Moneyball Movie

[Schlitz001]

This trailer for the new Moneyball movie just came out. It seems to already be getting a lot of criticism, but I'm looking forward to it. I love a good baseball movie. The release date is September 23rd.

[bjkrautk]

Surprised by the number of people I didn't actually know were going to be in this film....most notably the actor playing Scott Hatteburg & the team owner.

[RyDogg66]

I can see how a movie could be criticized by a 2:30 minute trailer....

 

I cant wait to see this movie, it has been a long time since there was a good baseball movie.

[Bankjob]

I loved the book and am way excited for the movie. Anyone criticizing a movie trailer needs to get a life.

[PrinceEatMeat]

Yeah, I think this will be a good movie, with good acting. I'm definitely looking forward to it. Loved the book.

[owbc]

I'm not going to judge a movie by its trailer, but this one was...uninspiring. Enjoyed the book but will wait to hear how the movie is before going.

[RockCoCougars]

This looks like one of those ESPN produced movies, only starring Brad Pitt instead of some has-been. I can't see a film like this doing well in the theaters, because it doesn't appeal to a wide audience like a comedy or action film would- or even a 'chick flick'.

 

My only question is who did they get to play Ken Macha (or is he pre-Moneyball)? I don't think Art Howe will be flattered by his portrayal.

[Funketown]

This looks like one of those ESPN produced movies, only starring Brad Pitt instead of some has-been. I can't see a film like this doing well in the theaters, because it doesn't appeal to a wide audience like a comedy or action film would- or even a 'chick flick'.

 

My only question is who did they get to play Ken Macha (or is he pre-Moneyball)? I don't think Art Howe will be flattered by his portrayal.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/21/28746150_c762dc8a1c.jpg

[EdgarDiazRocks]

I just called up the IMDB page to see who was playing Sandy Alderson, and the answer is no one. Much like Eric Walker, we now are apparently pretending HE doesn't exist either.

[jerichoholicninja]

I thought the idea was terrible but the trailer sold me on it. It looks good and Andy from Parks and Rec playing Scott Hatteberg will make it an all time classic.

[Oldcity]

Hopefully it will be good. It's kind of lame that Paul DePodesta convinced them not to use his name.

[brewers19]

Aaron Sorkin can do no wrong in my mind. This movie is going to be great.

[Invader3K]

I thought the trailer looked pretty good. I will go see it when it comes out.

[tyguy20204]

It looks fairly amusing, although I also spotted a few cringe-inducing scenes in that trailer. Most glaringly, the scene in which Pitt whips a chair dramatically (in slow-motion?) down a hallway. We'll see. And I would refute those who say that Sorkin can do no wrong. Often times his shows/movies walk the dangerous line of being didactic/preachy and sometimes he falls down on the wrong side of that line. I would also have more confidence if an auteur like David Fincher were directing the movie, rather than Bennett Miller, who directed Capote. Which, in my opinion, was incredibly overrated.

I also wonder what this movie is going to be about. Yes, Beane helped to usher in a new era of baseball analysis, but ultimately his teams never succeeded in the playoffs. Saber-folks will say that playoffs are just a random crap-shoot. They will also say that the A's failure to win a championship does little to nullify the method used by the organization to achieve their regular-season success. Both statements can definitely be argued.

Yet the point still stands that the A's never won a championship, which is, of course, the entire point of this whole baseball thing. And as far as a movie narrative goes, there is no inherently dramatic climax. Which is fine, as long as the movie is set to focus on Beane's failures as well as his successes.

Perhaps a good closing shot would be to see Beane watching as the Red Sox, who he spurned previously, win the World Series. Not only win the World Series, but winning it in large part due to some of the methods which he helped to usher in.

[GAME05]

i don't have the impression the movie is going to be anything revolutionary like the book was, just your run-of-the-mill man-against-the-odds movie. granted, i like those movies. where the book focused on a new statistical approach, i just don't get the impression we're going to get a discussion of anything beyond what OBP is.

 

if anything, this looks like it'll be a dramatic version of Major League, with the misfits suddenly making it good, and a bunch of DePodesta nerd jokes thrown in.

[DuWayne Steurer]

I must be on the outside looking in, wondering HOW this is going to be compelling cinema. I love baseball movies, but this, as someone else said (sorry for no quote) almost looks cringe worthy in a few spots, and that's just from a 2 minute trailer.

[pitchleague]

This looks like one of those ESPN produced movies, only starring Brad Pitt instead of some has-been. I can't see a film like this doing well in the theaters, because it doesn't appeal to a wide audience like a comedy or action film would- or even a 'chick flick'.

I thought the same thing as I watched this. Or it looked like one of the Saturday Night Live spoofs. I kept waiting for a laugh track.

 

Either way, it should be interesting to see. I wouldn't say I'm looking forward to seeing it, and there is absolutely no way that I will pay to see it in a theater. But off Netflix or something? Sure, why not.

[PKBadger]

I also wonder what this movie is going to be about. Yes, Beane helped to usher in a new era of baseball analysis, but ultimately his teams never succeeded in the playoffs. Saber-folks will say that playoffs are just a random crap-shoot. They will also say that the A's failure to win a championship does little to nullify the method used by the organization to achieve their regular-season success. Both statements can definitely be argued.

Yet the point still stands that the A's never won a championship, which is, of course, the entire point of this whole baseball thing. And as far as a movie narrative goes, there is no inherently dramatic climax.

I can think of one famous baseball movie about a rags-to-riches team where the climax is a division-clinching win vs. New York....we never even find out what happened to them in the playoffs.

 

http://content7.flixster.com/photo/11/93/16/11931625_gal.jpg

 

Now admittedly, that was a comedy, but the point remains that you don't necessarily have to focus on the postseason to create a compelling story arc.

[pitchleague]

I thought that Harry Doyle recaps the post-season on his radio show at the beginning of Major League 2 during the opening credits. I only saw it once, though, and it was a while ago so my memory might be a bit fuzzy on the details.

[Patrick425]

I'm not going to judge a movie by its trailer, but this one was...uninspiring.

Really? I already planned on seeing the movie when it came out and after viewing this trailer, I'm very much looking forward to it.

 

Also, why is throwing a chair "cringe inducing"?

[JimH5]

I like baseball.

I read Moneyball.

It was interesting.

I couldn't ever imagine wanting to see a movie based on that book.

[DuWayne Steurer]

To me, this looks like something that would make a good documentary style show, on like ESPN or MLB network, but i honestly don't see a lot of people paying money to go see this on the big screen.

[SenatorShriv]

Pitt, Sorkin and others have a big enough following that people will go see it.

 

I'll go check it out, but I have fairly low expectations after watching the trailer.

[patrickgpe]

i am looking forward to the movie, but looking back money ball is loosing its luster. the team won 1 playoff series under his watch and was deeply helping by having hudson, zito, and mulder at the beginning of their careers and didn't have to pay them much.

 

since they left, the athletics haven't done much. that being said i loved the book and will definitely see the movie once it is out.

[Bikeage77]

I can't wait to see it. I remember reading it and knowing the Brewers were gonna get Fielder, and being completely jacked up that the A's were gonna get their man in Swisher.