Moneyball (film)
A film about sabermetrics and the 2002 Oakland Athletics.
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Moneyball is a 2011 American biographical sports drama directed by Bennett Miller, with a screenplay adapted by Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin. The cast includes Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Robin Wright, and Chris Pratt. It draws from Michael Lewis's 2003 book *Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game*, which chronicles the Oakland Athletics' 2002 season and general manager Billy Beane's effort to build a competitive team on a budget half or even a third the size of his wealthier rivals. The story follows Beane and his deputy Peter Brand as they search major league baseball for undervalued talent using a sophisticated sabermetric approach to scouting and player analysis, a method that draws skepticism and resentment from the baseball establishment. Columbia Pictures acquired the rights to Lewis's book in 2004 and hired Chervin to write the screenplay. David Frankel was initially set to direct, with Zaillian writing, but was soon replaced by Steven Soderbergh. Soderbergh planned a semi-documentary style featuring interviews with real athletes and having actual players and coaches portray themselves. However, before filming was set to begin in July 2009, the project was put in turnaround due to creative differences between Soderbergh and Sony over a last-minute script rewrite. Soderbergh left, and Miller was brought in to direct, with Pitt becoming a producer and Sorkin hired for rewrites. Filming started in July 2010 at locations including Dodger Stadium and the Oakland Coliseum. The film premiered at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival and was released on September 23, 2011. It was a box office success and received critical acclaim, especially for its acting and screenplay. Moneyball earned numerous accolades, including six Academy Award nominations: Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actor for Pitt, and Best Supporting Actor for Hill. The Oakland Athletics struggle to field competitive teams because of low revenue and owners reluctant to spend. General manager Billy Beane drafts and develops cheap, young, talented players, but the Athletics lose the 2001 American League Division Series to the New York Yankees, baseball's richest and most successful team. For the 2002 season, Beane is given a meager $41 million budget.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Bennett Miller
- Screenplay
- Steven Zaillian / Aaron Sorkin
- Story
- Stan Chervin
- Based On
- Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game · Michael Lewis
- Producer
- Michael De Luca / Rachael Horovitz / Brad Pitt
- Starring
- Brad Pitt / Jonah Hill / Philip Seymour Hoffman
- Music
- Mychael Danna
- Cinematography
- Wally Pfister
- Editing
- Christopher Tellefsen
- Studio
- Columbia Pictures / Scott Rudin Productions / Michael De Luca Productions / Rachael Horovitz Productions / Plan B Entertainment
- Distributor
- Sony Pictures Releasing
- Released
- 9 September 2011 · TIFF · 2011 · 09 · 23 · United States
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Columbia Pictures bought the rights to Lewis's book in 2004, hiring Chervin to write the screenplay. David Frankel was initially set to direct with Zaillian now writing the screenplay, but was soon replaced by Steven Soderbergh, who planned to make the film in a semi-documentary style featuring interviews from real athletes, and having the real players and coaches on the team portray themselves. But before its July 2009 filming start, the film was put in turnaround due to creative differences between Soderbergh and Sony over a last-minute script rewrite. Soderbergh exited, and Miller was hired to direct, with Pitt becoming a producer and Sorkin hired for rewrites. Filming began in July 2010 at various stadiums such as Dodger Stadium and Oakland Coliseum.
The film premiered at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival and was released on September 23, 2011, to box office success and critical acclaim, particularly for its acting and screenplay. The film received numerous accolades, including six Academy Awards nominations including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actor for Pitt and Best Supporting Actor for Hill.
Reader's Guide
Moneyball dramatizes the Oakland Athletics' 2002 season, focusing on general manager Billy Beane's use of sabermetrics to build a competitive team on a limited budget. The film highlights the tension between traditional scouting and data-driven analysis, and the resistance Beane faced from within the baseball community. Its significance lies in popularizing the concept of sabermetrics and the 'Moneyball' approach, which later influenced how teams evaluate players. The film's legacy includes its critical acclaim and multiple Academy Award nominations, as well as its role in sparking broader discussions about analytics in sports. The real-life Boston Red Sox used sabermetrics to win the 2004 World Series, while Beane has yet to win a World Series.
Did You Know?
- The film is based on the 2003 book Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game by Michael Lewis.
- Steven Soderbergh was originally set to direct but exited due to creative differences with Sony.
- Jonah Hill's character Peter Brand is based on Paul DePodesta, whose name was removed at his request.
- The film received six Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Brad Pitt.
More in Club History
Elsewhere in Oakland Athletics
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