A trailer for the forthcoming movie "MONEYBALL" has been "released on the Internet, providing the first public peek" at BRAD PITT portraying A's GM BILLY BEANE in the adaptation of MICHAEL LEWIS' best-selling book, according to Joe Stiglich of the SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS. Beane on Thursday said that he has "seen a rough version of the movie and is likely to see the final cut soon." Beane: "It's a little surreal, not so much watching the movie as hearing your name. That's when it personalizes it for you." Asked what he thought about the movie's "authenticity and/or entertainment value," Beane said, "Well, neither one of those are up to me to decide. It's a movie, and just like any other movie, they want to entertain." The reported release date for "Moneyball" is Sept. 23 (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 6/17). GRANTLAND.com's Chris Ryan wrote, "Plaguing the three directors and screenwriters who took turns developing 'Moneyball' was the problem of translating the book's more advanced concepts -- sabremetrics, traditional versus progressive front-office models, the budgets of baseball franchises, the minutiae of player contracts -- into a story that made sense even to baseball illiterates. Their solution: Turning the Oakland A's into Hickory High and Billy Beane into Norman Dale." It is "kind of ironic that a film about progressive thinking looks like such a traditional sports movie" (GRANTLAND.com, 6/16).
GET YOUR POPCORN READY: The trailer of "Moneyball" garnered some Twitter discussion on Thursday. Sporting News’ Ryan Fagan: “Ok, i admit. i'm excited to see moneyball.” SI's Joe Lemire: “Seems hard to translate to film, but trailer actually looks good.” SB Nation’s Rob Neyer: “Our longest look yet at Moneyball movie ... and I like it very much.” ESPN Chicago’s Jon Greenberg: “For those wondering, the Moneyball trailer isn't bad. Philip Seymour Hoffman playing Art Howe is...something.” But Baseball Prospectus’ Kevin Goldstein wrote, “Just finally watched The Moneyball trailer. I'll take movies I won't pay to see for $800, Alex.” ESPN Deportes’ Jorge Arangure: “There have been like a kajillion Dominican players in MLB but Moneyball couldn't find one or at least a Latino to play Tejada? Awful.”
