BBTF's Newsblog Discussion :: Bennett Miller, ‘Moneyball’ Director, On His Non-Baseball Baseball Movie

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Monday, September 12, 2011

Bennett Miller, ‘Moneyball’ Director, On His Non-Baseball Baseball Movie

My #### didn’t work in the Battle of Camlann!

Which is why Miller made the film in the first place.

“I think had they gone to the World Series and won the World Series, there would be no movie there for me. I think it’s, you know, a perfect world as it happened,” he said, continuing, “I was not interested in the convention or the trope of the big victory, of the bright and fast burn of the ultimate triumph of them winning the game, and the excitement and just that ephemeral catharsis. This is not a movie that concedes to those conventions or tropes.”

Instead, it’s that lack of victory parade that allows Miller’s Beane to finally move forward.

“It’s a drama about a guy who thinks he is trying to win baseball games, who imagines that’s the most important thing, has come to believe that in order to be okay with who he is, this thing has to happen,” the director explained. “And it ends up being a classic wisdom story, a King Arthur type of thing. You know, get the grail and all will be restored to order. And of course, it’s an impossible task but it’s the actual journey of the thing that teaches the lesson that needs to be learned. And so you never quite get your hand right around it, but you realize, it’s not about the grail.”

Repoz Posted: September 12, 2011 at 01:30 PM | 73 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: athletics, books, history, media

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1. Don Lock Posted: September 12, 2011 at 01:42 PM (#3922507)

just that ephemeral catharsis. This is not a movie that concedes to those conventions or tropes.”

Did he steal this line from Yogi Berra? "Tropes"? Does he mean triples?

Did he make this movie for George Will and Ken Burns?

2. Joey B. is counting the days to Trea Turner Posted: September 12, 2011 at 01:52 PM (#3922517)

Oh, brother. This guy sounds like David St. Hubbins and Nigel Tufnel trying to justify the lousy reviews for Intravenus de Milo and Shark Sandwich.

3. Tuque

Posted: September 12, 2011 at 02:07 PM (#3922529)

I've been cautiously optmistic about this since it was first announced. I just re-watched Capote last night, Miller's other feature-length, non-documentary directing credit, and despite being kind of a forgotten movie it was still just as good as I remembered, and very intelligently and subtly directed.

4. Jose is an Absurd Sultan Posted: September 12, 2011 at 02:13 PM (#3922531)

“It’s a drama about a guy who thinks he is trying to win baseball games, who imagines that’s the most important thing, has come to believe that in order to be okay with who he is, this thing has to happen,” the director explained. “And it ends up being a classic wisdom story, a King Arthur type of thing. You know, get the grail and all will be restored to order. And of course, it’s an impossible task but it’s the actual journey of the thing that teaches the lesson that needs to be learned. And so you never quite get your hand right around it, but you realize, it’s not about the grail.”

I'll admit this sounds pretty interesting. It's clearly not going to be the cinematic version of the book which I think would have been a disaster. All along I've expected this to be terrible but the last six weeks or so everything I've read has me intrigued.

5. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: September 12, 2011 at 02:14 PM (#3922532)

I think I am the only Primate who thinks this will be pretty good.

6. Greg K Posted: September 12, 2011 at 02:24 PM (#3922536)

I think I am the only Primate who thinks this will be pretty good

Similar to #4 my initial reaction was "ugh", but the more I read up on it the more interested I get, to the point now that I'm actively hoping it plays in my local Nottingham theatre.

Also I'm a fan of the guy who plays Hatteberg, and this scene so perfectly captures my experience as a Little League 1B that I can't help but root for him.

7. Cabbage Posted: September 12, 2011 at 03:08 PM (#3922547)

The opinions about this movie seem to be shifting in the same way that they did about "The Social Network" -- slowly evolving up out of "how the hell would that be an interesting movie?"

8. Nasty Nate Posted: September 12, 2011 at 03:11 PM (#3922552)

I don't know if this movie has it or not, but I hate the sports movie convention of making it seem like play-by-play announcers are broadcast thru the speakers in the stadium. It is both inaccurate and lazy story-telling.

9. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: September 12, 2011 at 03:57 PM (#3922606)

I don't know if this movie has it or not, but I hate the sports movie convention of making it seem like play-by-play announcers are broadcast thru the speakers in the stadium. It is both inaccurate and lazy story-telling.

Completely agree, unless its Bob Uecker.

