Why "Moneyball" is a Must-See for Sports AND Movie Fans!

by Lewis Robinson

It’s very rare for a sports movie to be a commercial and critical success. These types of films are often looked down upon as lesser quality, formulaic pictures aimed to appeal only to sports fans. Even some of the best are financial failures at first, only to gain traction on home video or repeated showings on cable TV. 

One of the largest exceptions to this rule is the 2011 baseball film that became an instant classic, “Moneyball.” “Moneyball” contained the perfect combination of elements to appeal to a broad audience and gain raves from critics. Let’s look at how this happened.

The Story

“Moneyball” is based on a 2003 novel by Michael Lewis that chronicles the Oakland A’s 2002 season. A struggling ball club with a limited budget taps their revenue operations to use statistical analysis to make the best possible trades for undervalued players, allowing them to ascend through the MLB. That may not sound exciting, but the magic of both the “Moneyball” novel and the “Moneyball" movie is that the story is told in such a way that the audience is never lost, compelled by the characters, and rooting for the team.

The Performances

Speaking of “Moneyball’s” characters, the film is anchored by top-of-game performances from some of Hollywood’s biggest actors. The legendary Brad Pitt stars as Oakland A’s general manager Billy Beane. His understated yet charismatic performance as Beane immediately puts the audience in his corner, and rightfully earned Pitt many accolades, most notably an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role.

In addition, Jonah Hill, who at the time was best known for great yet bawdy comedic turns in “Knocked Up” and “Superbad” delivers a career-changing performance as Peter Brand, the mathematical wizard behind the A’s statistical approach to finding the best players to acquire. In the decade since, we’ve seen Hill’s range demonstrated many times, but in 2011, this performance helped him break out of the box that many critics placed him in. It also earned him his first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

The cast is rounded out by other big names including Robin Wright and a pre-Jurassic World Chris Pratt. The standout of the rest of the ensemble, however, is Philip Seymour Hoffman in one of his later roles before his untimely and unfortunate passing. Hoffman elevated every project he was a part of with his masterly approach to any sort of material. His performance of A’s manager Art Howe is no exception.

The Screenplay

“Moneyball” was blessed with great source material both from the real-world story and its novelization. Its screenplay, however, really makes it sing, which should be no surprise as the final version came from master wordsmith Aaron Sorkin. Sorkin, known for the sharp banter of “The West Wing” and “A Few Good Man,” expertly distills the novel and the somewhat dense subject matter of statistics into a compelling and enjoyable movie.

The Filmmaking

All these elements were superbly overseen by director Bennett Miller. Miller’s breakthrough film was 2005’s “Capote,” which featured Hoffman in his only Oscar-winning role. Miller also directed several acclaimed music videos in the early 2000s. His approach is realistic and relies on solid filmmaking rather than flashy style. Miller employed the great cinematographer Wally Pfister to create a vivid and classy visual style not usually seen in sports movies. A director’s job is to manage every aspect of a film including tone and pacing. With “Moneyball,” Bennet Miller proved his ability to stand with some of the best in the field.

The Response

“Moneyball” earned over $75 million in the domestic U.S. box office and over $110 million worldwide. It has a 94% rating on critics’ site Rotten Tomatoes. It ultimately earned six Academy Award nominations: In addition to acting nods for Pitt and Hill, Sorkin’s script was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay, and the film was nominated for sound mixing and editing. Perhaps most impressive, “Moneyball” was nominated for Best Picture, a rare feat for a sports film.

“Moneyball’s” legacy has only grown since its release. It’s a must-see movie for lovers of baseball, with great acting, compelling writing, and skillfully understated filmmaking.