Sadly, you'll never see it.
Let me explain.
On rare occasions, I’m lucky to get the opportunity to read an A-list script before seeing its end product. Two wonderful experiences were the Ted Griffin-Steven Soderbergh ‘Ocean’s Eleven’ (better than the original, another rare occasion) and the wholly underrated by anyone who hasn’t read or seen it; Joss Whedon’s Pilot for ‘Firefly.’ I loved both those scripts and eagerly looked forward to seeing what Cast & Crew would bring to them. In both instances, Cast & Crew shined.
Flash forward to now (ish) when I get the opportunity to read the Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin adaptation of Michael Lewis’ book ‘Moneyball.’ (Note there that I write Zaillian and Sorkin, not Zaillian & Sorkin, and that’s intentional, but more on that in a bit.) The ‘Moneyball’ script is breathtaking; and, no, I’m not using that word lightly. If you don’t believe me, have a little breath taken for yourself right here:
Sure, it’s moving, funny, uplifting, honest, enlightening, surprising; all the great things we want in great movies. And, sure, people see Sorkin’s name and jump on board (I did) but I’ll go ahead and give Zaillian his due credit right now. If you don’t know his name off-hand, how about these? ‘Schindler’s List,’ ‘Mission: Impossible,’ ‘Gangs Of New York’ and ‘The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo’ just off the top of my head. But then get a rewrite from Aaron Sorkin – and this is what I meant about “and” and “&;” Sorkin did a rewrite, they didn’t write it together – and how could it not be great? Sorkin’s the master of witty pace and dialogue, not to mention he’s living in his wheelhouse: the behind-the-scenes look at something (in this case baseball, but he’s hit it out of the park with a sports show, The White House and late night sketch comedy). Honestly, how could it not be great?
Well, the script is. It’s better than great. As I say, it’s breathtaking.
But the end product? Not so much.
Now, to be fair, a couple things to level the playing field. First of all, scripts in general aren’t meant to be read by the theatre going public. I’ll say this very quickly, and certainly don’t mean to insult anyone, but, to be honest, most people don’t know how to read a script (just like most people don’t know how to watch dailies, but I digress). More importantly, movies (and TV shows) are the end product of a hundred – hundreds – of different people coming together to make that end product. So the script, like the Director and Grip and Script Supervisor and Sound Designer and Publicity Agent, are there to serve The Story. It’s a blueprint by which everyone will build their movie. Looooots of chefs in the kitchen (and, to continue being fair, that’s usually a good thing). But reading a Script and then seeing its end product? It’s rare. (But if you get the opportunity, gooooolden.) Add to that THIS minor inconvenience to all involved with ‘Moneyball,’ I got to read the script and see the movie ON THE SAME DAY. So that’s not easy for any Cast & Crew. After all, I had all these wonderful expectations very fresh in my mind’s eye going into the viewing and … well …
But first, more play-field leveling.
For second of all, the only version of the script I got to read was Sorkin’s. I’m sure there’s a version of Zaillian’s original floating somewhere out there, but I sadly haven’t seen it (and before writing this, I looked), so if anyone can, please send it to me. But I read a lot of Sorkin. Let me say that again. I read a lot of Sorkin. I don’t just WATCH ‘A Few Good Men’ and ‘Malice’ and ‘American President’ and ‘Sports Night’ and ‘West Wing’ and ‘Studio 60,’ I READ as much of his as I can. So I recognize his pace, his verbal hiccups, his style. And it explodes in this script. Not just is it stat filled (natch) it’s stat filled in a way that makes someone like me who can at-best SPELL the word “sports” follow what’s going on. And then, beyond the baseball, it’s that wonderful behind-the-scenes style of his. The failure and triumph. The family. The love and loss. The guys working together, fighting together, and their women looking in on them (and they so much stronger than the working and fighting). It’s great STORY. Really, Sorkin at the top of his game.
But the movie? I’m sorry, I really am, but it's ...
