Two For The Money

Going to see a film of which you have read no reviews, seen no trailer, and of which only the title on the cinema poster tells you of its existence is a risky bet. Because, indeed, it is a bet, a considerable sum of 8 euros wagered solely on a poster and a cast. Here, it will be Matthew McConaughey, a young blonde hunk pumped up on creatine whom you may have noticed in films such as “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” or “Failure to Launch”. Below is inscribed the name of Rene Russo which already inspires more confidence but the “seal of quality” of this film is truly Al Pacino.

With such a master of cinema in the credits, I don't hesitate for a second to spend the exorbitant sum that a movie ticket costs today. I didn't have to wait for the film to begin to be surprised. While a giant queue stretches out in front of the cinema box office, I find myself alone in this dark room. I am soon joined by a few young people disappointed at not being able to buy the last remaining seats to see "Pirates of the Caribbean 2". So we are all here by chance. None of us, it seems, had heard of this film before tonight.

After the usual quarter hour of various and sundry advertisements essential to the survival of voracious consumers such as ourselves, the film begins. The story thus begins with a rather pathetic summary of the life of he who will become the film's hero: a good guy who, to please his dad, will take up every sport he gets the chance to practice. His father, the bastard, abandons him anyway for his 10th birthday, leaving him alone with his mother and brother. In short, a picture dripping with good sentiments, sprinkled with "American dream" just begging to be repainted with a roller. Just then... It is at this precise moment, when I already spot the emergency exits of the projection room, that Brandon, our good guy, breaks his leg and thus can no longer access the dream career that awaited him in the magical world of dope and American football stars.

The disruptive element having finally arrived, I settle back in my seat. Unable to play ball anymore, Brandon launches into the profession of sports forecaster and realizes he is decidedly very good at it. With that, he is hired in New York by Al Pacino: the film begins.

What follows is the lamentable epic of a sports forecaster with everything that can be irresistibly exciting about it. Ultimately, this film could have been perfectly titled "What Goes Up Must Come Down" because indeed Brandon becomes full of himself and too sure of himself, which shows in his predictions, so obviously, morality must prevail, he will be punished by his own means. This fable endorsing easy money and capitalism is quite pleasant really. The hitch is that it lasts 2 hours 5 minutes at approximately 4 euros per hour. At the end of the film, I look around for the knowing and understanding glance of other dismayed spectators who would assure me of my "normality" by certifying their boredom. Hell: one in two is already asleep!

Unless therefore I had been accompanied to the cinema by the Nice narcolepsy club, I am not the only one to have found this film long, even soporific. Let us remain objective however; fans of American football, big American cars, and happy endings of the same nationality should find what they're looking for. This "very" long film fits perfectly in line with "Any Given Sunday" or "Jerry Maguire". To conclude, I will simply add a Kafka quote to which I gave much thought during this film: "Eternity is a long time, especially toward the end."