Moneyball...ahhhh a baseball movie that appeals to a wider audience than expected...a mixture of math and chewing tobacco that works! Well, really, how refreshing to see technology add character to the good ol' game of baseball, and as usual, nice to root for the underdogs! This film is sure to be nominated for 2011, with Brad Pitt, and Jonah Hill each deserving a second look in this superbly cast film and could each be in  strong contention for awards themselves!

Moneyball...A baseball story that hits out of the park!

Moneyball...

Math wizard conjures baseball formula

Starring: Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Robin Wright, and Philip Seymour Hoffman

Directed by: Bennett Miller

Written by: Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin

Released: September 2011 

Genre: Biography, Drama, Sport.

Synopsis:  The true story of the Oakland A's Baseball team in 2002, their manager Billy Beane and a statistician nerd, Peter Brand. The team is faced with a grossly meagre budget as compared to other teams in the league, yet the manager is determined, somehow, to beat the odds and compile a team of contenders. By taking on baseball has-beens, and employing an unsung hero computer geek who uses math and logic,  a winning formula emerges in creating a team with true potential.

Moneyball- Trailer

Moneyball combines an unlikely duo, a down and almost out baseball manager, Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) , and a Yale economics whiz  kid Peter Brand, (Jonah Hill).  Hill is delightful in his role, portraying a newbie employee, and duck out of water. He delivers his sport-lover passion, and exhibits his intense knowledge of pro-baseball players including their talents, deficiencies and remote details. He rises assuredly, and surprisingly in this dramatic role, diverting from his usual comedic duties.

Brad Pitt is easily tangible in his portrayal of a baseball manager, and does not disappoint in his managerial tasks, interacting with the players, the team's coaching staff, and recruiters. He becomes increasing frustrated with the minimal budget that the team's owner has obligated him to work with, struggling with what needs to be done with any shred of options available. He personally recruits Peter Brand to come to Oakland to figure out how the team can add talented players with minimal money.  By examining various elements of baseball performance stats,  Peter points out insignificant tidbits of information breathing life into why players who were previously tagged as an unpickable lot, should in fact not be overlooked.

The story  is fun,  as much as it is uplifting, because it shifts from a typical baseball story, to embrace technology and the advantages it can offer, by expanding on traditional management methods for the sake of an improved bottom line. While there are expected baseball scenes, the movie is less about the game as a pastime or passion, rather this story highlights the capitalist elements of the sport.  The movie easily encourages us to root for this duo,  and the unorthodox strategies they are able to unearth and heave head-on at everyone. Oscar nominations for this flick are certain to be realized...best actor, best supporting actor, and best film honours!

The Help...A Polished Account of the 1960's Hoity-Toity Household

The Help...

The story of a newbie journalist secretly writing about the unjust, typical life of black maids in Mississippi during the 1960's.

Starring: Emma Stone,Viola Davis, Jessica Chastain, Bryce Howard, Chris Lowell, and Octavia Spencer

Directed  and Written by: Tate Taylor   Released: August, 2011
Genre: Drama

Synopsis:

Serious civil rights issues as well as other themes displayed in The Help are cleverly entwined with humour, presenting a gentle atmosphere, successfully lightening the mood of an unlikely sisterhood. A young journalist who marches to her own drum, is compelled to follow her principles by ignoring the social and legal implications of writing about the lives of maids, for the sake of highlighting their injustices experienced for many years.

Skeeter's (Emma Stone),  love interest Stuart, (Chris Lowell) and their awkward relationship   add comedy to the film,  however overall this duo have a minor role in this story based on the real-life accomplishments of a budding journalist. The passion, and raw emotion delivered by Skeeter and  the maids, particularly Minny (Octavia Spencer),  and Aibileen, (Viola Davis) are verisimilitude, facilitating a true to life account of the difficulties and triumphs endured by the household help.

The story is a riveting awakening to the misfortune and heart-wrenching prejudices experienced by black maids in the United States during the 1960's. Skeeter tackled numerous challenges in collecting the information she required to compile her account. She tirelessly tried to recruit maids to uncover and share their own personal experiences working within  the upper crust bigots of society. Socially, Skeeter also struggles to fit in with the petty lifestyles of her white hoity-toity gal pals, who are the maid's bosses. She is not the only one who has trouble fitting in.

The blonde bombshell in the film, Celia Foote, (Jessica Chastain from Tree of Life) is alienated from the high society clique, lead by the bully-girl Hilly Holbrook (Bryce Dallas Howard). Unfairly Celia endured a promiscuous label and tried everything to fit in with the prominent ladies in town. In addition she is newly married, and managed a large household terribly, with her meagre housewife skills stressing her out daily. Minny, who was recently fired, applies for a maid position with Celia unbeknownst to her husband, and the two formed a respectful friendship keeping Minny's help a secret.  Chastain is convincing in her role, pointing out that ugly prejudice also occurred in white vrs. white scenarios, and grappled with the incessant male expectation to maintain a perfect home.

Maids Aibileen (Viola Davis) and her best friend, Minny (Octavia Spencer), cleaned white-people's homes, polished their silver and watched white children. They hesitantly agreed to speak with Skeeter sharing their life work experiences, however disturbing. They developed a warm, disclosing friendship with this young woman who had a quirkiness about her, a gift for writing, and a poor record in dating and relationships. As a result, numerous other maids agree to share their stories also.

Skeeter is driven to write her book in secrecy, in order to win and maintain the maids' trust. It is her goal to realize her ultimate achievement; a job with the local newspaper.  Contrary to the typical workforce during that time,  jobs were largely available to men only. To that end, the male characters are minimized and director Tate highlighted the "go-girl" theme. The petty, cushioned lifestyles of the household bosses are blotted against the raw cruelty bestowed upon their staff.The film is enlightening, truly tender, disturbing, yet fulfilling.  The Help is a must-see for 2011, and certainly a favoured Oscar contender for numerous awards, particularly; best film, best actress, and best supporting actress.