‘Moneyball’ hits a homerun

Recently in the shadow of the San Francisco Giants’ World Series win, the Oakland A’s make for an entertaining and heart-warming story in Bennett Miller’s film “Moneyball.”

Based on a true story, “Moneyball” tells the success story of the underfunded 2002 A’s team and its general manager, Billy Beane (Brad Pitt), with brilliant cinematography and complex characters.

After just missing a World Series title, the  top A’s players were traded to higher-paying teams, leaving Beane stranded with few competent players and even fewer who were willing to play for a fraction of what other teams can afford to pay.

However, once Beane recruits economist Peter Brand (Jonah Hill), who drafts a team based solely on statistics and calculations, the team’s performance sees incredible improvement.

The story of Beane and Brand alone is enough for a great movie. But “Moneyball” tops expectations with complex characters, fabulous cinematography and a fresh take on a sports film.

Brad Pitt is perfectly cast as the intricate character of Beane, both likeable and not.

Until the viewer sees Beane with his daughter, he is strikingly rude and pathetic. Yet, once Beane visits his daughter, there is sympathy towards him and the viewer gets the sense that it is unfortunate circumstances that make him so bitter.

Similarily, the harsh way that his superiors treat Brand brews a sense of pity.

Together, these characters make a team of pathetic underdogs and the whole audience anxiously anticipates their comeback.

But with half of the film being comprised of baseball game scenes, this anticipation builds into a tense suspense. And while one might think that watching games over and over may not make for an entertaining 133 minutes, with the help of some unconventional tactics, including simple silence, “Moneyball” is consistently entertaining.

A must-see film, “Moneyball” satisfies the audience with sports action, deep character relationships and an incredible story about the A’s.