Moneyball was considered to be one of the sporting triumphs of the 2010s on the big screen courtesy of their thrilling portrayal of the Oakland Athletic's 2002 season.
The biographical drama was one of the most intriguing pieces of cinema because it was just so different. A variety of elements came together to make for one of the biggest rollercoaster rides of 2011, even though it wasn't really a production that threw out too many thrills and spills in the conventional sense.
Today, we're going to list a few of our favorite reasons as to why Moneyball was, indeed, a home run.
Soundtrack
The Mighty Rio Grande and It’s A Process were quite literally used to perfection throughout the course of this film. They built up the underdog vibe really well, making every single viewer connect with the Oakland Athletics on a level that many of us thought to be impossible.
The soundtrack behind any film is always an incredibly underrated part of the story because if you get it wrong, it can backfire in a big way. Moneyball wanted to try and make us feel something, and it’s safe to say that it worked.
Pitt & Hill’s Chemistry
Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill were obviously at the forefront of this movie in their respective roles as Billy Beane and Peter Brand. Beane was able to see something in Brand when he was visiting the Cleveland Indians and the rest, as they say, is history.
This felt like a project that both of these men were legitimately passionate about and that definitely came across. Their acting was subtle, but the way in which it was written was perfect, as it allowed us to really understand what made these two men tick.
Trade Negotiations
From scene to scene there were quite a few moments that flew under the radar, with one of the most notable examples being the trade scenes between Beane and Brand.
The trade of Carlos Pena and Jeremy Giambi seemed to be a defining moment in their time in the job, but as time went on and we made our way through to the trade deadline, they really did ramp it up to a whole new level.
Even people who knew what happened at the time were invested in the various trade negotiations, mainly because Pitt and Hill knocked their respective performances out of the park.
Team of Misfits
Chad Bradford & David Justice are two of the many examples of the misfits that made up the A’s team back in the day. They brought together players from every corner of the baseball world, and somehow, it worked out perfectly – well, almost perfectly.
Instead of trying to assemble the sort of super team that would walk their way to the World Series, they looked at potential outcasts that had a point to prove.
They made the move to Oakland and they made a statement that the fans will never forget.
Analytical Side Of The Game
Every single detail has been thought out and every single element of the game has been taken into account in more ways than we can imagine.
It really does emphasize why Peter Brand is so overwhelmingly important to this movie, and they really did change the game of baseball. When the Boston Red Sox went on to win the World Series for the first time in what felt like forever, they embodied the spirit created in Oakland.
That might not equate to a world title for the A’s, but it’s definitely worth pointing out.
Scott Hatteberg
The role of Scott Hatteberg was played brilliantly by Chris Pratt, and his journey back to the top was really enticing to watch. The vulnerable nature of his character always kept us guessing, mainly because we didn’t really know whether he’d turn out to be a success in Oakland.
When they’re sat down in his sitting room discussing the possibility of him transitioning into a new role in order to play for the Athletics, there’s a real sense of ‘last chance saloon’ with Scott having used up most of his other options.
The Game vs Kansas City
Billy Beane finally decides to go and watch a game live in the flesh with the Athletics riding a superb 11-0 lead against the Kansas City Royals. Somehow, though, they managed to let it slip and allow Kansas City to work themselves back into the game at 11-11.
Then, in what was arguably the highlight of their entire season, Scott Hatteberg hit the walk-off home run winner to secure their 20th consecutive win – an MLB record.
The cinematography in this scene captured the underdog spirit of this team and the franchise as a whole.
Billy’s Daughter
It’s established fairly quickly that Billy has a special relationship with his daughter Casey, from their loving conversations to her love of singing and playing the guitar.
Throughout the whole film, it feels like Casey is always on Billy’s shoulder guiding him in the right direction. Even when we see the final shot of Moneyball, Billy has the thought of his daughter’s voice ringing in his ears.
There was a warmth to it that distracted from the primary concept of Moneyball which, in itself, was pretty calm and laid back.
A Real Story
The Oakland Athletics really did have one of the most remarkable seasons in the history of sports in North America.
While the creative direction of proceedings may have forged a few new ideas along the way, the core of the piece remained intact. The writing, acting and end product felt real, and that’s because it was.
That’s one of the very best ways to hook someone onto the story that you’re trying to tell, and when you factor in big stars and a real drive behind the idea, you’re on to a winner.
Billy Turning Down Red Sox
Billy Beane received an offer of $12.5 million to become the new general manager of the Boston Red Sox. He initially didn’t seem interested, then he received the offer and seemingly was, and then he decided to stay in Oakland.
He didn’t see this as an opportunity to cash in and earn lots of cash. He had a vision for how to change baseball for the better, and even though he may not have that world championship just yet, he’ll almost certainly keep going until they’ve won the final game of the season.