Two for the Money

Red Eye Rundown
Small town sports hero, big city.... Al Pacino...
Why not try Anything with Al Pacino - Godfather, Heat, Scarface Sahara - Matthew McConaughey
 
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Two for the Money is the story of Brandon Lang (Matthew McConaughey), a former college level football player, who after suffering a career ending injury takes his knowledge of football to the world of gambling. Making the picks in a small time radio show station, he soon gets noticed by the biggest gambling predictors in the world led by Walter Abrams (Al Pacino). What follows is a tale of greed, lust, sports and money. Matthew McConaughey is a big, blonde-haired, hunk of a movie star. Whose easy charm and genuine manner have won over movie fans around the world. With a sparkle in his eye and a John Wayne swagger he is reminiscent of an earlier era of movie stars with classic good looks and bold style. John Wayne meets Charlton Heston – or Kirk Douglas meets Jimmy Stewart. His roles have flirted between romantic comedies with Sandra Bullock and Jennifer Lopez to action romps such as Sahara and U-571. Al Pacino – is a Red Eye Review Legend. His 37yr career has seen him create some of the most memorable characters in movie history. From Michael Corleone (Godfather) to Tony Montana (Scarface) his characters have always possessed a rugged vivacity for life. Al Pacino is best suited to characters which allow him to express his natural zeal and charisma. However he is a very intelligent and thought provoking actor whose range when not typecast, is not restricted to the crazily impassioned or eccentric. D.J.Caruso directs his first major motion picture after the critical and commercial success of The Shield, the US police series. His experience comes from US TV, which spawns many a future movie director (J.J.Abrams Mi-III & Lost). With so much revenue to be generated from TV shows, the US TV market is today recognised as an excellent training ground for future directors. Caruso does a solid job with this feature although the story and direction seem to be a little bland and dull. Whether this was due to restrictions with the story layout or simply a nervous lack of imagination, Red Eye Review was not overly impressed with his first attempt at the big screen. The major problem with this film was the two main characters played by McConaughey and Pacino They seemed a little miss-cast, there didn’t seem to be enough bite in the characters or challenge in the action. McConaughey in particular did a great job but seemed ill-suited to the role of the clean cut footballer tempted by the devil in the city (Pacino). McConaughey was not able to show his characters change or demonstrate an edge to interest the audience. Pacino. was great as ever but again was only able to deliver within the confines of the character. Rene Russo who played Pacino’s wife was I thought the exception, she was great as the strong wife, who absorbs the maverick behavior of her outrageous husband. The Direction was solid with some interesting lighting and sets. However I did not feel the compulsion of gambling or see the double-standards in what the main characters were doing. Here was a great chance to give an insight into the gross distended underbelly of gambling, however the director (whether out of choice I do not know) decided to opt for truth over fiction. Although this was only ‘inspired’ by a true story it felt almost a little to real for this reviewers liking and there was not enough flair and pizzazz! In conclusion, a solid if not slightly dull film with good performances by all, let down by a lack of imagination and a restrictive storyline.
 
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Genre Information
Genre: Drama, Sport
 
Production Information
Produced in: USA
Language: English
 
Release Information
Released: 2005

UK cinema: 10/03/2006
US cinema: 07/10/2005

UK DVD: 17/07/2006
US DVD: 17/01/2006
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