 |
|
||||
|
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Upcoming Release Calendar
38
12 Rounds Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed movies.
67
$9.99 Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed movies.
|
Two for the Money
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
||||||||||||
MPAA RATING: R for pervasive language, a scene of sexuality and a violent act
Starring Al Pacino, Matthew McConaughey, Rene Russo, Armand Assante, Jeremy Piven, Jaime King, Kevin Chapman, and Ralph Garman
Two For the Money is a drama of high stakes set in the adrenalized world of wheeler-dealers whose fortunes are won and lost betting on sports. Matthew McConaughey stars as Brandon Lang, a former college football star whose uncanny ability to predict the outcome of a makes him a prime candidate for recruitment by Walter Abrams (Pacino), the head of one of the biggest sports consulting operations in the country. (Universal)
| GENRE(S): | Drama | Suspense/Thriller |
| WRITTEN BY: | Dan Gilroy |
| DIRECTED BY: | D.J. Caruso |
| RELEASE DATE: |
DVD: January 17, 2006 Video: January 17, 2006 Theatrical: October 7, 2005 |
| RUNNING TIME: | 122 minutes, Color |
| ORIGIN: | USA |
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
The average user rating for this movie is 3.8 (out of 10) based on 27 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Mike D. gave it a3:
Ridiculous script. Pacino is always interesting to watch but he is over the top most of the time in this movie.
Rich R. gave it a1:
This is a foul movie. Why doesn't this has-been branch out a little bit instead of playing the same old dispeptic psycho in every movie, again and again, time after time... And Matthew Mc-whatever-it-is? Don't get me started! What a log! This guy's the Patrick Swayze of his generation: dull, non-threatening, over-exercised and dumb. I guess I should say "What a dog!" No wonder women like guys like these; they make them feel superior.
BJ S. gave it a6:
Definetely not as bad as these negative reviews. I personally I found it entertaining but I was not expecting a great movie.
Mark B. gave it a7:
There are entire decades that didn't produce as many sports-themed or -related movies as 2005 has released--and the year isn't even over yet! In addition to films about the usual suspects: baseball, football, basketball, soccer, boxing, golf and horse racing, we've gotten (or will soon get) fictional or factual screen treatments of such off-the-beaten-track athletic and competitive endeavors as high school ice skating, junior high competitive ballroom dancing, wheelchair rugby and the Special Olympics! So what's next? Well, how about BETTING on sports? Two for the Money (terrible, genetic title, by the way: it could just as easily have been attached to a 1935 Busby Berkeley musical or a 1949 Dead End Kids comedy) is the latest variation on the venerable, all-purpose seasoned-expert-teaches-green-but-eager-kid-the-ropes subgenre, in which injured, woulda-been pro footballer Matthew McConaughey learns all about becoming a guru of gridiron gambling from tycoon Al Pacino...and before the movie's over, you just know that both guys will learn as much or more about themselves as well. This joins A Sound of Thunder and Waiting...as one of 2005's prime guilty pleasures: very few points for originality, but plenty for sheer chutzpah: it's hard not to respond to the absurd but weirdly entertaining sequences in which Pacino and McConaughey crash a Gamblers Anonymous meeting hoping to, uh, cause a relapse; or where a disgruntled mobster (Armand Assante) finds an especially pungent way to express his displeasure at McConaughey's less than 100% dependable advice, or the operatic cross-cutting finale that both incorporates Big Game cliches and rejects them. It's bombastic and way over the top, but let's be honest: isn't that what you WANT more than half the time from an Al Pacino movie? He can be a wonderfully subtle, understated actor, but the Godfather trilogy notwithstanding, don't most of us go to Scent of a Woman or ...And Justice for all or Devil's Advocate to hear loud, grandstanding speechifying, which Pacino provides here in abundance? (I mean, you don't see a whole generation and culture sporting T-shirts depicting his characters in Donnie Brasco and The Merchant of Venice, do you?) The likable McConaughey manages the daunting task of keeping up with Pacino most of the time, but even better (and a smashing counterpoint) is Rene Russo, who as Pacino's conflicted wife repeats what she did so well in the Pierce Brosnan remake of The Thomas Crown Affair: strikes a blow for fortysomething actresses as incredibly attractive, alluring, sexual beings in an industry that too often pushes actresses that reach a certain point of no return into unflattering supporting roles, repeatedly unsuccessful TV sitcoms and, eventually (gasp!) infomercials while Harrison Ford and Sean Connery will continue to get romantic leads until they can no longer move their walkers. Then again, since Russo apparently had to executive produce this movie in order to guarantee herself this role, I guess it's not as much a cause for celebration as I originally thought!
Chad S. gave it a6:
"Two for the Money" lost me when the film seems to forget that Walter(Al Pacino) turns on Brandon(Matthew McConaughey) at an office party. That flash of anger would seem to suggest a violent side, not a fatalistic one. We never see that malevolent side again. A seasoned pro like Walter would probably never allow his personal feelings to hijack his business sense. Since Brandon is never allowed to go, say 8-8; he's either super-hot or super-cold, it's hard to imagine how this sports-advising group could stay in business after two weeks of brutal forecasting. The early scenes in "Two for the Money" raises our expectations because we think the film is going to be knowledgable about the world of sports handicapping. What we get instead is a variation of the sports movie finale, an annoying gaming metaphor to describe Walter's relationship with Toni(Rene Russo), and some amusing affirmations of how we think these pigskin gasbags arrive at their picks. This last item is the best reason to see "Two for the Money".
ed w. gave it a7:
Hey, relax. It is a good time, not perfect but Pacino is a lot of fun to watch in this role.
Lindsey gave it a0:
My boyfriend dragged me to this trash. AWFUL is an understatement.
 |
Return to top of page |  |
