Grade: A
As Oscar season begins, “Moneyball” seems to be the first strong contender for an Academy Award. Screenwriters Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin let the film find its success in the same place as last year’s “The Social Network,” which Sorkin also wrote. “Moneyball” takes a niche subject — in this case, the assembly of a baseball team on a budget — and transforms it into a sharp, witty story. Stellar performances abound, from Brad Pitt and Philip Seymour Hoffman to Jonah Hill and Chris Pratt of NBC’s “Parks and Recreation.” It’s nice to see both Hill and Pratt maturing into actors that can be taken seriously. “Moneyball” presents a near-perfect mix of humor and sentimentality, keeping the audience entertained while providing great insights into business, baseball and human nature.