A Film About Baseball That Easily Transcends Its Game

Rating: Null/10 (2 July 2015)

A film about baseball that effortlessly transcends its game, an interesting study of the clash between the conventional & new approach, and a highly polished drama that packs in a lot of heart, soul & inspiration, Moneyball is a fabulously crafted, expertly narrated & brilliantly performed picture that enters the film arena as an underdog but leaves everyone surprised by the time it finishes, much like its subject matter.
Based on actual events, the story of Moneyball follows Billy Beane; the general manager of Oakland Athletics who's given a low-budget team to prepare for the upcoming season. Very disappointed with the limited payroll, he hires a new assistant and decides to put his radical theory to test when it comes to scouting & analysing players, eventually putting together a team of undervalued players who later go on to script history.
Co-written by Steven Zaillian & Aaron Sorkin, and directed by Bennett Miller, Moneyball is a big shot of inspiration that hits many home-runs over the course of its runtime and features Brad Pitt in one of his strongest roles. The screenplay is a pure gem and Miller does a terrific job in transitioning it on the silver screen for his direction here brims with confidence and he approaches the story with a clear vision of what the film needs to be.
The technical aspects are firmly executed under the director's supervision. Set pieces are finely detailed, shooting locations carry an authentic feel, Cinematography makes excellent use of its camera to capture all the action on & off the field, and also gives it a grassy visual flair, Editing keeps the plot real tight & gripping and provides a favourable pace to the whole narrative, while Michael Danna's score makes its presence felt only when it's required.
Coming to the acting department, Moneyball features a reliable cast in Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill & Phillip Seymour-Hoffman, and all of them chip in with commendable performances. Pitt is the real star here for he commands the screen with full authority and performs his duties with finesse. Hill also delivers a strong supporting work as assistant GM while Hoffman is at his usual best and the chemistry these three actors share with each other lifts the story up by a great deal.
On an overall scale, Moneyball is one of the best films of its year & amongst the finest examples of its genre that benefits most from its impeccable writing & solid direction. The rejection of unorthodox ideas, the errors in management style, the continued use of outdated methods & favouring polished pebbles over diamonds are few of the elements that goes beyond the arena of baseball and Moneyball makes these points heard loud & clear without preaching it. An intensely captivating & thoroughly entertaining experience, Moneyball comes highly recommended.