I promised myself that I wouldn’t compare and contrast – after all, spoilers! – so I won’t say, “there’s this great scene in the script where …” and then argue why it should have been in the film. What I will say, simply, is that all of the script’s HEART doesn’t make it into the film. It tries, and I give Cast & Crew a hell of a lot of credit for trying. But all the CHARM of the script either falls flat or simply isn’t there.
All right, I lied, one (not spoilerish) moment. This is the scene right after Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) doesn’t get his player from The Cleveland Indians and (basically) meets Jonah Hill’s character (Pete in the film, Paul in the script).
INT. INDIANS’ FRONT OFFICE - LATER
BILLY comes into a bullpen with many cubicles. He walks through the cubicle maze, looking over the partitions, until he finds the preppy kid from Shapiro’s office.
BILLY
Hi.
PAUL
Yes sir.
BILLY
I’m going to talk like this in a
congenial way and smile and nod
like we know each other and you
do the same.
PAUL
Okay.
BILLY
Who the fuck are you?
PAUL
I’m Paul DePodesta.
BILLY
I don’t give a shit what your name is.
PAUL
You just asked me who--
BILLY
What are you doing? What do you do?
PAUL
I’m a statistician.
BILLY
I don’t give a fuck.
PAUL
Well again, you--
BILLY
You just cost me a left-handed set-up
man.
PAUL
I’m sorry about that.
BILLY
You’re sorry?
PAUL
I like Rincon.
BILLY
(raising his voice)
You like Rincon? You like Rincon? Who
the fuck are you?
PAUL
Paul Depo--
BILLY
I don’t care! I have never heard of you.
I have no earthly idea who you are. I
want to know why Mark Shapiro listens
to you.
PAUL
He doesn’t most of the time.
BILLY
He just did. So tell me what--
PAUL
I’m in seven fantasy baseball leagues
and I win all seven every year.
And now BILLY’s stepped off the edge of the world...
BILLY
(long pause)
What?
PAUL
I win at fantasy baseball.
BILLY
You win at...?
PAUL
Fantasy baseball.
BILLY’s nose to nose with Paul now...
BILLY
(calmly)
Did I misunderstand you or did you
say that you’re here because you
win at fantasy baseball?
PAUL
I do.
BILLY
I’d imagine it’s easier when you’re
playing with fantasy money. You ever
play actual baseball?
PAUL
I was the equipment manager at Harvard.
BILLY
(pause)
Wow.
PAUL
Can I give you some advice?
BILLY
Absolutely not.
PAUL
There’s no other first baseman like
Giambi so I think it’s a waste of
time to look for the summer stock
version.
BILLY
(pause--a little stunned)
That’s...What? That’s exactly what I
said. I said that exact same thing
yesterday except I said dinner theater
instead of summer stock.
(beat)
Same idea.
PAUL
Yeah.
BILLY
Yeah.
BILLY’s thrown off now...something tells him he wants to keep talking to PAUL but he doesn’t want to admit it.
BILLY
Some summer stock is good.
PAUL
Some dinner theater is good.
BILLY
Why are you talking to me?
PAUL
Do you understand how conversations work?
BILLY
(pause)
Alright. I’m done here.
(pause)
You’re saying statistically there’s no
first baseman like Giambi.
PAUL
My statistics or your statistics?
BILLY
They’re statistics, they’re the same.
PAUL
No they’re not and that’s your problem.
BILLY
I don’t have a problem.
PAUL
You don’t have Rincon either.
BILLY
I’m leaving.
But BILLY just stands there...
PAUL
(pause)
You’re actually just standing here.
BILLY
(pause)
Now I’m leaving.
BILLY exits down the hallway and disappears, but PAUL stays out there. After a moment, BILLY reappears.
BILLY
Show me.
Sorry, I’m not really sure what to write there except, “?!” I hope it comes across as a typed emoticon for, “How the fuck do you WRITE a scene as good as that?!”
