Moneyball - A Great Movie with Brad Pitt

I had heard about Moneyball when some people were talking about it Facebook recently. I looked it up and thought....ahh another baseball movie? I am not a huge fan of baseball, though I do enjoy the occasional game and even saw the Cardinals win recently in Saint Louis. Still...movies about baseball don't or haven't really thrilled me.

So...I was having not the best week, and going to a movie sounded like a great getaway, a time to escape. I had a couple hours on my day off, so off I went to see Moneyball. The thing that intrigued me the most, is that it was based on a true story. It was the only thing starting when I had time to go as well, plus a matinee. So I was off!

The story of Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane's successful attempt to put together a baseball club on a budget by employing computer-generated analysis to draft his players.

In short, its the story of the Oakland A's team, Oakland Athletics to be exact. It is a movie of the story of Billy Beane's amazing story of how he put together a "baseball club" on a very very very low budget. It was a story that grew really out of an impossibility, or desperation. The key to its success, very much scoffed at, was this interesting computer generated method of coming up with a great team. A team of players that "could get on base", even with other rather quirky problems that other drafters may not see. You know, the ones you could get with a low budget, but that together with others could score some wins.

Not so different from today, this story is about a man with nothing really to lose, (except going all the way to rock bottom). He is already divorced and his daughter, who he loves more than anything is very worried for her dad. He tells her not to worry, he has it under control.

I loved the real life aspect, of how he tries and tries and even appears to be failing quite a bit for a good amount of time. There are some really funny parts, cute parts, bold scenes where you wonder, "what in the world?"

I also loved the cast! How very much fun was it to see Robin Wright again, I always wondered where she went after Forest Gump! Her role was rather small, but I enjoyed seeing her again. Brad Pitt did a great job in his role as Billy Beane. Jonah HIll was great fun, wow what a fun actor that you can't help but like right away. That is how it is for me anyway. Absolutely perfect for the role. Brent Jennings was fun to see too, I really like that guy. He was perfect for the small part he played. Wish I could mention them all, it was a truly great cast.

Philip Seymour Hoffman played Art Howe. I hadn't really seen him since Twister, and it was a joy to see him again as well, like Robin Wright. He really is an amazing actor, I don't know if I could be more impressed with his acting.

Chris Pratt was a joy to see in the film as well. I love him on TV, and he was perfect here as Scott Hatteberg. All these actors and actresses were so awesome, because they didn't seem to be really trying to impress but just doing the best acting they could do. Never did I get that feeling, like "wow, they are definitely trying to act..." It just came natural, and you never want to think about it. The little girl was cute too, and the song was perfect for her dad.

Most touching and kind of heartbreaking, but so true to how life can be sometimes, is the inner struggles Billy Beane has. You just want to tell him it will be ok, and to enjoy what he has done, and being a success! Lots of life lessons here, and its all very touching and fun at the same time. The realness of it, the sometimes sad parts, and the chills it gave me along with a big smiles near the end were something I couldn't make up.

I thoroughly enjoyed Moneyball. Thanks to Steven Zaillian, Aaron Sorkin, Stan Chervin, and Michael Lewis for their parts in the creation of the movie as writers. The original book by Michael Lewis is "Moneyball - The Art of Winning an Unfair Game." The Director did great too in my opinion, Bennett Miller. I would highly recommend this movie, its a joy to watch. Its about doing one's best, and beating the odds even when all looks bleak. I love movies and stories like that.