a different kind of sports movie

Rating: 7/10 (20 April 2012)

Going in, I knew this wasn't the typical sports movie, and I thought I probably wouldn't like it that much, but it turned out to be a good movie and a neat idea. Instead of focusing on the baseball team, the film focuses on those that build the team, specifically the GM, Billy Beane, played by Brad Pitt. It's one of Pitt's better roles.
Beane enlists the aid of Ivy League graduate, Peter Brand, in picking ball players. There budget is small compared to other teams, so they look for players that are good at getting on base, and other teams undervalue, ie...won't have to pay them much. Through using a whole new idea to build a team, they are eventually proved successful.
I'm surprised this movie didn't win the Oscar for screenplay, It deserved it. As for the acting, it was OK, but I didn't think Pitt or Hill were anything special and really didn't deserve any nominations. Especially Hill, whose role is to play a nerdy, computer geek, with hardly any emotion and a monotone voice. I don't think that says Oscar.
FINAL VERDICT: A new type of sports movie. Definitely check it out.