I promise I won’t continue pulling direct references. For one reason, it’s simply too depressing that a scene as good as that was cut into the imitation that appears in the film. Because this is a key moment. This is the moment that made us believe in the Pete character and “thinking his way,” believing his crazy idea could work, that everything Billy Beane, clearly a smart guy, a clever guy, a good General Manager, has done hasn’t worked so far, and he might try something as crazy as this to help his team win. Not to mention Pete doesn’t totally back down in front of this giant (I love the statistic exchange that ends with, “You don’t have Rincon either.”) This was THE SCENE. But the scene in the film? Most of the feeling throughout the film? You’re not sure why Beane would have tried this. In fact, in the movie, you kinda agree with everyone arguing with him. But have this scene? Have an exchange like, “I win at Fantasy Baseball” and have it mean EVERYTHING? Priceless. And I don’t want to take anything away from Mr. Pitt or Mr. Hill (both, at press, nominated for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor, respectively). They’re actually very good in the film, as, honestly, they generally are. And I was excited at the prospect of seeing them rattle off Sorkin dialogue. But, alas, there just isn’t all that much Sorkin in this film. Scenes, moments, sure. But the film isn’t given the chance at half as good of material as Sorkin’s script is. (And not just their characters, but nearly all of them. For instance, I cried when reading the script – read that again if you have to, I cried when simply reading the script – as Scott Hatteberg is brought on the team and his wife overhears the good news from the kitchen. Ready to beat the dead horse? In the script, literally breathtaking. In the movie? No better than “eh.” And that IS sad.)
So what happened?
Who dropped the Moneyball?
Well, the short answer is, obviously, whomever made the decision to not go with Sorkin’s rewrite. As I say, I haven’t had the chance to read Zaillian’s original, so I don’t know if the film went back to his or is yet someone else’s uncredited rewrite of Sorkin’s rewrite of Zaillian’s original. (Follow that?) So is the short answer we blame the director, Bennett Miller? Possibly. After all, a film’s director can shoot any version of any script he or she wishes. But, to be fair, he did ‘Capote’ and that was a very good film. (The always wonderful Philip Seymour Hoffman is in ‘Moneyball’ as well.) And Miller’s DIRECTION here – camera placement, overall pace, actors’ performances, overall EXECUTION – is perfectly fine. He knows how to direct a movie. But did he pick the right script? (While ‘Moneyball’ was nominated for Best Picture – sorry to the hard work done by their Cast & Crew, but yawn – Miller wasn’t nominated for Best Director.) Or was Miller over-ridden by one of the (again, sorry, yawn) eight producers (of which Mr. Pitt himself is one)?
I don’t know; nor am I writing the great ‘Moneyball’ Making Of, so, to be fair, I’m not digging too deep to find out. After all, that isn’t what my writing this is about. I simply couldn’t help but say, “But have you read the script?!” ‘Cause THAT’S the movie. And if THAT movie had been made, it’d not only win Best Picture, but become an instant classic, rivaling that of ‘The Natural’ and ‘Jerry Maguire.’
As I was saying, it’s always dangerous for any end product to read its script – especially one by Sorkin – and then see its Movie or TV Show immediately after. Your mind’s eye simply carries too much into it. Of course, with something like his own ‘Few Good Men’ through ‘Studio 60’ – and the much anticipated HBO series 'The Newsroom' – he had some control to continue his pace into that of the actors and editing. But that doesn’t mean an auteur can’t bring something of their own to it. Reiner did brilliantly with both ‘Few Good Men’ and 'American President,' as did Fincher with ‘Social Network.’ Their Cast & Crew ENHANCED the work. But I’m sad to say – and it is genuinely saddening – Miller’s Cast & Crew – and these are hundreds of really talented people – just didn’t get it. I think it’s best summed up in a quote my dear friend Diana Kongkasem shared with me (this about Clint Eastwood being a writer’s director).
“I’ve learned that when you have a good draft of a script, you just shouldn’t mess with it anymore. When I worked with Don Siegel, he’d get a script he liked and say, ‘Let’s not kill it with improvement.’”
Here here.
When trying to catch the badly thrown ‘Moneyball,’ at the very least, we can be proud that the script is, at press, also nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay. And if The Powers That Be have any sense at all, any legitimate power, they’ll ignore the movie while giving Zailian and Sorkin The Oscar two years in a row.
