Today’s quick review: Two for the Money. After an injury cuts short his football career, Brandon Lang (Matthew McConaughey) finds his calling selling football picks to gamblers. His record catches the eye of Walter Abrams (Al Pacino), the smooth-talking owner of a successful sports betting hotline. Walter offers Brandon a job, and soon the two of them are raking in the cash. But Brandon risks losing it all when his success goes to his head.
Two for the Money is a drama about sports betting and the price of success. Matthew McConaughey stars as Brandon Lang, a young tipster with a winning track record. Al Pacino plays opposite him as Walter Abrams, a flashy businessman who takes Brandon under his wing. Two for the Money shows the complex relationship between the two men and the way it fractures as Brandon loses his edge. The movie features solid character work and a decent story.
The heart of Two for the Money is its characters. Walter makes for an interesting figure. His business success is as much due to flash as substance, and his affable exterior hides his inner faults, including a paranoid streak, a gambling addiction, and a loose relationship with the truth. The one person keeping him under control is his wife Toni (Rene Russo), a woman with enough patience to keep Walter’s wilder impulses in check.
Two for the Money delves into the way Walter’s personality rubs off on Brandon, turning him from an earnest go-getter to the egotistical salesman Walter wants him to be. Their story has some good ups and downs as Brandon peels back the layers of Walter, the gambling business, and himself. However, the story itself is not that special. Two for the Money isn’t as flashy as other tales of wealth, and its ending doesn’t wrap things up as well as it could.
Two for the Money is a fine pick for anyone willing to spend some time with some believably flawed characters. The movie is much more modest than other movies that have similar premises, but its good performances and the subtle layers in its relationships let it bring something unique to the table. Those who prefer flashier stories, more masterful emotional arcs, or characters who are easier to like may want to steer clear.
For a wilder story about financial success and ruin, try The Wolf of Wall Street. For one with a more biographical angle, try Molly’s Game. For a drama about a man who nearly ruins himself gambling, try Rounders, The Gambler, or Mississippi Grind. For a financial drama with a similar relationship between its leads, try Wall Street. For an even more powerful performance from Al Pacino, try Donnie Brasco.
6.3 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for believable characters missing the story to use them to their fullest.