Review of Two for the Money (2005) by Kj P — 30 Dec 2009

Two for the Money is a 2005 film starring Al Pacino and Matthew McConaughey. The story follows former quarterback Brandon Lang (McConaughey) who, after breaking his knee in a game, has to work in a phone service company which predicts the results of games. After many successful forecasts, he is invited by Walter Abrams (Al Pacino) to move to New York and work with him in his televised gambling advising business.

I thought Pacino and, more surprisingly, McConaughey put on a good show. The acting was good and the viewer is served some more of that Pacino sharp talk. Rene Russo, Jeremy Piven and Armand Assante also fit in well.

This line from Abrams sums up the film best: "You know, the best part of the best drug in the world isn't the high. It's the moment just before you take it. The dice are dancing on the table. Between now and the time they stop, that's the greatest high in the world". As it says, this is how the gambling adviser works and to another extent lives.

The movie may well be about gambling and making money, but for me the interest was in the odd relationship between Abrams and Lang. This kept the whole thing together and alive. Lang has trouble to fit into his mentor's way of pushing the limits. And, dealing with big money, naturally loses his innocence. Abrams is yet another stereotypical Pacino character, who lives by manipulation, control and smart talk (just think of The Devil's Advocate, The Recruit, or Righteous Kill).

Overall To for the Money is accessible and worth a watch. I suspect though that it will easily be forgotten.