Two for the Money
Review by Loc

What are the odds that Al Pacino unleashes a random, guttural grunt during a movie? Win an Oscar playing a blind man who yelps and you do it in every role thereafter. Heat, check. The Devil's Advocate, definitely. Insomnia, no actually…but he was tired the whole movie. What about his newest flick, Two for the Money? Sadly, this side bet is the most engaging affair about this gambling movie, and it's something I made up on my own time. Quick hit: a pointless two-hour exercise.

A film about sports gambling doesn't sound particularly intriguing. However, niche subjects can provide fascinating insight about the topic. Rounders explored the world of high stakes poker and offered insight into the shady world of underground card houses. At times, Two for the Money attempts to do that same, peeling back the shroud of mystery of the gambling world and sports advising services. Yet, it fails miserably with contrived sequences that focus more on the actors than the intricacies of betting lines and sports books. When the best way to explain Matthew McConaughey's skills is that he has natural, innate talents, it's like saying a magician can fly because he's magical. What's the point of even covering the subject when all you see is McConaughey circling picks and then cutting to him celebrating the winners?

Unfortunately, this film fails in its characterizations as well. McConaughey plays the studly Brandon Long, former athlete toiling in Las Vegas. As he hones his innate abilities at circling, Long finds himself moving to New York City to become the premiere sports gambling advisor. Al Pacino's Walter Abrams runs a big-time advising service and initiates this talented lad into the sports book world. Much of the film focuses on this budding relationship, Pacino's mentor to McConaughey's mentee. And yet, all the scenes involving them are superficial and mind-numbingly humorous. Pacino receives several moments to Pacino-ize the film, delivering overwhelming rants that serve no purpose but to showcase the actor. Sure, these "lessons" are meant to mold his protégé, but they are so comical that one would grow dumber from actually listening to Pacino's advice.

Not to say the acting performances are subpar. Rather, McConaughey is serviceable as the ex-jock. He smiles and charms his way through the movie. The problem lies in the fact that his character is not intrinsically likeable. Pacino steps in with a vintage Pacino performance, although he does seem subdued and looks to be succumbing to his age. For those curious, his first real Pacino-sized outburst-yell-for-no-reason moment comes with about 10 minutes left in the movie, definitely covering the over on any bet one might make. Much like his character, Pacino is a bit rundown, tired from a life of excess and stress, which works fine with the movie. Rene Russo also checks in as Pacino's wife. Her role consists of…well, she's quite pointless in the movie.

However, the blame does not lie at the cast assembled for this film. The story stretches in too many directions and never succeeds in any of them. The requisite rise-and-fall of McConaughey: unengaging. The intangible shadiness of Pacino and his business: never explored. The drama produced by the McConaughey-Pacino-Russo triangle: lacks drama and relevance. The exploration into sports gambling: barely superficial coverage. If this flick was aiming to be a character study of moral ambiguity, it failed to provide depth to the players. If it was trying to offer an inside look at gambling, it never unlocked the secrets of the business. If anything, this film stumbles around for two hours and raising the question, what was the point of this movie?

Overall, this film is not entertaining. One jarring aspect revolves around the gambling aspect. Failing to receive NFL approval, the entire film tiptoes around the subject. They mention teams only by city names, and when games show up on television, teams wear generic uniforms with fictitious logos. It might be expected because the NFL never wants to be associated with gambling, but this minor detail reminds the audience of the film's lack of authenticity. Toss in some horrible characterizations, mundane performances, and a directionless plot, and you get a film that fails to cover the spread. Out of 14 games on the schedule, Two for the Money only picks 2 winners. Save the money and place your bet on a better film. End of puns.