The trailer for the new Moneyball movie is out and it looks pretty darn good.
And I mean "looks good" literally. The sound on my computer doesn't work right now, so I have no idea what they're saying, but the visuals are great. Brad Pitt looks handsome and in charge, Jonah Hill looks like he's seen a few spreadsheets in his time, and Philip Seymour Hoffman has never chewed more gum in his life. It's going to be great.
In case you haven't had a chance to watch the trailer, or if you're looking for a brief synopsis of what the movie will be about, I've done my best to piece together the story of the movie. Here goes:
Brad Pitt is a gypsy boxer who works for the A's. He doesn't get a chance to box all that often, so he likes to wear tennis visors and throw desks over. Jonah Hill is an overweight high school senior with a loud mouth who needs to deliver Pitt to the Oakland Coliseum. He convinces Pitt through his boyish charm and awkward speech to follow him. On their journey, the two make it to Pawnee, Indiana, where they run into lovable shoeshine boy Andy Dwyer. Andy must be quite the baseball player because he is quickly signed by the team (though his first-base defense is something to behold).
As the drama unfolds, Pitt gets angry at Hill and throws a few chairs. Their separation really gets to him, though. Will he and Hill get back together? And will they make it to the Coliseum in time for the playoffs? Pitt's daughter gives him some sage advice, as daughters are wont to do, while his spirits are lifted at the success of Andy Dwyer and Philip Seymour Hoffman.
But will it be enough (and is Pitt secretly a split-personality of Hill)? We'll find out this fall.
That, in essence, is Moneyball. It's going to be an absolute fantastic movie. I can't wait.
(P.S. – When I find a computer with working sound, or if I ever get a chance to read the book, I'll be sure to let you know.)
Thank you for reading
This is a free article. If you enjoyed it, consider subscribing to Baseball Prospectus. Subscriptions support ongoing public baseball research and analysis in an increasingly proprietary environment.
Subscribe now
2001 102-60 2nd to the 116 win Mariners
2000 91-70 1st
1999 87-75 2nd
Maybe Kevin James wanted too much money to grow a mustache and play Matt Stairs?
Like the book, we'll have to go into it looking for the concepts rather than the specifics.