Lure Of Addiction
The Lure of Addiction
A Film Critique
ENG 225 Introduction to Film
Instructor: Dr. Melissa Rigney
01/08/2012
Abstract
Title: Two for the Money
Year: 2005, Color
Run Time: 123 minutes
Director: D.J. Caruso
I enjoyed this movie more than it seems that most critics and viewer’s did. While it may not have been one of D.J. Caruso’s better films, it certainly was more than entertaining. It has a definite meaning that was delivered. Emotion, greed, power, and ego are all factors in the lure of addiction.
The Lure of Addiction “We’re all lemons. We need to lose”. An unforgettable quote given by Walter Abrams (Al Pacino); at a gamblers anonymous meeting. He goes on to tell the other gamblers …show more content…
that their problem is not an addiction to gambling; nor is it an addiction to money. He informs them that their problem is that they are addicted to losing. After the others discover that, he is the one who has this sports advice line they do not feel he has any right to be there at this meeting for gambling addiction. Two for the Money is a 2005 film directed by D.J. Caruso. Two for the Money is based on the true story of Brandon Lang whose dreams of becoming a professional football player are shattered with a career ending injury. With an amazing ability to pick the winning teams Walter Abrams offer him a job. Al Pacino, Mathew McConaughey, and Rene Russo star in this film; each of them bringing a solid performance and a personal touch to their roles. This critique will follow the criteria of formalist approach paying special attention to the basic elements and how they are organized. This includes storytelling, acting, cinematography, editing, sound, style and directing, societal impact, genre, and overall theme. While this film is categorized as a drama/thriller about high roller gambling, it is really more of a character drama about the lure of addiction. Storytelling can be thought of as the birth of the film. It is all about how the writer chooses to tell the story and the tools he uses to do so (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2011). Beginning with the narrative structure of the story, which encapsulates all the elements and material from the story and how they are organized to follow a plot structure that will gain the interest of the audience. Two for the Money follows the basic and traditional narrative structure as the plot unfolds in chronological order. The setting takes place beginning in a Vegas telemarketing center and ending in New York. Conflict and character are another important aspect of
The Lure of Addiction
storytelling.
Almost always there is conflict of some sort in any movie and in Two For The Money, each of the characters are in definite conflict with their inner demons as they each struggle with their own addictions. The characters are predictable in this film; however, that does not in any way make it a boring film. The actors in this film are all very believable in their roles and do an excellent job in creating their characters. Al Pacino plays the part of Walter Abrams who ironically does have a gambling problem in which he struggles to overcome, and as usual, his personality comes through creating a character that is larger than life and very intense. Mathew McConaughey plays the part of Brandon Lang and does a stellar job at impersonating the real Brandon Lang. Brandon struggles with his dysfunctional relationship with his father and the everyday struggles and stress related to his job. Rene Russo plays the part of Walter Abrams supportive wife and fits in the best she can. Her character is not given much to do. She also struggles with her addiction, as she is a recovering …show more content…
alcoholic. Cinematography is the visual version of the story. It includes such things as the mise en scene, lighting, the types of colors used and the camera distance and angles. The mise en scene in this film and how much of it the camera reveals plays an important part in creating the setting, which begins in Vegas and ends in New York. Lighting can be controlled in many ways. For example, intensity of light establishes the mood intended. The lighting in Two for the Money is pale green fluorescents, which enhance the office scene in addition to a lot of contrasting both dark and light hues, which give some scenes an almost black and white look. Depending on the intensity, direction, and quality of lighting, it can have a profound effect on the way an image is perceive (Talwil, 1974). The most common lighting used in classical narrative cinema is known as three point lighting (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2011). Three-point lighting is also used in some
The Lure of Addiction of the scenes where the actual betting takes place. Color has an emotional impact and can even tell the psychological condition of the character (Talwil, 1974). The color palette varies from the pale green to warm browns and beiges that enhance the feeling of the New York loft style apartment, which doubles as the residence in which the Abrams and Brandon live on one floor and their place of employment on another. All of these elements contribute to creating an exciting yet dangerous mood that invites the audience in to experience the rush of high roller gambling. The style of editing is another important element in any film and involves the shots and the scenes, the transitions used when cutting from one scene to another, slow or fast motion and if all of this is done with continuity or discontinuity. This film has many close ups, long, medium, and short shots in addition to cross cutting. There are many instances when deep focus is used to put everything in focus, as many of the scenes require all of the background to fully understand what goes on behind the scenes of the gambling business. This creates the feeling of continuity, which allows the audience to follow along as if it were happening in real time. There are some mistakes regarding the continuity in one of the opening scenes when Brandon pulls up to pick up Toni from work. There is no front license plate on his car but when he pulls out of the parking lot, it is there. Another continuity error was when Brandon and Walter arrive at the airport and the clock on the wall says 11:30. The next shot shows the clock at 2:30 and a moment or two later the same clock reads 2:20. This is a perfect example to show that while a movie may seem to be filmed in real time, they seldom ever are due to scheduling and other issues. There is explicit content in this film, which means that the meaning of the plot is communicated to the viewers directly through dialogue and visual symbolism (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2011). There
