There's more to it than "Show me the money!"

Rating: 10/10 (27 November 2011)

Many of my regular readers occasionally have complained that a lot of the reviews I write are somewhat negative. I try to explain that most of the films I express an opinion about have gathered just a dozen comments (or less) from other people. I feel it is a greater contribution to the knowledge database of humankind to provide the 16th slant on PAINTBALL (4 out of 10) compared to the 99th critique of MONEYBALL (10 of 10). Apparently there are quite a few people who do not care to see movies meriting just 1, 2, 3, or 4 stars of 10, let alone write about them. However, I will make an exception in the case of MONEYBALL, a movie guaranteed to send shivers up the spine of anyone who ever played organized baseball, softball, or other-ball on a ball diamond as a youth. Unlike THE NATURAL (where Robert Redford wields his "Wonder Boy" bat to a few musical notes still heard each season in nearly every major league park, and more than a few minor league ones), MONEYBALL is based on the true history of former Detroit Tiger Billy Beane. There is a brick in front of Comerica Park in Detroit which reads "Billy Beane, OF, 1988." Everyone remembers 1988 was the season after the Tigers lost to the Twins in the ALCS, but led their division by about a 100 games before going a million-game losing streak. Well, in 2002 Billy Beane general managed the Oakland A's to a 21st Century record 20-game winning streak, against all odds. (Meanwhile, the Tigers had passed on hiring Beane to head their think tank, choosing instead the folks who would enable an American League record 119-loss season in 2003.) The only way MONEYBALL could be more perfect would be to subtitle it "Cry of the Tigers."