Two For the Money (2005)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Daniel P

  
  The thing about a business that makes and sells picks to sports bettors is that, technically, it's not gambling... except for the fact that it is. What was good about this film was the recovered gambling addict (Pacino) and his wife, the poorly acted but more-or-less believable… More
  The thing about a business that makes and sells picks to sports bettors is that, technically, it's not gambling... except for the fact that it is. What was good about this film was the recovered gambling addict (Pacino) and his wife, the poorly acted but more-or-less believable ex-drug addict (Russo). They walked and talked like rehabbers, no question. But what was really frustrating was the pervasive fear that Pacino would go back to gambling... his business is based on making the right picks. He's been gambling all along! The film is anything but subtle, and though it's promising through the first half, it loses control in the second, throwing in a bunch of scenes that unnecessarily delay the resolution, and distract from the movie's point, that you can't win them all. Still, there is a decently-plotted classical tragedy element to McConaughey's character (pride goeth before the fall), and Pacino is always fun to watch. Too bad this film's only half-baked, it had potential.

• KJ P

  
  This movie sucks like a vacuum!

• Lorenzo v

  
  <i>Walter Abrams: "Stats are not enough, you need a voice! These are gamblers ready to risk what they can't afford for what they can't have, you're selling the world's rarest commodity: certainty, in an uncertain world."</i> D.J.… More
  <i>Walter Abrams: "Stats are not enough, you need a voice! These are gamblers ready to risk what they can't afford for what they can't have, you're selling the world's rarest commodity: certainty, in an uncertain world."</i> D.J. Caruso's Two for the Money stars Matthew McConaughey as Brandon Lang, a former college quarterback whose life plans changed when he suffered a career-ending injury. Brandon turns out to have remarkable skill at picking winning football bets. Eventually, he comes to the attention of Walter Abrams (Al Pacino), a very successful business tycoon who runs a giant gambling operation. Walter brings Brandon to New York and introduces him to a glitzy, fast-paced, money-drenched lifestyle that Brandon eagerly soaks up. When Brandon's magic touch begins to falter, Walter starts to turn on his protégé. Soon the two men are attempting to outwit each other, with Walter's wife (Rene Russo) caught in the middle. <b><u>Review</u></b> Well, I saw this movie yesterday, and although I wasn't disappointed, I wasn't terribly thrilled, either. I imagine it would be different for someone who was really into sports, sports gambling, or maybe was a compulsive gambler himself. For me, the relationships were interesting, and Al Pacino certainly chewed the scenery in his role as a kingpin sports prognosticator. I would say that he was over-the top except that I know actual people from New York who are really like that. Matthew McConaughey was as good as I have seen him and ripped as ever. I would recommend the picture for beefcake fans, but there really wasn't enough to make a meal of. Not my type of picture, more suitable for sports fans.

• Al S

  
  Al Pacino gives a powerhouse performance, he shows us once again why he's the best actor of his generation and never fails to deliver. Matthew McCounahgy is at the top of his game, showing off his movie star charisma and that he can stand with his veteran mentor. A real… More
  Al Pacino gives a powerhouse performance, he shows us once again why he's the best actor of his generation and never fails to deliver. Matthew McCounahgy is at the top of his game, showing off his movie star charisma and that he can stand with his veteran mentor. A real adreniline rush. A slick, cool and wickedly funny thriller.

• Lenny M

  
  Can't take McConaughey seriously but always will give Pacino a chance.

• E.J. B

  
  Slick entertainment. Well written, well acted, well paced.

• Lanning :

  
  I wasn't expecting much from this film, aside from getting a look at what Pacino is up to. I have to say, he does not disappoint. The subject matter really is a problem for me, not being a hardcore sports gambling kind of guy. <p> McConaughey turns in a typically average… More
  I wasn't expecting much from this film, aside from getting a look at what Pacino is up to. I have to say, he does not disappoint. The subject matter really is a problem for me, not being a hardcore sports gambling kind of guy. <p> McConaughey turns in a typically average performance, and Russo is pretty much wasted here. But Pacino can really make much out of little in terms of script and story, and is definitely worth seeing in this. <p> There's a bit of a fairytale ending to this which is not very convincing. You'd think, after all the lives that these gentlemen ruin, that they'd at least have their legs broken or be subject to drive-by shootings, at minimum, but the closest we get to any real-world comeuppance is Assante avenging his massive losses by urinating, menacingly, on McConaughey. Not exactly what I would call true-to-life. <p> Still, Pacino is worth the time spent seeing this.

• Aaron N

  
  Promising first half met with a dissapointingly slow second.

• Jose Z

  
  its a movie that involves you very quick with a very interesting theme and story. it has a grat cast that made a great job specially and as usual from Al Pacino, I like it and fully recommend it

• Mark E

  
  A film about betting on american "football"..yes it was that dull!

