An often funny, insightful, dark drama about the emotions of gambling.

Rating: 8/10 (30 July 2007)

Brandon Lang (Matthew McConaughey) is an ex-football player, who's now working for a phone service. Which Brandon could foreseeing the results on a game with lack of any professional insight. When Brandon receives an mysterious phone call from Walter Abrams (Oscar-Winner:Al Pacino). Which Walter offers him an job in New York City to join his gambling advising business. When Walter advices Brandon to change his look and name. Brandon's predictions towards Sports Games becomes an major success. Brandon makes plenty of promising clients and he becomes close with Walter and his wife Toni (Rene Russo). But when Brandon's predictions starts to change and his relationship with Walter turns bad. Which Walter isn't always the man, what he seems to be.
Directed by D.J. Caruso (Disturbia, The Salton Sea, Taking Lives) made an interesting, modestly entertaining drama. Which is based on a true story on Brandon's fascinating life. The first half of the film works best, when it's funny and kept things moving. But then the second half takes a dark turn and slow going at times. This film is also about redemption towards these characters. McConaughey plays his role, quite well in this movie. Al Pacino's character, love him or hate him. His performance is always quite interesting, despite the many bad turns his character does in the film. Rene Russo gives her best performance here as Brandon's only sympathetic friend.
DVD has an sharp anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1) transfer and an good-Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. DVD has an good commentary track by the director and screenwriter:Dan Gilory (Chasers, The Fall, Freejack). DVD also has Deleted Scenes with optional commentaries by the director and screenwriter, making of featurette, interview with the real Brandon (Which his real name is Brandon Link) and Trailer & T.V. Spots. Since his film was an box office disappointment. This is the kind of movie that plays better on DVD. Despite the solid premise of the film. This is worth watching, thanks to the performances of McConaughey, Pacino and Russo. Russo is one of the executive producers of the picture. Don't miss this true-life story. Super 35. (*** ½/*****).