10. Nasty Nate Posted: September 12, 2011 at 04:11 PM (#3922622)

If you are referring to Major League, I think they did it right and didn't imply that the people on the field and in the stands could here him, but I'm not sure.

11. Biff, highly-regarded young guy Posted: September 12, 2011 at 04:24 PM (#3922633)

Oh, brother. This guy sounds like David St. Hubbins and Nigel Tufnel trying to justify the lousy reviews for Intravenus de Milo and Shark Sandwich.

It's obviously still a very small sample size, but the initial reviews are pretty positive. You're just too blinded by your Beane hatred to notice.

12. Bote Man Posted: September 12, 2011 at 04:27 PM (#3922637)

I'm not impressed with the trailers of Brad Pitt essentially performing his cardboard cut-out character, as I assume the others are directed to do as well. Maybe it's just the way they cut the trailer, but this movie did originate in Hollywood so I have low hopes.

I've never seen Billy Beane speak or do anything so I don't know what he is like, but I find it hard to believe that the back-slapping, gusto-spouting Pitt is what I Beane is like. I'm thinking he's more anal-retentive and hell-bent on quietly getting his way, without all the bravado. Am I close?

Oh, and I still think Brad Pitt looks like Matt Holliday. Prove me wrong.

Why do you think I have this outraaaaaageous accent?!

13. birdlives is one crazy ninja Posted: September 12, 2011 at 04:28 PM (#3922640)

I think I am the only Primate who thinks this will be pretty good.

I'm very excited and I think it's be decent, possibly even good. Of course, this is only based on the trailer and preview clips. I did see Contagion last night, directed by Moneybal's original director Steven Soderbergh. I thought it was kind of a snooze fest, which surprised me.

The opinions about this movie seem to be shifting in the same way that they did about "The Social Network" -- slowly evolving up out of "how the hell would that be an interesting movie?"

At the time, I remember those objections were based on the idiotic notion that the Social Network would be a movie version of facebook, like the movie version of Double Dragon, rather than about a movie about entrepreneurship.

14. PreservedFish Posted: September 12, 2011 at 04:35 PM (#3922650)

Oh, brother. This guy sounds like David St. Hubbins and Nigel Tufnel trying to justify the lousy reviews for Intravenus de Milo and Shark Sandwich.

You can look at it that way, or you can be happy that he's not saying "the story didn't make sense for me without a triumphant ending."

15. Pat Rapper's Delight (as quoted on MLB Network) Posted: September 12, 2011 at 04:36 PM (#3922652)

This guy sounds like David St. Hubbins and Nigel Tufnel trying to justify the lousy reviews for Intravenus de Milo and Shark Sandwich.

Moneyball treads water in a sea of retarded sexuality and bad poetry?

16. Javy Joan Baez (chris h.) Posted: September 12, 2011 at 04:38 PM (#3922654)

I for one am looking forward to this. I've found Pitt to be, more often than not, entertaining. Plus, PSH! You can't go wrong with PSH.

17. Mr. Hotfoot Jackson (gef, talking mongoose) Posted: September 12, 2011 at 04:48 PM (#3922664)

No way will the box office for this be anything but minuscule. I mean, how many viewers can various moms' basements accommodate?

18. Shock of the Desert Posted: September 12, 2011 at 05:03 PM (#3922683)

I think it looks great; I plan on going as soon as it opens.

Also, it's not in "3D"! Which always earns a movie bonus points with me.

19. billyshears Posted: September 12, 2011 at 05:10 PM (#3922695)

I've never seen Billy Beane speak or do anything so I don't know what he is like, but I find it hard to believe that the back-slapping, gusto-spouting Pitt is what I Beane is like. I'm thinking he's more anal-retentive and hell-bent on quietly getting his way, without all the bravado. Am I close?

You know, there was this book about him . . .

20. Javy Joan Baez (chris h.) Posted: September 12, 2011 at 05:11 PM (#3922697)

You know, there was this book about him

Yeah, but who wants to read something he wrote about himself, anyway?

21. Shock of the Desert Posted: September 12, 2011 at 05:13 PM (#3922698)

I may be misremembering, but I remember something about Beane being upset about how Lewis portrayed him in the book.

22. Guapo Posted: September 12, 2011 at 05:45 PM (#3922735)

Am I the only one who thought The Social Network sucked?

