Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Film rings true for Las Vegas resident

There's a scene in the film "Two for the Money" in which quarterback Brandon Lang is severely injured, with his right leg twisted at an odd, stomach-churning angle.

According to the person on which the movie is based, that is the only part of the film that is totally inaccurate -- that and his last name.

His real name is Brandon Lane. In the movie, it's Brandon Lang.

"I didn't play college football," Lane, a resident of Las Vegas and Los Angeles, said. "Other than that, the story pretty much holds true."

Of course there were poetic licenses. You can't make a movie without poetic licenses.

"Two for the Money" is based upon a true story in which Lane, a Las Vegas sports tout, was recruited to work for a sports betting company in New York.

To give the story some juice, the film condensed five years into one football season.

"The movie did a great job depicting the crazy run I had in my life," the 42-year-old Lane said.

The film was released in October. Although it received decent reviews, it was not a blockbuster.

Its stars include Matthew McConaughey as Lang/Lane; Al Pacino and Renee Russo.

The DVD was released Tuesday.

"Everyone who saw it really enjoyed it," Lane said. "I'm proud of it. I thought it was a great production. It was just a bad year at the box office -- attendance was down 20 to 25 percent.

"I think the DVD will be more successful, with the bonus features. There's a great segment at the end on how it all came about."

Lane was born and raised in Midland, Mich. He was a star basketball player in high school and was offered several scholarships, but his sports career was ended by an injury.

After a hitch in the Navy and traveling, in 1987 he ended up in Las Vegas, where he became a sports handicapper.

In 1989 he was offered a job with a sports handicapping service in New York.

Lane described the sports betting craze.

"It first starts with being a fan of sports," he said. "Where would we be without college football? We would have empty weekends. We would have empty Monday nights without 'Monday Night Football.' "

With the developments in offshore wagering, sports betting has increased greatly in recent years.

"It's the adrenalin rush," Lane said. "It's the same rush you get when the dealer in a card game turns over the hole card."

That excitement lasts longer with sports betting, he explained. It lasts throughout the game.

"It's that sustained feeling of excitement we are searching for," Lane said. "In a game, you have it every play, and it's sustained up to the end of the game, unless there's a blowout."

The movie emphasizes that Lane picked games, but didn't bet.

That was true, but not anymore.

"I didn't bet at that time in my life," Lane said. "I have no problem wagering on the game now."

When he left the company in 1995 he says he realized he had the makings of a great movie so he moved to Los Angeles and became a caddy at the Riviera Country Club, where a lot of people in the film industry played.

Eventually he pitched the idea to screenwriter Dan Gilroy (the husband of Russo), who agreed to work on the project.

"We finally made the film eight years later," Lane said.

Lane said he was there the entire way, although he continued his handicapping career using his Web site brandonlane.com.

And he's working on several other projects, including a couple of more movies and a reality TV show called "The Capper."

"The series will involve me flying all over the world and betting on everything imaginable," Lane said.

He says the main thing he has learned in his life of gambling is to not be afraid to chase your dreams.

"If one comes true, it's great," he said. "If one doesn't, then you've had the adventure of chasing a dream.

"Above all, believe in yourself."

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