A Total Bore, Even to an Avid Baseball Fan

Rating: Null/10 (23 September 2011)

First and foremost, I want everyone to know that I love baseball and I do understand the intricacies associated with the game, and the fact that the A's were competing with a payroll of 1/3rd of the Yankees is very significant. However, I found the story line to be extremely slow, and boring.
I came into this movie totally hyped up and excited about a baseball movie after way too long of a wait. I went to a matinée with only about 20 other people there to watch the movie on opening day (I know it was early but 20 is very low). Most of them seemed like avid fans as well, judging by their giggles at some of the jokes (very few) in the movie. The first thirty minutes were O.K., as it was meant to build the story line and introduce the characters. That was understandable, what was not, was the fact that the story didn't capture my attention any more throughout the the next one hour or so. I believe that the movie touched upon three players, mostly the first basemen and their transition to becoming an Athletic. I also felt that the movie focused way to much on Brad Pitt and Billy Beane, and I understand that he is the GM that revolutionized the game, but the character development really didn't reach a climax. Billy Beane had the same attitude towards baseball, and his life in general, as he did in the start. And the two hours that it took to get to that point really didn't accomplish much. I also felt that the climax of the movie was VERY rushed, it was condensed into 15 minutes that really didn't have me very interested, rather had me thinking to myself "what the hell just happened".
Overall, I believe the movie was a total let down, and even Brad Pitt's and Jonah Hill's presence isn't enough to keep baseball fans (let alone casual viewers) interested. I am going to be generous and give this film 5 stars out of 10, although I hope I could get those wasted two hours back of my life, to do something meaningful, like watching "Major League".