23. ellsbury my heart at wounded knee Posted: September 12, 2011 at 06:19 PM (#3922787)

Am I the only one who thought The Social Network sucked?

No, there's always at least two people who think any mass-media product sucks, no matter what the quality of said product.

EDIT: I myself was pleasantly surprised by it, but I saw it on an airplane, where any non-terrible movie will seem good.

24. OsunaSakata Posted: September 12, 2011 at 06:23 PM (#3922793)

I don't know if this movie has it or not, but I hate the sports movie convention of making it seem like play-by-play announcers are broadcast thru the speakers in the stadium. It is both inaccurate and lazy story-telling.

Although you do hear play-by-play pretty much anywhere besides the seating bowl. That means the bathrooms, the food concourses and the clubs.

But, yeah, it would be so easy to establish that it was the radio or tv announcer calling it, not the PA announcer.

25. Fred Lynn Nolan Ryan Sweeney Agonistes Posted: September 12, 2011 at 06:41 PM (#3922814)

Am I the only one who thought The Social Network sucked?

No. And, hey, that makes two of us!

I'm looking forward to seeing this movie, if nothing else to see what ending they do use, since it's not going to be a WS-winning homer off the light tower or something.
Well, actually, "Moneyball," so... WS-winning bases-loaded walk.

26. Dock Ellis

Posted: September 12, 2011 at 06:42 PM (#3922816)

No way will the box office for this be anything but minuscule.

47m is the budget, according to IMDB. It's going to be hard to profit from this, especially since it's probably not translatable to overseas audiences.

For comparison - The Blind Side had a 29m budget and got their money back on opening weekend(!), eventually grossing over 255m in the U.S. as of May 2010. I don't think this includes DVD sales. The Blind Side is not finished making money yet, as it's the kind of feel-good rewatchable movie that can be played on t.v. over and over (without being edited) for years to come, in a Shawshank Redemption kind of way.

Capote only cost 7m and grossed 28m U.S.

The Social Network had a 40m budget and took in 22m opening weekend. It eventually grossed 96m U.S. But I think it only made as much money as it did because it is/was a very topical movie for 2010.

Moneyball the movie will stand a pretty good chance of breaking even, if it gets Oscar nominations for major categories. With 10 Best Picture slots and the talent behind it, this stands as good a chance to be nominated as anything else. At least, as far as we can tell at this point without actually seeing the movie.

A Michael Lewis book and Aaron Sorkin screenplay has had considerable to outrageous success in the recent past, so it remains to be seen how well it does. But I'm inclined to agree that this is a relatively esoteric film that is appealing to a few number of people.

27. What did Billy Ripken have against ElRoy Face? Posted: September 12, 2011 at 06:43 PM (#3922818)

Moneyball treads water in a sea of retarded sexuality and bad poetry?

"It was actually just a one-word review: Shitball."

"They can't print that, can they??"

28. Never Give an Inge (Dave) Posted: September 12, 2011 at 06:43 PM (#3922819)

EDIT: I myself was pleasantly surprised by it, but I saw it on an airplane, where any non-terrible movie will seem good.

Same here. I had reasonably high expectations based on the recommendations of friends, but I enjoyed it. I know it's inaccurate in many ways, but as a movie it was fairly engrossing and enjoyable.

29. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: September 12, 2011 at 06:49 PM (#3922821)

I'm looking forward to seeing this movie, if nothing else to see what ending they do use, since it's not going to be a WS-winning homer off the light tower or something.

I can see the ending being a loss (was that the year of the JETER! toss?) I think the story will be "smarts can take you far, but ultimately you need resources too."

47m is the budget, according to IMDB. It's going to be hard to profit from this, especially since it's probably not translatable to overseas audiences.

30. tshipman (The Viscount of Variance)

Posted: September 12, 2011 at 06:51 PM (#3922824)

For comparison - The Blind Side had a 29m budget and got their money back on opening weekend(!), eventually grossing over 255m in the U.S. as of May 2010. I don't think this includes DVD sales. The Blind Side is not finished making money yet, as it's the kind of feel-good rewatchable movie that can be played on t.v. over and over (without being edited) for years to come, in a Shawshank Redemption kind of way.

I really had no idea that Sandra Bullock didn't command more of a payday. Really? 29 MM for The Blind Side? That means she couldn't have gotten more than 10 million. She needs to fire her agent.