• James A

  
  Greatest worst exchange of diologue. Kid:Hey coach, do you think we'll win? Coach: I'd bet on it. End scene roll credits.

• Walter M

  
  [font=Century Gothic]In "Two for the Money," six years after blowing out his knee in a conference championship, Brandon Lang(Matthew McConaughey) is at the low end of the food chain working at a 900 call center in Las Vegas, while hoping for a comeback. One day he gets a… More
  [font=Century Gothic]In "Two for the Money," six years after blowing out his knee in a conference championship, Brandon Lang(Matthew McConaughey) is at the low end of the food chain working at a 900 call center in Las Vegas, while hoping for a comeback. One day he gets a chance at football picks which he excels at, due to his keeping abreast of the game. Walter Abrams(Al Pacino) notices Brandon's prodigal talent and lures him to New York to work for him in a business advising gamblers in return for 10% of their winnings.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]I have always loved watching sports because it is fun(you might feel the same way about participating) but I have never understood the appeal of gambling or even the fantasy leagues. Gambling takes all the fun out of it because money enters the equation which is the central message of "Two for the Money." In an entertaining way, the movie tries to enter the mind of a gambler. Abrams may not think he gambles anymore, but that is exactly how he runs his business, riding Lang's hot streak to success. At the same time, Lang is looking for a father figure in return. Even though there is not a lot of depth to the film, it is still fun watching Pacino and McConaughey, two of the biggest strutting peacocks around today. And it is always nice when Rene Russo has a decent part in a movie. [/font]

• Panta O

  
  In this typical rise and demise story Matthew McConaughey is fresh-faced young men and a washed-up football player turned sports tipster - Brandon Lang. He has very high rate of accuracy catching the attention of sports gambling kingpin Walter Abrams (Al Pacino) and he quickly makes… More
  In this typical rise and demise story Matthew McConaughey is fresh-faced young men and a washed-up football player turned sports tipster - Brandon Lang. He has very high rate of accuracy catching the attention of sports gambling kingpin Walter Abrams (Al Pacino) and he quickly makes him his golden boy. Walter lives a high-flying lifestyle but all that is just an appearance - his marriage isn't as secure as it first appears - his wife (the role played terribly by Rene Russo) and Walter are recovering gambling addicts and it seems that one of them is back to the old habits! Things get complicated when Brandon's lucky streak dries up just when Walter needs it most. I was disappointed after more than 2 hours of watching this film and the main problem was that there isn't nearly enough plot here to sustain its lengthy running time. The director tried hard to introduce some sub-plots but they just vanished or somehow never fully developed. The initial set-up will keep your attention but towards the middle this film rapidly loses its way and the climax is a real downer - badly written and incredibly unsatisfying! Of course, for all the female fans, there is more than few shots of McConaughey's naked torso, while the guys can enjoy the shouting mode of Al Pacino. Badly written and poorly directed!

• Deb S

  
  The story is about Brandon Lang (Matthew McConaughey), a pro footballer whose career is cut short by an injury. He's hired by Walter Abrams (Al Pacino), the owner of a big betting agency, who helps turning him into a personality and earning loads of money. At first, the… More
  The story is about Brandon Lang (Matthew McConaughey), a pro footballer whose career is cut short by an injury. He's hired by Walter Abrams (Al Pacino), the owner of a big betting agency, who helps turning him into a personality and earning loads of money. At first, the partnership between Lang and Abrams is flawless. Lang takes on a new name, John Anthony, and a new sense of confidence. He is consistent with his picks and the two rake in millions in cash. But then things start to go wrong and both men are pushed to the limit. Al Pacino is one of my favorite actors and has done this role before ("Donnie Brasco", and "The Devil's Advocate.")The movie did demonstrate the excitement and the dangers of gambling and is a powerful story portrayed by a trio of great actors (Pacino, McConaughey and Rene Russo).The end is very unpredictable and I must say touching. Exciting and thought-provoking, this is a terrific movie all around.

• Nicolas K

  
  Pacino is no longer a seal of quality for a film. Come to think of it, he hasn't really been that since the late nineties.

• Mike T

  
  This is a relatively entertaining movie with no real destination. Al Pacino is great, as always, and it firmly kept my attention from start to finish.

• R?o?d?r?i?g?o? R

  
  An entertaining movie with an interesting and a bit of a maniac with the sole thought of winning in gambling.

• Brett W

  
  Just fast forward to the part where Pacino yells "TALONS!!!"

• Sarah P

  
  A pretty average film - McConaughey is annoying, but Pacino balances him out.

• *Kimberly *

  
  A valid portrayal of the mechanisms behind addictive gambling; most people don't know when to quit.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings