I'm a sucker for big Al Pacino movies even those titles that seem lightweight or popcorn. The fact that 'Two For The Money' also stars Matthew McConaughey and deals with gambling is just the coup de grâce. I once read a person compare it to 'The Devils Advocate' and I admit the viewpoint sticks. We're not dealing with biblical themes and the issues of good vs evil, but gambling has always had a racy edge to it. This is a fun flick.
Brandon Lang (McConaughey) was a college quarterback sensation who saw it all go away after a career ending injury on the field. Later he's working 1-900 numbers and gets asked to sub picking football games to gamblers. His great percentages draws the attention of Walter Abrams (Pacino) who runs one of the biggest sportsbook advice "tout" services in NY with his own cable show. Lang undergoes a transformation at Walter's insistence to be the complete package in 'John Anthony'. A man who's got the ability to pick winners and the confidence to successfully sell them as part of a persona. Of course, this is a tale of (sports) gambling and there comes the valleys with the peaks.
Abrams (Pacino) is a former gambling addict who likes to push people's buttons. Particularly Lang's & his wife Toni's (Rene Russo) as their success soaks. Meanwhile Lang starts becoming complacent with his new identity leading to some lows in due part to the substitute father role Abrams takes on and some highly suspect manipulative behavior. When things start circling the gutter can they turn it around before the whole ship goes down.
There is a particular scene where director DJ Caruso gave Al Pacino free reign on how he wanted to do it without McConaughey knowing and the look on the latter's face is authentic. A real good piece of tension, anger & all around acting that is later mirrored in a scene of one of their clients who's lost it all. Jaime King (Sin City) shows up providing some female sexuality, Armand Assante gives weight & menace as a big time gambler and Jeremy Piven plays a role very much in his wheelhouse as an employee of Walter.
The lone sore spot is the basis for the film (which you can read into). An "inspired by a true story" tale of Brandon Link, a man who says (like Lang in the film) he was a red hot handicapper who picked like fire for a stretch. This movie actually got made because he pitched writer Dan Gilroy the idea while acting as his golf caddy. Let that sink in. Plus of course, job #1 for Hollywood is to deliver an entertaining picture that the public likes & makes money so truth is already secondary.
Audiences and critics didn't appreciate this flick when it originally dropped in 2005, but I've enjoyed it all along. Yes the cast and theme has a lot to do with it. Take the "true story" element with a huge grain of salt but if you want to see two heavyweight actors play off each other this is a recommended "pick".
Brandon Lang (McConaughey) was a college quarterback sensation who saw it all go away after a career ending injury on the field. Later he's working 1-900 numbers and gets asked to sub picking football games to gamblers. His great percentages draws the attention of Walter Abrams (Pacino) who runs one of the biggest sportsbook advice "tout" services in NY with his own cable show. Lang undergoes a transformation at Walter's insistence to be the complete package in 'John Anthony'. A man who's got the ability to pick winners and the confidence to successfully sell them as part of a persona. Of course, this is a tale of (sports) gambling and there comes the valleys with the peaks.
Abrams (Pacino) is a former gambling addict who likes to push people's buttons. Particularly Lang's & his wife Toni's (Rene Russo) as their success soaks. Meanwhile Lang starts becoming complacent with his new identity leading to some lows in due part to the substitute father role Abrams takes on and some highly suspect manipulative behavior. When things start circling the gutter can they turn it around before the whole ship goes down.
There is a particular scene where director DJ Caruso gave Al Pacino free reign on how he wanted to do it without McConaughey knowing and the look on the latter's face is authentic. A real good piece of tension, anger & all around acting that is later mirrored in a scene of one of their clients who's lost it all. Jaime King (Sin City) shows up providing some female sexuality, Armand Assante gives weight & menace as a big time gambler and Jeremy Piven plays a role very much in his wheelhouse as an employee of Walter.
The lone sore spot is the basis for the film (which you can read into). An "inspired by a true story" tale of Brandon Link, a man who says (like Lang in the film) he was a red hot handicapper who picked like fire for a stretch. This movie actually got made because he pitched writer Dan Gilroy the idea while acting as his golf caddy. Let that sink in. Plus of course, job #1 for Hollywood is to deliver an entertaining picture that the public likes & makes money so truth is already secondary.
Audiences and critics didn't appreciate this flick when it originally dropped in 2005, but I've enjoyed it all along. Yes the cast and theme has a lot to do with it. Take the "true story" element with a huge grain of salt but if you want to see two heavyweight actors play off each other this is a recommended "pick".