5 BOROUGH SPORTS

So I just returned from seeing the film, “Moneyball” and I have to admit, this movie exceeded all of my expectations. Since practically every baseball movie in the last decade has sucked, I was a little skeptical to find out how Hollywood interpreted my all-time favorite book. I was picturing this film as a cheesy “come from behind story” with corny one-liners, unrealistic game action, and a storyline that suits the non-baseball fan. This film was the complete opposite. It portrayed baseball the way it’s supposed to be – hard-nosed and cut throat. This was a very simplistic film, and I mean that as a compliment. There were no crazy effects, flashy camera angles, bright lights, or any of that bullshit. It was just a story about a general manager who had a completely different perspective of the game. Since Beane put together a team that had the best record in the Majors with the lowest salary in baseball, he revolutionized baseball. Since the Oakland Athletics’ 2002 season, every ball club has adapted a least a part of Beane’s philosophy.

The acting was incredible. I couldn’t ever picture Brad Pitt starring in a baseball film, but he was perfect for this role. He nailed Billy Beane’s character. I’ve never been a fan of Jonah Hill as an actor, but he sold me as the role of Paul DePodesta (Beane’s right-hand man). Even though DePodesta in real life is nothing like Hill, this character worked perfectly with Pitt. Phillip Seymour Hoffman did a great job as Oakland manager Art Howe, the antagonist in the film. Even though it’s true that Art Howe wasn’t always on great terms with Beane, Howe came out publicly and complained that he was wasn’t as “villain-like” that season. Nonetheless, Hoffman and Beane’s confrontations throughout the film were fantastic.

If you’re a baseball fan, you have to see this movie. It’s unlike any sports film I’ve ever seen. Since it goes so deep in the world of baseball’s front offices, every die-hard fan will love it. I’m talking goosebumps for two straight hours. Believe me, it’s worth seeing.

This entry was posted on September 28, 2011 at 12:32 am and is filed under Shout Out of the Week. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.