Because Two for the Money is a drama set in the world of sports-betting advisors, it's ironic and rather unfortunate that  Universal Studios has taken its own gamble on the marketing campaign for this film. One would think a picture teaming up all-time acting heavyweight Al Pacino and modern-day star Matthew McConaughey would be hyped to high heaven, but the film's advertising has been fairly low-key. This is a shame, since Two for the Money is a far better movie than the general lack of enthusiasm surrounding it might lead you to believe.

What makes this film work in the end is the cast and crew's  dedication to drawing as much excitement out of the film's concept as possible, thanks to a director who blesses the film with a slick, fast-moving style that avoids fizzling out halfway through the running time. There's always something going on here to hold viewers' attention and keep them interested in the proceedings.

Brandon Lang (McConaughey) was a rising star in college football, teetering on the brink of going pro, until an injury ensured that he'd probably never play again. Years pass, and Brandon now finds himself recording messages for 1-900 phone numbers for a living. But our boy soon finds his calling after he fills in for a co-worker's betting-tips line. In no time, Brandon's amazingly accurate picks garner him much attention, including that of Walter Abrams (Pacino), the head honcho of a high-powered advisors' firm.

Walter takes Brandon under his wing and quickly teaches him the rules of the game. He explains that their business is completely legit in the eyes of the law and how important it is to predict correctly in order to attract repeat business. So confident is Walter in Brandon's abilities that he takes the aw-shucks ex-college quarterback and turns him into "John Anthony," the greatest thing to happen to the betting-advisor world since the picture-in-picture TV set. But as Brandon's picks cause him to rise to the top of his game, living up to the image of John Anthony threatens to cause dire consequences once his accuracy starts to slip.

Two for the Money focuses upon the gamblers behind the gamblers, the people behind the scenes who take big chances themselves in making decisions that will either make or break their clients. The film is about those whose entire careers depend not only upon whether or not they can keep their customers betting, but also on how consistently right their picks are. It's an intriguing premise teeming with intensity, and Two for the Money does an admirable job of capturing this crackling energy. The film succeeds rather well just by keeping the focus on how Brandon manuevers his way through the risky business he's become a part of.

Director D.J. Caruso (who impressed me with The Salton Sea and disappointed me with Taking Lives) maintains a crisp pace by having faith in the natural excitement the plot generates and riding it out for as far as it can go without  relying on too many aimless side stories to pad out the running time. Sure, Jeremy Piven's jealous co-worker role is picked up and dropped, and the attention span dedicated to Armand Assante's bit as a rich gambler equals that of a five-year-old in a Lucky Charms factory, but when all's said and done, the thinly-laid subplots don't add up to more than a  minor distraction from the main plot threads. For the rest of the time, Two for the Money remains swiftly-paced, intelligently written, and consistently interesting.

As good as the film's directing and writing is, Two for the Money wouldn't succeed without the impact of one crucial element: the acting. McConaughey and Pacino play brilliantly off one another while at the same time displaying their own respective acting strengths.

McConaughey portrays Brandon Lang not as a naive rube caught up in the big city betting game but more as a bright young dude who at first seems oblivious to the fact that his gift for picking winners is becoming overshadowed by an image he's sacrificing everything to live up to.

And then we have Pacino, who gives a performance so fun and twisted, you realize why he's one of the first names people think of when it comes to listing the greatest actors ever. In a role that could've been just another sage mentor at the service of the story, Pacino has a ball making the character jump off the screen, from tender moments that accentuate the depth of Walter's own sadness and reasons for pushing Brandon so hard to scenes of sheer tripiness, like his monologue at a Gambler's Anonymous meeting. 

Rene Russo also turns in a solid supporting performance as Walter's wife, fleshing out the role with her own demeanor and attitude, elevating it beyond the level most "worried wife" roles are stuck at in movies these days. 

Yes indeed. Universal needs a new game plan for Two for the Money. This film is much too smart and intense to be ignored.  

MY RATING: *** (out of ****)

(Released by Universal and rated "R" for pervasive language, a scene of sexuality, and a violent act.)