The Lure of Addiction is also the use of parallel editing which means the cutting between two or more scenes simultaneously. This is evident during the most intense moments when Brandon’s picks are challenged and at the end when he is leaving and the scene switches back and forth showing Walter and his wife realizing that Brandon has left. Another example from the film is Brandon’s wine glass is almost empty during the three-shot of them at the dinner table. The same wine glass is almost full during the close up of Brandon at the table. The sound in a movie refers to dialogue, music, and sound effects. This film has more dialogue than anything but the music seems to be added at just the right times. While sound can intensify the mood, dialogue is can establish the important information the audience needs to know in addition to advancing the plot. The music used for this film is a perfect match to the story. There is some voice over the background happenings which is where the sound effects are evident; which lets the audience hear and actually feel the excitement and the tension in the room. The background noises consist of the arguing, the sales pitches, and the passion involved in this type of environment. Technically speaking the sound for this film is defined as 5.1 Dolby digital sound that uses effects sparingly while creating a nice sense of whirling action. This adds to the audience feeling the excitement and the thrill of high stakes gambling. Style and directing involves the director’s personality, point of view, competence, and interior meaning he may wish to portray. D.J. Caruso is the director of this film, which critics believe this is not one of his better films. He also directed the film Disturbia that he is better known for. In any case, Caruso wanted to bring this story to life and his choices in actors could not have been better. An interview with the real Brandon Lang says that he thought Mathew
The Lure of Addiction
McConaughey portrayed him and his job perfectly in his high stress job. He has to get clients to bet millions of dollars on trust alone, that his picks are the winning picks. In the event that his picks turn out to be incorrect then his clients lose hundreds of thousands of dollars. Caruso was right on point in this film which could have doubled as documentary about the trials and tribulations that Brandon Lang experienced in this fast paced drama about people with fortunes to burn and money to risk in this deadly game. Societal impact is something involving controversial, societal, or political issues; all of which the audience can identify with at some level and is also one of the requirements to meet the truth test which asks if the film explored some deep truth about human nature, how well it was said, and was it worth saying.
Watching the film assured me that it did in fact deliver a message, told in such a way that the emotions portrayed were actually felt them rather than just observing them. Gambling in itself is considered a societal and controversial issue as it involves morals and ethic. The film draws you into the excitement and the dark side of the multi billion dollar gambling industry-providing escapism as the audience is taken in by the experience. Society definitely influenced this film as well as the film impacts society. It enables the audience an insider’s view of the fast-paced lifestyle from the glitz and the glam all the way down to greedy motives and ethics being challenged to the very
core. In my opinion, this film is not one to fit easily into a certain type of genre. There are multiple categories this film could be placed in ranging from documentary, drama, and even thriller. The overall theme is something that may be suggested, however it is something that is decided on an individual basis as the affect it has on the viewer. Each person will be able to
The Lure of Addiction identify with some or all parts of this film even if they have not actually experienced it; thus making the overall theme something the viewer takes away from the film. In summary, the theme of this film should be decided by what the viewer takes away from the film watching experience. Some will identify with the gambling issues, while others will identify with the deeper meaning and painful experience, and the long and lonely road of the lure of addiction. References
Cohen, J., Frutag, J.M., Gilroy, D., Higgins, B., McElwaine, G., Morris, W., …Russo R. (Producers), & Caruso, D.J. (Director). (2005). Two for the Money [video-file].
Ebert, R. (2011). Two for the Money: Reviews. Chicago Sun Times. Retrieved from http://www.rogerebert.com/apps.
Goodykoontz, B., & Jacobs, C.P. (2011). Film: From Watching to Seeing. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc. Retrieved from https://content.ashford.edu. Talwil, J.N. (1974). If The Camera Could See. Journal of the University Film Association, Vol. 26, No. 4. Pp. 63-64, 80-81. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/20687262.
