Review of Moneyball (2011) by Paul W — 03 Jan 2013

Assured direction takes us through an interesting expose of how the science of economics had taken over baseball, and by proxy, all popular sport. It ultimately laments the commoditisation of players, a metaphor drawn by continually using long distancing background shots of ports and cargo containers.

The acting is superb, although a bald Philip Seymour Hoffman is miscast and underused as the coach. No prior knowledge of baseball or the mechanics of player trading is needed - the real joy of the film is the paralell of the boardroom scenes and the baseball action - portrayed abstractly, you dont need to follow the details, just soak up the captured atmosphere of striking the winning deal or hitting the home run.