#Two for the money movie#
#Two for the money professional#

McConaughey often gets a bad rap, and it’s refreshing to see movies like this vindicate him. A recovering gambling addict, his life, and marriage to beautiful Toni (played by Renee Russo) is forever on the brink, just one bet away. However, it’s a veneer he struggles to keep up. Pacino’s Abrams is the kind of guy you’d like to meet- successful, ambitious, kind and never without a smile on his face. He becomes a father to Brandon (whose own father left when he was young), and Brandon gives Abrams the son he never had. Pacino does a marvelous job playing Abrams, who is one cigarette away from a heart attack but still manages to fill his office with smoke at every turn.

#Two for the money movie#

“Two for the Money” has some interesting dynamics, and, for a movie about sports betting, manages to go much deeper into exploring its character’s hopes, dreams…and skeletons. He transforms Brandon into a walking/talking bet-picking machine named “John Anthony- The Million Dollar Man.” His rise to the top is swift and steady. Out-picking even Walter’s most revered employees, he sees Brandon as the son he never had and someone to leave his empire to when he one day passes. Picking winners…selling picks to multi-million dollar clients… It isn’t long before Brandon is making balls of cash, trading in his shorts and t-shirt for $1,000 suits and expensive sports cars. After Brandon goes 9-2 picking College Football one weekend, Walter gives him a job working for “Sports Advisors,” the premier sports betting service in the country.īrandon is quickly captivated with Abrams, who becomes a father figure to him as he shows him the tricks of the trade.

#Two for the money professional#

However, that changes after a chance encounter with Walter Abrams (Al Pacino), a professional sports betting advisor living in Brooklyn. Working a bum job in Las Vegas as a 900 number sports handicapper, he’s better known for helping losers around town recover their weekend losses but never cashing in himself. Caruso, “Two for the Money,” Matthew McConaughey plays Lang, an ex-college football player who is washed up after a bad knee injury. Or is it John Anthony? In the film directed by D.J.

With all the elements to consider- team statistics, weather conditions, coaching styles, player injuries- how can anyone pick enough winners, and make enough money, to be a successful sports better?Īsk Brandon Lang.

The initial set-up will keep your attention but towards the middle this film rapidly loses its way and the climax is a real downer - badly written and incredibly unsatisfying! Of course, for all the female fans, there is more than few shots of McConaughey's naked torso, while the guys can enjoy the shouting mode of Al Pacino.How would you go about placing a sports bet? Do you research? Pick your favorite team? Study the stats? Call a hotline? Many of us are virtually clueless when it comes to sports betting, which is why the industry makes tens of billions of dollars a year on losing bets placed by die-hard fans and would-be winners. The director tried hard to introduce some sub-plots but they just vanished or somehow never fully developed. I was disappointed after more than 2 hours of watching this film and the main problem was that there isn't nearly enough plot here to sustain its lengthy running time.

Walter lives a high-flying lifestyle but all that is just an appearance - his marriage isn't as secure as it first appears - his wife (the role played terribly by Rene Russo) and Walter are recovering gambling addicts and it seems that one of them is back to the old habits! Things get complicated when Brandon's lucky streak dries up just when Walter needs it most. He has very high rate of accuracy catching the attention of sports gambling kingpin Walter Abrams (Al Pacino) and he quickly makes him his golden boy. In this typical rise and demise story Matthew McConaughey is fresh-faced young men and a washed-up football player turned sports tipster - Brandon Lang.