Moneyball: Oscar nomination or Brad Pitt trying too hard?

What ho, people!

Ahem.

After yesterday's angst-filled post, I have luckily come back to my senses (if only temporarily), and have decided to stop being such a whiny self-pitying pathetic git for the foreseeable future. Unfortunately foreseeable future in my case usually means 24 hours, but what the hell.

Last night, hubs and I watched Moneyball. I could very easily copy-paste the wiki article on the movie and impress all y'all with my amazing knowledge, but i really cant be bothered. If anyone is lazy enough not to access Wikipedia, then here is the link.

(On a side-note: HAH! my first linky thing! I never knew how to do that, but with my fabulous intellect and superior mind, I figured it out in approximately 35 seconds. Of course, the big bold link button on the toolbar probably had something to do with it) 

So, what about the movie? Down-in-the-dumps loser under-dog team? Check. Manager who has a sad back-story of how he wasn't good enough, yet is gutsy enough to try new things, a.k.a. desperately clutching at straws to make his team win? Check. Nasty people such as coach and the other guy (no clue who he is) who all laugh at Coach and say he can't do it? Check. Supportive family who is there for Coach, in this case, his daughter? Check. No flames, people, but isn't this just any typical sport-associated film where everyone roots for underdogs and emotionally wipe away their tears when the team miraculously wins? Don't get me wrong, I liked the film, but I just thought the Brad Pitt has been in many MANY other films where his acting shines, and in this film, apart from a few touching scenes with his daughter, all he does is sulk, act like a jackass with his team, and make phone calls in which he is selling off his team like they are a bunch of hookers, he doesn't do shit-all. 

Now, this is not a reflection on the real Billy Beane's story, or the acting in general. I think everyone did a damn god job. Especially Phillip Seymour Hoffman. That guy has the ability to, I don't know, BECOME the character he plays. When I see him in a film, I don't say, "oh, its Phillip Seymour Hoffman playing whoever". He becomes the character. Its almost spooky, like he is possessed by the role he plays. Unfortunately, with Brad Pitt, no matter how hard he tries, because of his good looks, charisma, or just the fact that he and Angelina Jolie are the world's prettiest couple with the prettiest babies, one always says "Oh hot damn! Brad Pitt!" and THEN they look at the character he is portraying. He is never subsumed by the character he plays. the character is subsumed by the actor. 

All in all, a feel-good movie, with the requisite number of "Oh shit!" moments and the tearful finale. Brad Pitt, I hope you win an Oscar, just not for this film.