31. ntr RdP Posted: September 12, 2011 at 06:53 PM (#3922826)

A movie of Brad Pitt reading the Bill James Historical Abstract could probably gross $30 million.

Because he's just so darned dreamy.

32. Never Give an Inge (Dave) Posted: September 12, 2011 at 06:55 PM (#3922828)

Bullock, who had initially turned down the starring role three times due to discomfort with portraying a devout Christian, or one who's life didn't represent their beliefs. This comes, in part, from Bullock's own experiences in the Deep South with individuals who "wore the Christian banner" but that was about it. But after a visit with the real Leigh Anne Tuohy, Bullock was not only won over, but also took a pay cut and agreed to receive a percentage of the profits.

(emphasis added, crappy English was in the original)

33. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: September 12, 2011 at 06:57 PM (#3922829)

A movie of Brad Pitt reading the Bill James Historical Abstract could probably gross $30 million.

Because he's just so darned dreamy.

And Brad Pitt ain't too bad either.

34. Dock Ellis

Posted: September 12, 2011 at 06:57 PM (#3922830)

I really had no idea that Sandra Bullock didn't command more of a payday. Really? 29 MM for The Blind Side? That means she couldn't have gotten more than 10 million. She needs to fire her agent.

She probably took less in exchange for some of the profits. In fact, I'm almost certain she did. I think she's more or less the highest-paid female actor in Hollywood otherwise. Even though A-list actors do this a lot, it's not like this was some indie picture big stars do for artistic credibility so she must've really believed in the project.

EDIT: coke to Inge. You need to wait till payday, though. I'm that broke.

35. AJMcCringleberry Posted: September 12, 2011 at 06:57 PM (#3922831)

With 10 Best Picture slots

They changed it (again). It's going to be anywhere from 5-10 nominees based on the voting.

Anyway, I'm actually looking forward to this. The trailer looks pretty good and Brad Pitt is always good.

36. Randy Jones

Posted: September 12, 2011 at 07:04 PM (#3922835)

Am I the only one who thought The Social Network sucked?

No. And, hey, that makes two of us!

Make it 3, that was an awful, awful movie.

37. Dock Ellis

Posted: September 12, 2011 at 07:09 PM (#3922841)

I don't see why. "Major League" grossed $50 million appealing pretty much just to baseball fans and that was 25 years ago. A movie of Brad Pitt reading the Bill James Historical Abstract could probably gross $30 million.

Major League was also a comedy. And if mainstream baseball fans are the target audience for Moneyball, then the studio has their work cut out for them, I think. The very word "moneyball" puts a bad taste in a lot of mouths of average baseball fans. Then again, plenty of people pay to see certain movies just for the right to ##### about how bad it is.

Also, Brad Pitt is not immune to non-profitable films, despite being mega-famous and super-popular. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button? Tree of Life?

I'm rooting for it to succeed, though! I hope you're right.

38. PreservedFish Posted: September 12, 2011 at 07:12 PM (#3922843)

I think the story will be "smarts can take you far, but ultimately you need resources too."

There are plenty of sports movies where the heroes fall short in the end. I just hope that the story won't be: "well, we didn't win, but we learned a lot about the importance of family," or some such nonsense.

39. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: September 12, 2011 at 07:40 PM (#3922869)

Major League was also a comedy. And if mainstream baseball fans are the target audience for Moneyball, then the studio has their work cut out for them, I think. The very word "moneyball" puts a bad taste in a lot of mouths of average baseball fans. Then again, plenty of people pay to see certain movies just for the right to ##### about how bad it is.

Also, Brad Pitt is not immune to non-profitable films, despite being mega-famous and super-popular. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button? Tree of Life?

The trailer makes Moneyball look like a light comedy, albeit not a slapstick comedy like "Major League."

Benjamin Button grossed $128 million, so it wasn't exactly like fans stayed away in droves. The Tree of Life was never meant to be a mainstream movie. A better example would be "Assassination of Jesse James."

40. Shock of the Desert Posted: September 12, 2011 at 07:45 PM (#3922876)

I wouldn't say it "sucked," but the Social Network was pretty bleh.

If you want to talk recent mass-hyped, mass-production, crazy-expensive movie that flat-out sucked, the discussion begins and ends with Avatar.

41. Mark Edward Posted: September 12, 2011 at 07:55 PM (#3922883)

I think people are underestimating the drawing power of Brad Pitt (not to mention PHS).

