Two for the Money (2005)

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

Director:

D.J. Caruso

Writer:

Dan Gilroy

Stars:

Matthew McConaughey, Al Pacino, Rene Russo

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Al Pacino	...	Walter
Matthew McConaughey	...	Brandon
Rene Russo	...	Toni
Armand Assante	...	Novian
Jeremy Piven	...	Jerry
Jaime King	...	Alexandria
Kevin Chapman	...	Southie
Ralph Garman	...	Reggie
Gedde Watanabe	...	Milton
Carly Pope	...	Tammy
Charles Carroll	...	Chuck
Gerard Plunkett	...	Herbie (as Gerrard Plunkett)
Craig Veroni	...	Amir
James Kirk	...	Denny
Chrislyn Austin	...	Julia

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.

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Plot Keywords:

father son relationship | football | injury | addiction | quarterback | 

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Taglines:

How much will you risk?

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for pervasive language, a scene of sexuality and a violent act

Details

Official Sites:

Universal [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 October 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

For the Money

Filming Locations:

8 Old Fulton Street, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$35,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$8,703,240, 9 October 2005

Gross USA:

$22,991,379

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$30,526,509

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Morgan Creek Entertainment, Cosmic Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

122 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Rene Russo's husband, Dan Gilroy, wrote the part of Al Pacino's wife Toni especially for Russo and tailored it to fit her perfectly. He even used Russo's real-life sister's name Toni as the name of the character.

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Goofs

When they go to "Puerto Rico" to meet the multi millionaire gambler at his palatial digs it is in fact a waterfront home in West Vancouver, Canada as you can tell by the Coast Mountains and a BC Ferry going by in the background.

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Quotes

Walter Abrams: [in Walter's office] This is dangerous territory we're getting into. You understand that. But I'm gonna bump you. ok? ten percent ok?Now talk to me about Monday night because everyone, and I mean everyone, is gonna double down after the hole you put 'em in.
Brandon Lang: Monday night's fine.
Walter Abrams: You bet your mother's house on it?
Brandon Lang: I don't bet, Walter.
Walter Abrams: If you did?
Brandon Lang: [avoiding the question] I like the pick, Walter.
Walter Abrams: On your mother's house or not?
Brandon Lang: [with his upper body hunched forward in his chair] With my mother in it.

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Crazy Credits

Inspired by a true story

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Connections

Referenced in Insider Interview: The Real Brandon (2006)

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Soundtracks

Shake It Baby
Written by Donnie Heyden and James Moore
Performed by Daddy C & PD&P
Courtesy of LoveCat Music
By Arrangement with Ocean Park Music Group

User Reviews

Austin Movie Show review

Matthew McConaughey is Brandon Lang, a former college football star who devastated his knee and was never able to play professionally. Six years later he's recording "sports predictions" for a 1-900 number in Las Vegas and living with his mom and younger brother, still dreaming of playing professional football one day. He never hears from the Cowboys, but he does get a call from Walter Abrams (the Godfather himself, Al Pacino), an entrepreneur who runs his own sports betting business, inviting him to move to New York and work for him.

Though Brandon Lang is the hero of the story, Walter Abrams is the beating heart of Two For The Money. He's a recovered gambling addict who runs his own empire of "sports betting advisers." No other film has ever explored the psyche of the gambling addict so precisely and intimately. Abrams describes what it feels like to win, but even more fascinatingly, he discusses the addict's subconscious desire to loose it all. Gambling addicts don't bury themselves in debt because they're sure they can win. They do it because they need to loose everything to feel alive.

Two For The Money is better than I expected. The characters are rich and complex and the story is never dull. Hell, this movie is worth seeing for the topless McConaughey shots alone.