3. Moneyball
The most recent film on this list, Moneyball, captures the workings of an MLB front office better than any other movie. I’m certain Bennett Miller’s film will spawn a whole new generation of hopeful GMs.
This is an excellent example of a film adaptation that surpasses the book in every way possible. The Michael Lewis book is a great read, especially for devoted fans of the game, but the movie is just on a whole other level, and can appeal to everyone.
Brad Pitt absolutely shines as Billy Beane, the revolutionary who forever altered the way MLB scouting will be done, but it’s Jonah Hill who surprisingly steals the spotlight. I’ll admit, when I first heard that Hill was going to be in this film, I was very hesitant about seeing him in such a non-comedic role. I was wrong to feel that way, even for a second. Hill delivers the sort of performance that makes a career, and it the film is all the better for it.
Kerris Dorsey, who plays Bean’s daughter, rounds out the trifecta of performances in Moneyball that deserve a permanent place in sports movie history. She acts far beyond her years and provides a scathingly human side to Beane’s financial and managerial struggles. Her performance of The Show is chilling. The whole thing almost makes you want to be an A’s fan. Almost.