I am excited to see this movie. My only issue, from the trailors: Beane's daughter. Now, I don't know how she'll be portrayed in the film because I haven't seen it yet. I'm hoping she's not the stereotypical "happy-go-lucky kid who teaches the adults a thing or two about life" character that seems to have become a recurring theme in Hollywood recently. For a good example of this type of character, see Joseph Gordon-Levitt's younger sister in "(500) Days of Summer." It's so annoying. No, an 8-year old kid won't be able to provide you with all of life's lessons.

42. Walt Davis Posted: September 12, 2011 at 08:01 PM (#3922887)

You need to wait till payday, though. I'm that broke.

You need to fire your agent.

There are plenty of sports movies where the heroes fall short in the end.

Barry Levinson can rot in hell.

I suspect the ending is: as the key moment of the playoff game is upon us, Beane realizes what's really important in life. As "my name is not Paul DePodesta" fights his way through the crowd, Beane rushes out the door of the GM's office "Paul! Paul!" "Billy!" "Paul! Paul!" As the camera pans you can just make out Derek Jeter (played by Carl Weathers) jumping for joy in the background as Beane and DePodesta find each other.

In Moneyball II, we get the rematch. In Moneyball III, the underdog A's have to defeat the mysterious new vaguely Middle Eastern baseball superpower in the World Baseball Classic. In Moneyball IV, Philip Seymour Hoffman returns playing the cranky but wise Burgess Meriweather. In Moneyball V, rogue US agents are trying to kill Beane before he can provide evidence to the President that the only reason the Kansas City Royals have won the last 10 World Series is because they are alien shape-shifters on steroids. Moneyball VI, which bombs at the box office, provides a dramatic shift as it's centered on a late-life romance between Daniel Craig (who took over the franchise role in IV) and Sandra Bullock (coming off her 6th Oscar). In Moneyball VII, Beane's father (Harrison Ford) and son (Shia LeBouf) take Moneyball to Europe in an attempt to lead England to World Cup glory over the vaguely Nazi German squad.

43. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: September 12, 2011 at 08:02 PM (#3922888)

Walt, Brett Ratner is on line one.

44. Dock Ellis

Posted: September 12, 2011 at 08:17 PM (#3922898)

You need to fire your agent.

To be fair, my agent advised not going for a percentage of the gross but did I listen? Noooooo.

45. billyshears Posted: September 12, 2011 at 08:20 PM (#3922901)

I thought The Social Network was great.

46. villageidiom Posted: September 12, 2011 at 08:32 PM (#3922912)

I'm looking forward to seeing this movie, if nothing else to see what ending they do use, since it's not going to be a WS-winning homer off the light tower or something.

The ending will be a slow pan-out from Beane while The Beatles' "Blue Jay Way" plays in the background. He'll be sitting in front of his laptop at a conference room table, repeatedly clicking refresh on the A's Game Chatter on BBTF, still with 0 comments.

47. Guapo Posted: September 12, 2011 at 09:12 PM (#3922938)

The ending will be a slow pan-out from Beane while The Beatles' "Blue Jay Way" plays in the background.

Perfect, but the Beatles song should be "Fixing A Hole."

48. Lars6788 Posted: September 12, 2011 at 09:13 PM (#3922940)

In just snippets of the trailer, I assume this will be a story about Beane's personal life as he builds a contender and the supposed struggles he has gone through to be where he's at and the relationships he has had with people.

It will appeal to the mainstream because it will be less about the numbers but the human interest story being pushed. It will be about Beane, the underdog GM who just has to juggle just about everything for his team to win.

49. Lassus Posted: September 12, 2011 at 10:00 PM (#3922971)

A better example would be "Assassination of Jesse James."

Which was an excellent, excellent small-release film. It wasn't really marketed to be a hit. And if I recall, the release was held up significantly after the film was finished.

I'm looking forward to Moneyball. Then again, I'm not an inveterate grump.

50. Jack Sommers Posted: September 12, 2011 at 10:01 PM (#3922972)

C'mon, when was the last time a Jonah Hill movies WASN'T a hit....

I'll watch it, and keep an open mind. No need to rush to judgment about a movie or the creative process based on trailers and speculation. But the playoff spot races are only mildly interesting, so I guess it will have to do.

51. Best Regards, President of Comfort, Esq., LLC Posted: September 12, 2011 at 10:14 PM (#3922980)

I may be misremembering, but I remember something about Beane being upset about how Lewis portrayed him in the book.

