The Lowdown: Based on Michael Lewis' factual book, Brad Pitt plays Billy Beane, a scout for the cash-strapped Oakland A's, who, with help from office-bound Jonah Hill, tries to turn the team around using radical methods.

Grade: A-. Sort of a real-life, less manic "Major League," "Moneyball" seems to capture the nostalgic feel of the game while simultaneously chastising the sporting industry for being obsessed with money and winning at any cost. Looking like a 50/50 split of Robert Redford and Kurt Russell, Pitt seems a perfect fit for the film's dry humor and serious implications. Director Bennett Miler ("Capote") appears to have toned down Hill significantly, and Phillip Seymour Hoffman, strangely giving little airtime in the trailer, will likely nail the role of the team's exhausted-looking manager.

Release Date: September 23