Two for the Money Review
by Steve Rhodes (Steve DOT Rhodes AT InternetReviews DOT com)October 5th, 2005
TWO FOR THE MONEY
A film review by Steve Rhodes
Copyright 2005 Steve Rhodes
RATING (0 TO ****): ***
In TWO FOR THE MONEY, a cross between BOILER ROOM and DEVIL'S ADVOCATE, Al Pacino and Matthew McConaughey chew up the scenery with reckless abandon, completely obscuring the superfluous supporting cast. Don't bet against these two fine actors, as they play consummate gamblers. Although they shamelessly ham it up, obviously having a great time together on the set, the movie's biggest surprise is that we have almost as much fun as they do. This was particularly shocking to me, since the movie was directed by D.J. Caruso. After suffering through his THE SALTON SEA, I didn't think he was capable of making a watchable movie. But this one is funny and energetic, making its needlessly long length almost unnoticeable.
McConaughey plays Brandon Lang, a would-be professional football quarterback. A hurt knee in his last college game ended his visions of the fame and fortune of a life under the lights. Six years later, we find him parlaying his football acumen into an almost $12 an hour job in Vegas offering sports predictions on a bet recommendation 900 line.
Hearing of Brandon's amazing success in calling them correctly, Walter Abrams (Pacino) makes him an offer he can't refuse. Walter offers Brandon a life of luxury and a new identity in New York as "Johnny Anthony, the Million Dollar Man." With his mug on ads and a corner office, Johnny soon begins to believe his own hype, seeing himself as infallible. Even if he has to flip a coin to call a winner, it has to come out right since he is the one doing the flipping.
A hilarious on-going joke is how Walter gets Johnny to start using the f-word, as he cons his clients into wagering bigger and bigger bets. The sports advisory agency that Walter runs stays legal by only advising gamblers on which teams to bet on and never taking any bets. They make their money as a commission on the winnings. All bets are placed -- generally illegally -- with bookies.
The wasted supporting cast includes Rene Russo as Walter's trophy wife, Armand Assante as a notorious gambler and Jeremy Piven as the guy who used to be Walter's fair haired boy until Johnny assumed that role.
In no time, Walter and Johnny are calling each other father and son. But theirs will prove to be a highly dysfunctional family. Walter is a recovering member of Gamblers Anonymous. He still goes to their meetings, where he tells exceedingly strange stories and then hands out his company's cards before he is thrown out.
It is clear that Walter's life is one long near death experience, which he thoroughly enjoys and causes. When Johnny and Walter, who has a bad heart, are about to meet the most dangerous and mysterious of their clients, Walter admonishes Johnny that, "There's no such thing as too far. You push as far as you can."
The film is as predicable as it is funny, but the obligatory big ending game does have some good twists. For those who think that they can do no wrong, TWO FOR THE MONEY teaches an informative and cautionary lesson, but it doesn't end quite as bleakly as it might have.
TWO FOR THE MONEY runs 2:05. It is rated R for "pervasive language, a scene of sexuality and a violent act" and would be acceptable for teenagers.
The film opens nationwide in the United States on Friday, October 7, 2005. In the Silicon Valley, it will be showing at the AMC theaters, the Century theaters and the Camera Cinemas.
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Originally posted in the rec.arts.movies.reviews newsgroup. Copyright belongs to original author unless otherwise stated. We take no responsibilities nor do we endorse the contents of this review.