I don't think that matters very much. I think most of us would be upset by an honest portrayal of our own personalities.

Nobody's as awesome as they think they are.

52. Repoz

Posted: September 12, 2011 at 10:22 PM (#3922986)

The Bill James Beane factory story is the one to be made.

53. The District Attorney Posted: September 12, 2011 at 10:28 PM (#3922991)

As "my name is not Paul DePodesta" fights his way through the crowd, Beane rushes out the door of the GM's office "Paul! Paul!" "Billy!" "Paul! Paul!" As the camera pans you can just make out Derek Jeter (played by Carl Weathers) jumping for joy in the background as Beane and DePodesta find each other.

Then Jeter gets a stew going.

54. Mr. Hotfoot Jackson (gef, talking mongoose) Posted: September 12, 2011 at 10:45 PM (#3923000)

Then again, I'm not an inveterate grump.

Are you insinuating that I have no backbone? Sir, I'll have you know that ...

Oh. I thought you said invertebrate.

Never mind.

55. More Dewey is Always Good Posted: September 12, 2011 at 11:07 PM (#3923012)

Then Jeter gets a stew going.

He buys all his cars at police auctions.

56. tshipman (The Viscount of Variance)

Posted: September 12, 2011 at 11:22 PM (#3923018)

Then Jeter gets a stew going.

Let me tell you a little story about Derek Jeter. He was doing this Showtime movie, Hot Ice with Anne Archer, never once touched his per diem. He'd go to Craft Service, get some raw veggies, bacon, Cup-A-Soup... baby, he had a stew going.

57. Gamingboy Posted: September 12, 2011 at 11:48 PM (#3923021)

The whole "My [blank] movie isn't really a [blank] movie" move is one of the oldest in the book (and it also has been used in books, too).

This is especially true if it is a more "niche" genre.
Unless a science-fiction movie has the word "Star" in the name, you can expect the people making it (or, even more likely, their publicists) to call it basically every single thing except for Science Fiction.
Ditto for any fantasy movie that isn't Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings.
If a Superhero movie (itself a subgenre of Scifi and Fantasy) is critically acclaimed, you can expect somebody to say it's not a superhero movie, but rather that, for example, "It's a crime film that just happens to have Batman and the Joker in it."
Horror movie is critically acclaimed? No, it's a Thriller film, or perhaps "Suspense".
Critics sometimes will try as hard as they can not to mention that Pixar is a company that makes cartoons.
I can't remember the last time somebody called Jerry Macguire a sports movie, even though it's ON THE AFI'S LIST OF TEN GREATEST SPORTS MOVIES. Also notice that in advertising sports movies are usually called "underdog stories" or what not, despite the fact that anyone with a brain can tell what the movie is. Underdog story is a plot, folks, not a genre.

So, in other words, standard stuff here.

58. Gamingboy Posted: September 12, 2011 at 11:53 PM (#3923022)

59. PreservedFish Posted: September 13, 2011 at 12:25 AM (#3923030)

I can't remember the last time somebody called Jerry Macguire a sports movie, even though it's ON THE AFI'S LIST OF TEN GREATEST SPORTS MOVIES.

Do you think of it as a sports movie? I don't.

I'm not sure what your point is: sometimes movies slip between genres, or incorporate the cliches of two at a time, or take the form from one genre and the content from another. And sometimes they do none of these things, but publicists or critics say it's happening.

60. Javy Joan Baez (chris h.) Posted: September 13, 2011 at 01:06 AM (#3923047)

Do you think of it as a sports movie? I don't.

Neither do I. It's in a sports-ish setting but the actual plot has very little to do with sports.

61. ntr RdP Posted: September 13, 2011 at 01:07 AM (#3923051)

It's a movie about money. Showing the money, actually.

62. AJMcCringleberry Posted: September 13, 2011 at 01:18 AM (#3923058)

Can't movies be considered for more than one genre? I call The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly a war movie. I call Fargo a comedy. I don't think those are the main genres.

Edit: I should say if someone asked me what type of movie it was I wouldn't say comedy for Fargo.

63. Dock Ellis

Posted: September 13, 2011 at 01:24 AM (#3923061)

Jerry Maguire is on the list of great sports movies because they are stretching the definition of what a sports movie is because there aren't enough great movies about sports to make a list of such.