A Film Critique
ENG 225 Introduction to Film
Instructor: Dr. Melissa Rigney
01/08/2012
Abstract
Title: Two for the Money
Year: 2005, Color
Run Time: 123 minutes
Director: D.J. Caruso
I enjoyed this movie more than it seems that most critics and viewer’s did. While it may not have been one of D.J. Caruso’s better films, it certainly was more than entertaining. It has a definite meaning that was delivered. Emotion, greed, power, and ego are all factors in the lure of addiction.
The Lure of Addiction “We’re all lemons. We need to lose”. An unforgettable quote given by Walter Abrams (Al Pacino); at a gamblers anonymous meeting. He goes on to tell the other gamblers …show more content…
that their problem is not an addiction to gambling; nor is it an addiction to money. He informs them that their problem is that they are addicted to losing. After the others discover that, he is the one who has this sports advice line they do not feel he has any right to be there at this meeting for gambling addiction. Two for the Money is a 2005 film directed by D.J. Caruso. Two for the Money is based on the true story of Brandon Lang whose dreams of becoming a professional football player are shattered with a career ending injury. With an amazing ability to pick the winning teams Walter Abrams offer him a job. Al Pacino, Mathew McConaughey, and Rene Russo star in this film; each of them bringing a solid performance and a personal touch to their roles. This critique will follow the criteria of formalist approach paying special attention to the basic elements and how they are organized. This includes storytelling, acting, cinematography, editing, sound, style and directing, societal impact, genre, and overall theme. While this film is categorized as a drama/thriller about high roller gambling, it is really more of a character drama about the lure of addiction. Storytelling can be thought of as the birth of the film. It is all about how the writer chooses to tell the story and the tools he uses to do so (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2011). Beginning with the narrative structure of the story, which encapsulates all the elements and material from the story and how they are organized to follow a plot structure that will gain the interest of the audience. Two for the Money follows the basic and traditional narrative structure as the plot unfolds in chronological order. The setting takes place beginning in a Vegas telemarketing center and ending in New York. Conflict and character are another important aspect of
The Lure of Addiction
storytelling.
Almost always there is conflict of some sort in any movie and in Two For The Money, each of the characters are in definite conflict with their inner demons as they each struggle with their own addictions. The characters are predictable in this film; however, that does not in any way make it a boring film. The actors in this film are all very believable in their roles and do an excellent job in creating their characters. Al Pacino plays the part of Walter Abrams who ironically does have a gambling problem in which he struggles to overcome, and as usual, his personality comes through creating a character that is larger than life and very intense. Mathew McConaughey plays the part of Brandon Lang and does a stellar job at impersonating the real Brandon Lang. Brandon struggles with his dysfunctional relationship with his father and the everyday struggles and stress related to his job. Rene Russo plays the part of Walter Abrams supportive wife and fits in the best she can. Her character is not given much to do. She also struggles with her addiction, as she is a recovering …show more content…
alcoholic. Cinematography is the visual version of the story. It includes such things as the mise en scene, lighting, the types of colors used and the camera distance and angles. The mise en scene in this film and how much of it the camera reveals plays an important part in creating the setting, which begins in Vegas and ends in New York. Lighting can be controlled in many ways. For example, intensity of light establishes the mood intended. The lighting in Two for the Money is pale green fluorescents, which enhance the office scene in addition to a lot of contrasting both dark and light hues, which give some scenes an almost black and white look. Depending on the intensity, direction, and quality of lighting, it can have a profound effect on the way an image is perceive (Talwil, 1974). The most common lighting used in classical narrative cinema is known as three point lighting (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2011). Three-point lighting is also used in some
The Lure of Addiction of the scenes where the actual betting takes place. Color has an emotional impact and can even tell the psychological condition of the character (Talwil, 1974). The color palette varies from the pale green to warm browns and beiges that enhance the feeling of the New York loft style apartment, which doubles as the residence in which the Abrams and Brandon live on one floor and their place of employment on another. All of these elements contribute to creating an exciting yet dangerous mood that invites the audience in to experience the rush of high roller gambling. The style of editing is another important element in any film and involves the shots and the scenes, the transitions used when cutting from one scene to another, slow or fast motion and if all of this is done with continuity or discontinuity. This film has many close ups, long, medium, and short shots in addition to cross cutting. There are many instances when deep focus is used to put everything in focus, as many of the scenes require all of the background to fully understand what goes on behind the scenes of the gambling business. This creates the feeling of continuity, which allows the audience to follow along as if it were happening in real time. There are some mistakes regarding the continuity in one of the opening scenes when Brandon pulls up to pick up Toni from work. There is no front license plate on his car but when he pulls out of the parking lot, it is there. Another continuity error was when Brandon and Walter arrive at the airport and the clock on the wall says 11:30. The next shot shows the clock at 2:30 and a moment or two later the same clock reads 2:20. This is a perfect example to show that while a movie may seem to be filmed in real time, they seldom ever are due to scheduling and other issues. There is explicit content in this film, which means that the meaning of the plot is communicated to the viewers directly through dialogue and visual symbolism (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2011). There
