With Hollywood superstars Matthew McConaughey and Al Pacino, "Two for the Money" isn't a gamble, but an automatic box-office success.
"Two for the Money" is a sentimental narrative about the sports gambling business intermixed with humorous accounts to keep movie watchers entertained.
The film portrays the lives of gamblers and their addictions to alcohol, money and of course, betting. Throughout the movie, director D.J. Caruso captures the cruel reality of losing money, loved ones, employment and dignity as a result of poor judgment in the betting industry.
Within a millisecond of a stopwatch, athletic star Brandon Lang loses it all, including his career as a result of a football injury. After his confirmed disability, Lang decides to make a new career out of Vegas' most treasured pastime: gambling.
Matthew McConaughey ("A Time to Kill," "The Wedding Planner") plays the former college football player who is recruited by big-time Big Apple bookie Walter Abrams, played by Al Pacino ("The Godfather," "Heat").
McConaughey works well. Al Pacino enhances the movie by contributing comic moments to the storyline.
Rene Russo plays Toni Morrow, the wife of Walter Abrams who is a recovering drug addict. Russo's role as Pacino's wife is an important part in the way the movie portrays addiction. She represents how the theme can involve an individual as well as a family unit.
Brandon Lang, who was given the sports consultant name John Anthony, lost all normalcies in his life as a direct consequence of sports dealing. Al Pacino's character struggles with his wife, who reminds him of his previous addiction to gambling and continuous greed.
The film takes an excellent stand in revealing the truth about addictions. "Two for the Money" reveals the horrible truth with a few wisecracks, making the film as funny as it is saddening.
One can only imagine a scene in which sport advisors John Anthony and Walter attend a gamblers anonymous meeting in efforts to convince the gamblers that making bets isn't their problem. The hilarious scene ends as Walter begins to hand out business cards to the addicts.
John Anthony and Walter Abrams have the ability to manipulate every person around them, including each other.
McConaughey and Pacino's characters have an influence on each other's roles in the film. As the businessmen continuously become comfortable with one another there is an observable character exchange between the two.
In another scene, Caruso captures some of the negative effects of gambling. He places an emphasis on people losing their all possessions and relationships due to the disadvantages of sports betting.
"A gambler's fantasy," Abrams says, "is to end up with nothing."
The film starts off slow because Lang is only character of interest in the opening scenes. The film picks up the pace once Pacino and McConaughey share the screen. It becomes increasingly interesting because the issues can be related to a wider range of people.
The movie would have not been a success if it weren't for the talents and previous experience of the actors.
