Chaucer's flip of the coin

Rating: 5/10 (8 September 2005)

Greetings again from the darkness. Was very happy to catch an early screening of this after seeing the trailer. The one definite that the film (and filmmaker) knows is that the camera loves Matthew McConaughey. His dimples, blinding white teethy smile and beefcake body are all on full display here. MM does have a southern silkiness and charm on screen, but we just never believe the river runs very deep.
Director D.J. Caruso ("Taking Lives" and a bunch of TV stuff) never quite captures the pure sleaze of behind the scenes sports betting. There are so many stereotypical moments, characters and scenes that this viewer experienced more than a couple of eye rolls, not the least of which was the ridiculously sappy ending. Al Pacino is at his over-the-top usual. Somewhere along the way, Pacino stopped acting and just started yelling his lines. He is no longer the brooding, cool guy of "Bobby Deerfield" or "The Godfather", but now seems eternally stuck in his "Scarface" and "The Insider" roles as a screaming madman. Rene Russo provides steady duty as Pacino's muse and wife, as does the wonderful Jeremy Piven. Armand Assante also shines as a very scary rich client whom I would not want upset at me.
The treatment of addiction - alcohol, betting, drugs, etc. is touched upon, but we are not given any real insight into the struggles these individuals face on a daily basis. The film is watchable purely as a star vehicle for McConaughey and Pacino and just a sampling of the sleaze that compiles this huge industry.