Saltzman Sees...The Big Lebowski (1998)

The Big Lebowski won my Best Supporting Actor (John Goodman) in 1998.



Saltzman Sees...Moneyball (2011)

 [Nominated for 7 Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay - Steven Zaillian, Aaron Sorkin and Stan Chervin, Best Actor - Brad Pitt and Best Supporting Actor - Jonah Hill, as well as Film Editing and Sound Mixing by the Academy of Arts]


Saltzman Sees... Moneyball is the story of the have-nots and their struggle to compete.  It is the story of Billy Beane, who is trying to find a way to win a rigged game.  His ideas for how to adapt are met with resistance from everyone, including people in his organization.  Ultimately it is a story that says if you believe in something strong enough, it just might work.

Brad Pitt gives a strong performance as Beane, but it certainly is not along the lines of Tyler Durdin in Fight Club or Mickey in Snatch. Brad Pitt's best scene might be his most toned down moment.  When he explains to Jonah Hill's character "Peter Brand" why he decides to stay in Oakland rather than move to Boston, it explains all you ever need to know about Billy Beane.  Pitt's portrayal makes the movie, considering the movie's apex is a 20 game win streak they almost forget to mention.  Hill is also strong as the soft spoken and brilliant "Brand" who is deliberately loosely based on Paul DiPodesta.  This isn't the best baseball movie ever (Field of Dreams, Bull Durham or The Natural) or even the best true story about baseball (The Rookie, Bang the Drum Slowly, A League of Their Own or Eight Men Out) but it was captivating and it was true to the American Pastime.