| 20th Century Fox
Movie ••½ Picture/Sound •••½ Extras ••• |
Two for the Money is based on a true story of a professional tout - a man paid by gamblers to help them with sports bets - who is living large on a prolonged winning streak, thanks in part to his manipulative, paternalistic boss. Problem is, director D.J. Caruso's movie is amateurishly written and uninvolving, and it serves up Al Pacino in his stock manic-energy persona, playing mentor to Matthew McConaughey's golden boy. The picture looks good, especially when the green fluorescent light of a seedy Las Vegas office changes into the candy-colored neon of New York City. The 5.1-channel sound uses effects sparingly, but it does create a nice sense of space and whirling action as people watch sporting events on multiple TVs. Okay extras include a commentary by Caruso and screenwriter Dan Gilroy, some deleted scenes, a making-of featurette, and a long interview with the real-life protagonist, who's more interesting than McConaughey's portrayal. [R] English and French, Dolby Digital 5.1; letterboxed (2.35:1) and anamorphic widescreen; dual layer.
