Lame title but good movie with lots of 12 step program philosophy

Rating: 7/10 (7 October 2005)

Al Pacino is the greatest and most natural talent in the movie biz. Everything he does rings so true, and we can't take our eyes of him when he is doing it. He sure has left DeNiro in the dust and is now America's premier senior actor.
TFTM is a love story, oh yes it is, because all stories are love stories, every single one. The presence of love or the absence of it is at the heart of all stories, and this one is no exception as there are no exceptions. But this one is so special due to Pacino and his magnificent talent in making us believe this fairy tale was real and magical. Renee Russo was very good as his checkered-past wife and chief backsliding preventer(gambling), and Matthew McConaughy was terrific cast as the hunky, can't miss, football score prognosticator who made it big in Pacino's sports line empire and then......well, see the film. Ever see Wall Street? Nuff said. Armand Assante was also good in a small but easy role....the bad guy who hated losing, as opposed to a real addict who loves it as it reinforces his self hate. Al spewed lots of spot-on 12 step program self-help philosophy and personal insights throughout, and as we are all in our own personal 12 step program of some type or another, it kept my attention glued to him as his brilliance alone was worth the ticket price.
Pacino's character had all the good/great lines, as he should have had. Especially great was his stunning address to a 12 step program group about addiction. Believe me, he was right on the money. But, how his really bad heart stood up to all his manic shenanigans, drinking, and smoking, I'll never know. Perhaps he needed them to really feel alive. Hey, it's a movie.
Whether you agree or disagree with gambling, this film is sure to entertain you greatly with its NYC rich slickness and deep look inside the huge sports line "business". Or, see it for your latest Al Pacino fix, and you'll be glad you won that gamble, you addict you.