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:

Drama | Sport | Thriller

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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

Matthew McConaughey actually did play college football. And this is his first movie depicting a football college player.

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Goofs

Instead of only charging a percentage of the winnings, Walter's firm should have charged a fee first before giving them their picks. Brandon confirms this goof when he first meets Walter.

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Quotes

Walter Abrams: To cover my losses, I just got a loan from a guy who works out of a bar on a hundred and sixth on Broadway, the trouble with me is I started betting you heavy after you won a hundred percent and I rode you right to the fucking toilet.
Brandon Lang: I know what the problem is I'll take care of all this shit check this out: I'm Brandon Lang I'm the kid who plays sports and the kid who loves sports I'm the kid who can pick the winners, I'm the kid you called in Las Vegas somewhere along the way I lost something...
[...]

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Crazy Credits

Inspired by a true story

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Connections

Referenced in Hierarchy (2009)

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Soundtracks

You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You
Written by James Cavanaugh, Russ Morgan and Larry Stock
Performed by Dean Martin
Courtesy of Capitol Records
Under License from EMI Film & Television Music

User Reviews

too long too much with the Pacino intensity

Six years after a career-ending injury, former college football player Brandon Lang (Matthew McConaughey) is doing little more than a phone service for gamblers. After some amazing success, he is lured to NY to join Walter Abrams (Al Pacino) in his business of gambling predictions. It's a fast talking adrenaline junkie's business and Walter's wife Toni (Rene Russo) tries to keep ever present dangers in check.

The story isn't that exciting. The characters are questionable. The big takeaway is the acting. Matthew McConaughey is a master of this brash young guy. He works well with the master Al Pacino. Al has more intensity than the rest of the cast. And Rene Russo has that superior regal airs about her. The movie starts well, but it does slow down around the middle. It is just too long, and the second half gets quite tiresome. Maybe the Pacino intensity wore me out. At the end, I really didn't care about anybody in the movie.