“Moneyball” is a data baseball story with a script that feels like “Fitzgerald literature”

Moneyball Synopsis

Billy Beane became the general manager of the Athletics at a young age in the major leagues. The team was struggling with a lack of manpower due to financial difficulties. Billy found a way to help the poor team win by focusing on data, and despite the opposition of those around him, he put into practice a strategy that would later be called the "Moneyball Theory." Billy's firm beliefs and courage to take on challenges led to miracles that no one could have predicted.

Index

• "Golden Movie"
• Cinematographer Wally Pfister's shots of the stadium
• Bringing Sabermetrics to Baseball
• Billy Beane's baseball career
• A script that sounds like "Fitzgerald literature"

"Golden Movie"

Every once in a while, you come across a film that you might call a "golden film." The various elements that make up the film all work in a positive way, each with a synergistic effect, making the whole film seem to shine... Moneyball, released in 2011, seems to be one of those rare films.

This film, "Moneyball," is based on the non-fiction book " Moneyball: The Man Who Built a Miracle Team ," and depicts the general manager (GM) of the major league baseball team, the Oakland Athletics, who uses groundbreaking methods to turn around a team in poor financial situation and lead it to a winning streak.

Moneyball (c) Photofest / Getty Images

If you hear such a simple explanation, you might think that it is a cold and impersonal book like a non-fiction business book. Or, some people might think that they cannot enjoy it unless they are interested in baseball or business management. However, this film is filled with the charm that only a feature film can have, and it is sublimated into a story that deals with very universal issues surrounding human drama and life choices.

Brad Pitt plays Billy Beane, a real-life GM of the Oakland Athletics. The GM's role in American professional sports is enormous, and they can make decisions at their own discretion, such as negotiating trades and acquiring new players, as long as it is within the budget. It is GMs like him who essentially create and run the team.

Cinematographer Wally Pfister's shots of the stadium