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Two for the Money (2005)

 -  Drama | Sport | Thriller  -  7 October 2005 (USA)
6.1
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Ratings: 6.1/10 from 26,182 users   Metascore: 50/100
Reviews: 136 user | 112 critic | 29 from Metacritic.com

After suffering a career-ending injury, a former college football star aligns himself with one of the most renowned touts in the sports-gambling business.

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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Milton
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Chuck
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Herbie (as Gerrard Plunkett)
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Chrislyn Austin ...
Julia
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Storyline

Brandon Lang loves football: an injury keeps him from the pros, but his quarterback's anticipation makes him a brilliant predictor of games' outcomes. Needing money, he leaves Vegas for Manhattan to work for Walter Abrams advising gamblers. Walter has a doting wife, a young daughter, and a thriving business, but he has problems: a bum heart, a belief he's a master manipulator, and addictions barely kept in check. He remakes Brandon, and a father-son relationship grows. Then, things go awry. Walter may be running a con. The odds against Brandon mount. Written by <jhailey@hotmail.com>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Genres:

Drama | Sport | Thriller

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for pervasive language, a scene of sexuality and a violent act | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

7 October 2005 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

For the Money  »

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$12,183 (Chile) (16 June 2006)

Gross:

$12,183 (Chile) (16 June 2006)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

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Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Three members of the main cast (Marshall Efron, James Cranna, and Julie Payne) had small roles in another Lucasfilm production: THX 1138 See more »

Goofs

When Brandon storms into Walter's office after making what he thought was a successful sales pitch tape, while working out, he points at Walter with his right hand. In the next shot, he's pointing at Walter with his left hand. See more »

Quotes

Walter Abrams: Know what you know, and know what you don't know. And know that I gotta know everything you know as soon as you know it... or sooner
See more »

Crazy Credits

Inspired by a true story See more »

Connections

References Network (1976) See more »

Soundtracks

"It's Not Unusual"
Written by Gordon Mills and Les Reed
Performed by Tom Jones
Courtesy of Seconds Out Productions
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User Reviews

 
The odds
28 October 2005 | by (New York) – See all my reviews

There is a scene at the beginning of the film that seems to set the tone of "Two for the Money". We watch as Walter Abrams is talking on the phone with someone who will not be able to provide an elephant for his daughter's birthday party. Walter barks to his assistant, "Get me Ringling". When the call finally comes through, he demands to know whether he is talking to Barnum or Bailey, which is a funny line. Wasn't P.T. Barnum himself the man famous for that quotation about a sucker being born every minute?

Walter Abrams is a man who is in the sports betting business. He and his associates stand to make millions out of the jerks they pursue to do their betting with his firm. Having found a new rising star, Brandon Lang, a man that knows a lot about the intricacies of point spreads and picking winners. Walter wants to transforms him into a man who can bring more money into his outfit.

In order to do that, Walter must groom him to "look" the part. As such, Brandon becomes John Anthony, the man who can produce fabulous results every week end during the football series. Brandon gets to meet the insiders, but little does he know who he is dealing with, or much less, what is expected of him. After all, he is just as good as the winners he can produce.

The film, directed by D. J. Caruso, a man who has worked extensively in television, has a glossy look. The screen play by Dan Gilroy could have used some tighter editing, because at two hours it feels a bit long.

Al Pacino, as Walter, has some good moments; we have seen him in better roles, and this one is a composite of other things he has done before. Mr. Pacino compensates when the screen play is not going anywhere by applying an intensity that doesn't go well with the others playing opposite him. Matthew McConaughey is a light weight actor who, aside from his good looks, doesn't bring anything to this story. Rene Russo is obviously a tall woman who towers over Mr. Pacino in most of their scenes together. Their relationship doesn't come across as being a real thing. Jeremy Piven and Armand Assante make good contributions in supporting the principals.

While "Two for the Money" is by no means a horrible film, it just doesn't have anything new to say.


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