64. Shock of the Desert Posted: September 13, 2011 at 01:47 AM (#3923070)

Yeah, I hate it when people use classifications to defend crap. Like Transformers 3 may not have been an Oscar nominee, but for _____ it was good. No, it was execrable. A turd is a turd, regardless of classification or expectations. There's no reason who can't compare apples to oranges when they are both fruits.

65. puck Posted: September 13, 2011 at 01:54 AM (#3923074)

Is The Fighter a sports movie? Or is it about a guy with really scary sisters?

66. villageidiom Posted: September 13, 2011 at 02:02 AM (#3923078)

Perfect, but the Beatles song should be "Fixing A Hole."

I was trying to stay with the Magical Mystery Tour album. Given their budget, perhaps "Penny Lane" would've been fine.

It's a movie about money. Showing the money, actually.

You had me at money.

67. What did Billy Ripken have against ElRoy Face? Posted: September 13, 2011 at 02:30 AM (#3923089)

Oh, and I still think Brad Pitt looks like Matt Holliday. Prove me wrong.

\

I shall, in two steps:
1. Hair
2. Moth-free ears.
QED.

68. Gamingboy Posted: September 13, 2011 at 02:38 AM (#3923097)

Oh, sorry, about the double post, everybody. My browser went made.

69. Bourbon Samurai stays in the fight Posted: September 13, 2011 at 02:42 AM (#3923100)

Your browser's in the mob?

70. Bote Man Posted: September 13, 2011 at 02:51 AM (#3923102)

Here's the incontrovertible proof.

1) Hair is covered by the baseball cap.

B) Ears? What ears?

Twin brothers I say! They could have saved a fortune by casting Matt Holliday, plus they get all that free baseball grit and veteran presence in the deal.

71. Up2Drew Posted: September 13, 2011 at 12:54 PM (#3923233)

"Bullock, who had initially turned down the starring role three times due to discomfort with portraying a devout Christian, or one who's life didn't represent their beliefs. This comes, in part, from Bullock's own experiences in the Deep South with individuals who "wore the Christian banner" but that was about it. But after a visit with the real Leigh Anne Tuohy, Bullock was not only won over, but also took a pay cut and agreed to receive a percentage of the profits."

Gee. Thanks, Sandra.

This, from a woman whose idea of character assessment was to wait 41 years to marry Jesse Freaking James.

72. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: September 13, 2011 at 01:18 PM (#3923238)

In just snippets of the trailer, I assume this will be a story about Beane's personal life as he builds a contender and the supposed struggles he has gone through to be where he's at and the relationships he has had with people.

I assume he also saves a black orphaned kid off the streets, possibly named Chris Carter.

73. OsunaSakata Posted: September 13, 2011 at 04:52 PM (#3923457)

Okay, I saw Moneyball last night. I think it'll make the people here at BBTF happy. I can't recall screaming at ergregious inaccuracies, which I do in most baseball films.

I guess the greatest departure was casting Jonah Hill as the fat stats nerd instead of someone who looked more like Paul DePodesta. It will probably unneccessarily extend the life of the stereotype.

Philip Seymour Hoffman as Art Howe was written well as an obstacle to Beane but someone you could sympathize with. However, I thought he had a peeved church lady expression a little too often.

I think whether you like or hate the movie will depend on your reaction to Kerris Dorsey as Billy's 12-year-old daughter Casey. Unlike the fears expressed above, she is not happy-go-lucky and is actually more adult and serious in some ways than Billy. She sings a sappy song that may be the make-or-break moment for some of you.

The audience laughed the hardest at video of Jeremy Brown stumbling.

The womanizing Billy from the earlier script is gone. It's not what you took away after finishing reading Moneyball. They grabbed certain elements and made a Hollywood movie out of it.

Overall, I liked it a lot, but I don't know if non-baseball fans will like it. I asked a couple of professional critics who are also baseball fans and were there for their opinion. They both liked it. One thought it would play to the general audience, the other was not so sure but also admitted he didn't think The Social Network would be a big hit. Although, I'm sure there will be vehement Moneyball movie haters here on BBTF once they see it, I'm also fairly certain a year from now, most bloggers who make lists of the top 10 baseball movies of all time will have Moneyball on it.

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Monday, September 12, 2011

Bennett Miller, ‘Moneyball’ Director, On His Non-Baseball Baseball Movie

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