Moneyball

The title, "Moneyball" sounds like an description of the current state of sports in general. Instead it is the new movie starring Brad Pitt that tells the story of the 2002 season of the Oakland Athletics baseball team. This true story is of how a small market low paying team was able to compete with the likes of the Yankees who had the money to buy any player they chose. It is amazing and well done. When actors perform so that you forget it is not actually happening, you are watching a great story unfold. You don't have to be a baseball fan to like this flick. It has very good dialogue and reminds you of "The Social Network".

The director added in some small scenes of family, alone moments, and other little touches that made it real to me. Preparing a bowl of ice cream for his daughter, the Brad Pitt character, Billy, asks, "Big spoon or little spoon?" A simple moment of Reality.

It is several stories: Tradition versus New Ideas; Little Guy versus Big Machine; Courage of conviction versus popular thought. The stuff dreams are made of.

When a sports movie can make the cover of "Sports Illustrated", You've got something!

I give it ***1/2 stars. 2011 Movie #46