Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill star in 'Moneyball,' new on DVD and Blu-ray

"Moneyball"

Brad Pitt

Sony

Brad Pitt deftly handles the dialogue-driven role of Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane, forced to think outside the strike zone to rebuild his small-market team.

His creative strategy loses lots of games at first but soon revolutionizes baseball.

His dealing-making on the phone is entertaining, but the anti-climatic 2011 film struggles to manufacture drama. Too much time is spent on the team's attempt to break a record with a 20-game winning streak, when Beane's real objective is to win a championship.

Jonah Hill quietly steals the show as the brains behind the makeover. Philip Seymour Hoffman gets little playing time as obdurate manager Art Howe, who can't comprehend Beane's master plan.

The screenplay was penned by Steve Zaillian, an Oscar winner for his screenplay of "Schindler's List," and Aaron Sorkin, an Oscar winner for his screenplay of "The Social Network." Sorkin also won multiple Emmys for "The West Wing."

PG-13, 133 minutes. DVD extras: deleted scenes; a prolonged blooper by Pitt; and two featurettes. The Blu-ray adds two more featurettes.

Grade: B. Extras: A-. Available Tuesday, Jan. 10.

cball@plaind.com