Flawed, but slick and entertaining

"Two for the Money"
Starring: Al Pacino,Matthew McConaughey, Rene Russo, Jeremy Piven, and Armand Assante'
3 stars out of 4


Al Pacino is so great at playing the boss, the manipulative mentor that sees all the moves before they are played out. In "Two for the Money" Pacino stars as Walter Abraham a tycoon in the gambling world of football. McConaughey plays Brandon Lang a new hot shot who had his chance to play pro-ball until he underwent a career changing injury during a bowl game.

6 years later Brandon is working with a 900 -number company, he gets lucky one day when asked to fill in for the companies sports handicapper. Just asked to put the bets on a recorder , Brandon ends up soaring at making his own recordings, he is so quick at having 9 winners a week out of 11 that he eventually gets recognized by Abraham and is asked to fly to New York for an interview.

McConaughey is such a bright and talented face, it's impossible to resist his charm and charisma as an actor, he doesn't come across as cocky, but he isn't boring by any means. "All he does is work out and pick winners," Walter mentions to Tony (Russo) as if Brandon is the newest, most undiscovered treasure in the world. As you can guess, Brandon is recruited by Walter and will be the hottest new voice on the telephones over at Walter's gambling headquarters. We see the first floor of the building as a starting point, new beginnings for Brandon, just as long as he picks 75% winners a week, he'll be fine.


Walter and Brandon are transformed into best friends, but Tony can see that both are on a collision course. Tony isn't a trophy wife, she seems more like a good friend to Walter than a wife. Thier relationship is confusing, but it's still believeable as a marriage. The stakes get bigger when Walter turns Brandon Lang into John Anthony, the only difference is a haircut, a few new suits, and gallons of hair goop. John Anthony is Walter's version of what a true sports handicapper should look like, talk like, and live like.

The story at times is predictable, but fresh and alive with altercating personalities and a look into sports gambling that is flawed. We are showed the world that revolves around it, how big of a business it is, but there is no substance, just miles and miles of style. It's fun watching Pacino, McConaughey, and Russo not conive, but clash together in turmoil as though they are auditioning for parts of greedy people in a world of gambling on eachother.

Jeremy Piven and Armand Assante round out the cast, Piven as a cocky wingman under Walter's eye at the company, and Assante as a Euro' who bets millions on games, and counts on Brandon's bets. "Two for the Money" could have been better, it feels like "The Recruit" mixed with "The Devil's Advocate," and that isn't the best of combos. Pacino is loud, McConaughey is good enough, and Russo is just there. If you can't catch "A History of Violence" check this out.