Talboito.com

This news is old but new to me. Sony has bought the rights to a Moneyball movie.

Michael Lewis’ book began as a non-fiction investigation into the intersection between Reason and baseball. Finding this combination lacking elsewhere, Mr. Lewis focuses on the recent success of the heroic Oakland Athletics and their intrepid General Manager Billy Beane.

Given the source, writing a compelling script will be a sure feat of creative expression and imagination. Most of Lewis’ book is statistical analysis and anecdote. The character sketches he includes are revelatory and intriguing but hardly begin to form a coherent plot.

The obvious way for a scriptwriter to approach this material is to focus almost exclusively on the character of Beane. Just as Lewis does in his book the story will trace Beane’s development from a failed can’t-miss prospect to successful executive. Beane’s success is charted alongside that of his team.

I propose an altogether different tact. Tell the story from the perspective of Beane’s befuddled opposition. I can sense the final scene approaching. A newly enlightened GM sits peacefully at his desk. He ignores the fresh scouting report on his desk, instead turning to his copy of The 2004 Bill James Handbook (2003 statistics).

We are left to believe that all will be come right and sensible in the Baseball world. The End…or is it?

Sequel Idea #1: Moneyball 2: How the A’s Won the World Series
Sequel Idea #2: Moneyball *: The Yankee Implosion

Following these, all will be well and good with all that wasn’t and currently isn’t as it should be.

Tags: No Comments