The Dead Auteur Society

Reel 042

Still from Moneyball

Nominated by Yasin May 2022

Moneyball

Directed by
Bennett Miller
Released
2011
Screened

The verdict

8.61 / 11.5

Mean of 4 reviewers · 74.87% of a perfect score

Highlights

  1. 1A Rank

    #26

    of 42 films screened

  2. 2A Top category

    Plot

    70% of the category max

  3. 3A Consensus

    Highly Controversial

    σ 2.18 across reviewer totals

  4. 4A The Fan

    Yasin

    Highest total · 10.25

  5. 5A The Cynic

    Zelie

    Lowest total · 5.45

  6. 6A The Specialist

    Muhammad

    Plot · 100% of max

Plot synopsis

Moneyball (2011) is an American sports drama film directed by Bennett Miller, based on the non-fiction book of the same name by Michael Lewis. The film stars Brad Pitt as Billy Beane, the general manager of the Oakland Athletics baseball team, and Jonah Hill as Peter Brand, a Yale-educated economist. The movie is a true story that explores the innovative strategies used by Beane to build a competitive team despite having a limited budget.

In the film, Beane and Brand challenge traditional baseball scouting methods and develop a new approach based on sabermetrics, a statistical analysis of player performance. Their goal is to identify undervalued players who can contribute to the team’s success without breaking the bank. Beane and Brand face skepticism and resistance from both the team’s scouts and the media, but they are determined to prove that their unconventional methods can lead to success on the field.

As the Oakland Athletics begin to defy expectations and rack up wins, Beane’s approach gains traction and changes the way major league baseball teams evaluate players and construct their rosters. Alongside the main plot, the film also delves into Beane’s personal life and past as a once-promising baseball player.

Moneyball received critical acclaim for its engaging story, strong performances, and unique perspective on the world of professional sports. The film earned six Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actor for Brad Pitt, and Best Supporting Actor for Jonah Hill.

Category by category How scoring works

  1. Enjoyable 5 / 5
  2. Plot 1.4 / 2
  3. Acting 1 / 1.5
  4. Camera 0.38 / 1
  5. Themes 0.23 / 0.5
  6. Music 0.11 / 0.5
  7. Casting 0.29 / 0.5
  8. Wildcard +0.21 ±0.5

The ledger

ReviewerEnjoyablePlotActingCameraThemesMusicCastingWildcardTotal
Yasin Fan521.50.30.30.250.40.510.25
Muhammad5210.750.30.20.30.39.85
Krishan51.51.30.40.200.40.18.9
Zelie Cynic50.10.20.050.100.05-0.055.45
Mean51.410.380.230.110.290.218.61
Max521.510.50.50.5±0.511.5

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