required him to be the voice of reason to Beane's choices with the team, but it also earned him a nomination for best supporting actor. I also had my doubts about how this film would be received by critics & audiences who weren't baseball fans because the movie deals a lot with specific baseballs stats (on base percentage, pitch selection, ect.) However the movie gives people the story that we all love, the underdog raising to the challenges of the world & warming our hearts. The only thing that I didn't think was a pivotal sub-plot storyline was the scene's involving Beane's daughter. It didn't really give too much to the film other than showing his relationship with his daughter but also the fact that it was only 3 smaller scenes that almost seemed like they were out of place in the film. The movie shows a little bit of the behind the scenes look at how general managers make deals & they way that they have to deal with locker room problems (Jeremy Giambi) & how they inform players they have been traded, something that I have always been interested in. If you have doubts about seeing this film, you shouldn't. It is amazing!! The soundtrack is also quite amazing. There is a scene towards the end of the film that has amazing sounds & effects. (another academy award nomination). SEE THIS FILM!

S.P.R.: A+/49

Acting: 10/10

Plot: 9/10

Cinematography: 10/10

Extra: 10/10