The Lure of Addiction is also the use of parallel editing which means the cutting between two or more scenes simultaneously. This is evident during the most intense moments when Brandon’s picks are challenged and at the end when he is leaving and the scene switches back and forth showing Walter and his wife realizing that Brandon has left. Another example from the film is Brandon’s wine glass is almost empty during the three-shot of them at the dinner table. The same wine glass is almost full during the close up of Brandon at the table. The sound in a movie refers to dialogue, music, and sound effects. This film has more dialogue than anything but the music seems to be added at just the right times. While sound can intensify the mood, dialogue is can establish the important information the audience needs to know in addition to advancing the plot. The music used for this film is a perfect match to the story. There is some voice over the background happenings which is where the sound effects are evident; which lets the audience hear and actually feel the excitement and the tension in the room. The background noises consist of the arguing, the sales pitches, and the passion involved in this type of environment. Technically speaking the sound for this film is defined as 5.1 Dolby digital sound that uses effects sparingly while creating a nice sense of whirling action. This adds to the audience feeling the excitement and the thrill of high stakes gambling. Style and directing involves the director’s personality, point of view, competence, and interior meaning he may wish to portray. D.J. Caruso is the director of this film, which critics believe this is not one of his better films. He also directed the film Disturbia that he is better known for. In any case, Caruso wanted to bring this story to life and his choices in actors could not have been better. An interview with the real Brandon Lang says that he thought Mathew
The Lure of Addiction
McConaughey portrayed him and his job perfectly in his high stress job. He has to get clients to bet millions of dollars on trust alone, that his picks are the winning picks. In the event that his picks turn out to be incorrect then his clients lose hundreds of thousands of dollars. Caruso was right on point in this film which could have doubled as documentary about the trials and tribulations that Brandon Lang experienced in this fast paced drama about people with fortunes to burn and money to risk in this deadly game. Societal impact is something involving controversial, societal, or political issues; all of which the audience can identify with at some level and is also one of the requirements to meet the truth test which asks if the film explored some deep truth about human nature, how well it was said, and was it worth saying.
Watching the film assured me that it did in fact deliver a message, told in such a way that the emotions portrayed were actually felt them rather than just observing them. Gambling in itself is considered a societal and controversial issue as it involves morals and ethic. The film draws you into the excitement and the dark side of the multi billion dollar gambling industry-providing escapism as the audience is taken in by the experience. Society definitely influenced this film as well as the film impacts society. It enables the audience an insider’s view of the fast-paced lifestyle from the glitz and the glam all the way down to greedy motives and ethics being challenged to the very
core. In my opinion, this film is not one to fit easily into a certain type of genre. There are multiple categories this film could be placed in ranging from documentary, drama, and even thriller. The overall theme is something that may be suggested, however it is something that is decided on an individual basis as the affect it has on the viewer. Each person will be able to
The Lure of Addiction identify with some or all parts of this film even if they have not actually experienced it; thus making the overall theme something the viewer takes away from the film. In summary, the theme of this film should be decided by what the viewer takes away from the film watching experience. Some will identify with the gambling issues, while others will identify with the deeper meaning and painful experience, and the long and lonely road of the lure of addiction. References
Cohen, J., Frutag, J.M., Gilroy, D., Higgins, B., McElwaine, G., Morris, W., …Russo R. (Producers), & Caruso, D.J. (Director). (2005). Two for the Money [video-file].
Ebert, R. (2011). Two for the Money: Reviews. Chicago Sun Times. Retrieved from http://www.rogerebert.com/apps.
Goodykoontz, B., & Jacobs, C.P. (2011). Film: From Watching to Seeing. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc. Retrieved from https://content.ashford.edu. Talwil, J.N. (1974). If The Camera Could See. Journal of the University Film Association, Vol. 26, No. 4. Pp. 63-64, 80-81. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/20687262.