Al Pacino is back playing another power-hungry, raging egotist, and this time it's in D J Caruso's Two For The Money. Pacino is Walter Abrams, head of a nationwide gambling tips telephone service who brings washed up American football player Brandon Lang (Matthew McConaughey) to work for him. Soon, via Lang's gift for picking winners, champagne and 50 dollar bills are everywhere. But this is a movie so cheesy you could eat it on toast, and even Pacino can't change that.

When we join Lang, he's suffered a career-ending leg injury. Soon, though, comes a surprise telephone call from NYC gambling tycoon Abrams, who wants to cash in on Lang's inside knowledge of football. A first class ticket to the city and a luxury apartment are laid on and clean-livin' country boy Lang quickly gets used to the high life. But Abrams is one greedy tycoon, so when Lang starts to lose his touch the pair can't stay best buddies for long. It's a premise full of clichés, machismo, and some seriously terrible lines of dialogue.

"SUCH A MESS THAT YOU WON'T CARE"

Two For The Money could have done more with its classic mentor/protégé format. Instead, we get steam-filled shots of McConaughey working out and delivering supposedly charming one-liners on how much he loves his mama. To make matters worse, this movie can't decide whether it's about Abrams and Lang, or Abrams and his wife Toni (Rene Russo), who, it's hinted, is having an affair with Lang. By the end, it's all such a mess that you won't care. Pacino, of course, in full raging, teeth-baring swing, is endlessly watchable. But please Al, read the script first next time.