McConaughey Goes For 'The Money'

Matthew McConaughey knows a thing or two about picking costars. He's had a hit romance with Jennifer Lopez, a hit comedy with Kate Hudson and a hit adventure with Penelope Cruz.

His latest film "Two For The Money" is a high stakes drama and he costars with one of the best in the business, Al Pacino.

McConaughey says working with Pacino was "One of the coolest, most thrilling vital work experiences I ever had."

"You never know what's going to happen," he tells The Early Show co-anchor Rene Syler. "As you know from watching (Pacino), you can't take your eyes off of him."

During filming, McConaughey says the two of them were able to get very close.

"We did have a great time," he says. "For 2½, 3 months every day, we spent 12 hours together all day long playing, creating."

McConaughey plays Brandon Lang, a former college football player who is on the cusp of exploiting his true talents: his ability to consistently pick football winners.

"He became a sports adviser. A guy who dreamed of playing professional football, playing quarterback, he got his knee blown out so he lost the ability to play," McConaughey says. "He ended up being a picker running a talent service. Meaning after Vegas makes the line, he picks the winner and advises you, if you call me at 1-900, I would advise you on whom to take this weekend. This weekend it's for free, but after we win a lot of money you're going to call me back next week and want more. I'm going to say, 'Sure, I'll give you my picks but now send me 10 percent of what you made last week,' and roll it into something big. That's how we make money."

The film is not only about sports betting, but about addiction and family, McConaughey says.

Off the big screen, McConaughey has been making news helping those affected by Hurricane Katrina.

"I had just gotten off of work and I had the time and the inclination," he says. "I wanted to get down there into the area but didn't know what to do. I think still today people are looking for direction, but want to know where to put that foot."

About Matthew McConaughey

• Born and raised in Uvalde, Texas, Nov. 4, 1969.
  Attended University of Texas at Austin. Majored in film in 1993.
• In 1991, began his acting career. He appeared in student films and local commercials in Texas and directed short films, including "Chicano Chariots." He met casting director Don Phillips in an Austin bar and five hours later, after their rowdiness had got them booted from that bar, Phillips reportedly said, "You know, you might be right for this part" in "Dazed and Confused."
• In 1993, made his feature film acting debut in bit part in "My Boyfriend's Back." He also landed the role of Wooderson in "Dazed and Confused," directed by Richard Linklater. His character was initially in three scenes but the role grew to more than 300 lines.
• In 1995, he starred opposite fellow Texan Renee Zellweger (who had also acted in "Dazed and Confused") in "The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre," playing a bloodthirsty killer; The same year he had his breakthrough film role in "Boys on the Side," in which he played policeman Abe Lincoln who falls in love with Drew Barrymore's Holly.
• In 1996, he portrayed Sheriff Buddy Deeds, suspected of killing his predecessor (Kris Kristofferson), in John Sayles' "Lone Star." He also starred opposite Sandra Bullock in the film adaptation of John Grisham's novel "A Time to Kill," directed by Joel Schumacher.

  At that time, he was on the cover of Vanity Fair and was dubbed Hollywood's "next big thing." He worked alongside Bill Murray and an elephant in "Larger Than Life." He also formed J.K. Livin' Productions; the name was taken from his "Dazed and Confused" character's motto, "just keep livin.'"

• In 1997, he co-starred with Bullock in her short film "Making Sandwiches," which he also co-produced; played Jodie Foster's love interest in "Contact" and an attorney defending the rebellious slaves of the "Amistad."
• In 1998, he teamed again with Richard Linklater as one of "The Newton Boys." The story of four Texas bank-robbing brothers was close to home since the Newtons had actually settled in Uvalde, where McConaughey was born. The actor's eldest brother, Rooster, had bought his first horse from Joe Newton. During this time, McConaughey also wrote, directed and starred in the 20-minute short "The Rebel."
• In 1999, he portrayed the lead in Ron Howard's "EDTV." He starred as an ordinary guy who allows cameras to follow him.

  On Oct. 25 of this year, McConaughey was arrested in Texas for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia and resisting transport. All charges were eventually dropped and the actor was fined $50 for violation of a noise ordinance.

• In 2000, he starred as Lt. Andrew Tyler, executive officer to Lt. Commander Mike Dahlgrin (Bill Paxton), in "U-571," the story of a daring mission to steal a top-secret coding device from a German U-Boat during World War II.
• In 2001, he acted opposite Jennifer Lopez in "The Wedding Planner" and had a starring role in the feature "13 Conversations About One Thing," which was screened at Toronto and shown at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival.
• In 2002, He won praise from fantasy fans as a dragon fighter in the surprisingly fresh "Reign of Fire." He also co-starred in Bill Pullman's directing debut "Frailty."
• In 2003, McConaughey was the target of Kate Hudson's character in "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days."
• In 2005, his box-office hit "Sahara," opened at No.1. It was the first major motion picture produced by McConaughey's production company, J.K. Livin'. The action adventure also starred Penélope Cruz and Steve Zahn.
• He is currently shooting the upcoming romantic comedy "Failure to Launch" with Sarah Jessica Parker.