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Craig Younkin
Movie Review
Two For the Money
By Lee Tistaert Published October 2, 2005
US Release: October 7, 2005
Directed by: D.J. Caruso
Starring: Matthew McConaughey , Al Pacino , Rene Russo
R
Running Time: 122 minutes
Domestic Box Office: $22,863,000
Directed by: D.J. Caruso
Starring: Matthew McConaughey , Al Pacino , Rene Russo
R
Running Time: 122 minutes
Domestic Box Office: $22,863,000
C
A simple rise-and-fall telling of behind-the-scenes sports betting.
Two for the Money stars Matthew McConaughey as an ex-football player (Brandon Lang) who bets on sports for a living. Walter Abrams (Al Pacino), a big-time bookie, contacts Brandon and wants to take him under his wing and show him what it?s like to have power and wealth. Brandon then goes under the new name, John Anthony, to build up a reputation as a bad-ass, and follows Walter's every word for success. That?s all that this movie is about: this is a simple rise-and-fall telling of behind-the-scenes sports betting.
It?s quite strange seeing Al Pacino in this flick not that long after he starred opposite Colin Farrell in The Recruit (C+), for McConaughey basically has the same role that Farrell had there. Two for the Money is watch-able, but it?s as straightforward as Recruit, and it is only tolerable thanks to the performances by Pacino and McConaughey; the storytelling is purely by-the-book material. McConaughey has the right physique and charisma for the part, but the movie?s formula is too familiar to really play along with its rise-to-victory path. And while Pacino has a blast with his role, he simply chews up the scenery like usual, and it comes off like every other role of his in recent years.
Considering the high-stakes of the profession, there?s a big party as things go really well for the characters, and predictably enough, everything leads to the corruption that this dangerous game can induce. The movie pulls all of the formulaic moments that we would expect from such a genre flick (tough guys pouncing on a main character for what he did), and it lacks a catch. Even The Recruit had a twist in the end (despite being predictable), and the only thing Two for the Money leads to is a cheesy, overdone finale (which will probably spark unintended laughter from some audiences).
The film could?ve taken the path of Jerry Maguire (B+) and not only enlightened us on this sports profession (which is done to a certain extent) but also on the intimate life of the main character ? the latter being unfulfilled here. Whereas that film felt emotionally real, Two for the Money feels very much like a movie in its manipulation and formulaic layout?and worse yet, just another movie in this sports genre. The movie isn?t bad but its contents are just too expected. Undemanding fans of the duo will likely get what they want, and there is definitely an audience for this breezy genre, but the movie was just too light for my taste, and was in that ?been there, done that?-enough territory.
It?s quite strange seeing Al Pacino in this flick not that long after he starred opposite Colin Farrell in The Recruit (C+), for McConaughey basically has the same role that Farrell had there. Two for the Money is watch-able, but it?s as straightforward as Recruit, and it is only tolerable thanks to the performances by Pacino and McConaughey; the storytelling is purely by-the-book material. McConaughey has the right physique and charisma for the part, but the movie?s formula is too familiar to really play along with its rise-to-victory path. And while Pacino has a blast with his role, he simply chews up the scenery like usual, and it comes off like every other role of his in recent years.
Considering the high-stakes of the profession, there?s a big party as things go really well for the characters, and predictably enough, everything leads to the corruption that this dangerous game can induce. The movie pulls all of the formulaic moments that we would expect from such a genre flick (tough guys pouncing on a main character for what he did), and it lacks a catch. Even The Recruit had a twist in the end (despite being predictable), and the only thing Two for the Money leads to is a cheesy, overdone finale (which will probably spark unintended laughter from some audiences).
The film could?ve taken the path of Jerry Maguire (B+) and not only enlightened us on this sports profession (which is done to a certain extent) but also on the intimate life of the main character ? the latter being unfulfilled here. Whereas that film felt emotionally real, Two for the Money feels very much like a movie in its manipulation and formulaic layout?and worse yet, just another movie in this sports genre. The movie isn?t bad but its contents are just too expected. Undemanding fans of the duo will likely get what they want, and there is definitely an audience for this breezy genre, but the movie was just too light for my taste, and was in that ?been there, done that?-enough territory.
Lee's Grade: C
Lee's Overall Grading: 3025 graded movies
| A | 0.4% | |
| B | 30.0% | |
| C | 61.7% | |
| D | 8.0% | |
| F | 0.0% |
'Two For the Money' Articles
- Craig's review C
October 8, 2005 It treads on the same story arc {as Wall Street and Boiler Room} but doesn't give us compelling material. -- Craig Younkin
