Brad Pitt delivered a moving Oscar caliber performance in 2011’s Moneyball.
Based on Michael Lewis’ best-selling book that provides an account of the Oakland Athletics’ 2002 season, the film details the strategy implored by the team’s general manager Billy Beane (Pitt) and assistant GM Peter Brand (Hill) to redevelop the way a Major League Baseball team is constructed both financially and philosophically.
With support from the late, great Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Chris Pratt, and more, Moneyball transcends the typical triumphant underdog sports film. By investing in character development and strategy developed off the diamond, the film embraces the stoic, reserved nature of Pitt’s character. Beane took pride in embracing new, pragmatic ways of thinking in a room full of naysayers and traditional baseball purists. “We’ve got to think differently,” Beane insisted as he knocked at a table surrounded by lifelong scouts.
In Pitt’s performance, his calm in the face of enormous risk spoke louder than a ferocious loudmouth ever could. Beane and Brand systematically built a game-winning team off of statistics and budget, rather than investing the entire franchise’s finances into players who were flashy, self-centered, or individually successful. As Beane explains to his team, the two acted as card counters who were ready to get back at the casino — or teams with astronomical budgets and star power. And perhaps the funnest quirks of Pitt’s character, he didn’t ever watch the games. Moneyball isn’t just a sports movie, it’s a great movie. It was nominated for six Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Actor in a Supporting Role.
