Chix Chat on Film review: Moneyball, the mathematics of baseball.

Rating: Null/10 (25 September 2011)

There have been so many films dedicated to Baseball that they are too numerous to count, but this has to be the first that I have ever seen that was based on the mathematics of the game. I tend to get a little bit bored with stories that are based on true events and I did yawn at one point during this film, but overall it was such a fresh take on how desperate times call for desperate measures that I quickly perked up. Watching the on screen wheeling and dealings of Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) as the Oakland A's general manager was very educational if not a bit disconcerting. The players are basically treated like livestock, which just made me a little sad. Jonah Hill (Peter Brand) consistently proves himself as an amazing actor, it doesn't matter if it is comedy, drama or animation he just transforms. I have repeatedly watched Megamind with my grandson recently, so immediately I thought of Metroman and Titan together again! I place this film right up there with the timeless A League of Their Own since it is based on true events. This was one of the best baseball stories that I have seen played out. The human element of this story with the autobiographical content of who Billy Beane is was interesting and entertaining. I couldn't help but to relate to Billy Beane, as I too made a decision based on money and opted to enter the workforce directly out of High School rather than entering college, the decision played out well for him and I have to admit that for me I have no complaints. The relationship with Billy and his daughter Casey (Kerris Dorsey) was so heartwarming that it was obvious what or better yet who motivated his future decisions, but aside from that it seemed that all other elements of his life were centered around baseball, that aspect of his existence I could not relate to at all. I did have a lot of respect for Billy in how he dealt with Art Howe (Philip Seymour Hoffman), I just don't know if I could have been so patient. You cannot institute a paradigm change without having your core team (no pun intended) on-board.
I caught this film on the same day that my very own Texas Rangers won the AL West Division, so in my opinion this was an awesome day for baseball, I have to give it a green light. - Emma Dinkins