Hard Eight

[Louis]

Written and directed by PTA in 1996. Starring Philip Baker Hall, John C. Reilly, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Samuel L. Jackson.

Amazon.com
Before hitting the big time with his second film Boogie Nights, young filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson impressed critics with this deftly conceived, low-budget film noir chamber piece. With its minimalist plot, deliberate pacing, and brief, but shocking bursts of violence, Hard Eight won't please everyone, but Anderson and his first-rate cast were clearly working on the same authentic wavelength. It's a mystery at first why a solemn professional gambler (Philip Baker Hall in a captivating performance) cares for a down-and-out loser (John C. Reilly) and a dimwit, Reno cocktail waitress (Gwyneth Paltrow). But his motivations become clear--and the movie packs a quietly effective punch--when the gambler faces blackmail by a small-time crook (Samuel L. Jackson). This unheralded film seemed like a closely kept secret itself, until it showed up on the 1997 top-10 lists of several prominent critics. In tandem with Boogie Nights, it marked the arrival of a new filmmaker whose talent is as impressive as that of that other '90s hotshot, Quentin Tarantino. --Jeff Shannon

Pretty solid movie with a great performance by Philp Baker Hall.

This movie was very good. I'd highly recommend this film.

Pretty early works from the rest of the crew. Basically nobody else in the movie so it's a pretty intimate telling of the story of Sydney (Hall) and John (Reilly).

Philip Seymour Hoffman has a bit role in this film too.

Certainly one of the better Vegas movies I've seen.

 

[earthsci]

IMDB has this listed as Sydney, even though it shows the DVD cover as Hard Eight.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

I liked this. Saw it because my dad recommended it to me.

 

[nashman]

Liked it decent flick

 

[Bada0Bing]

Decent film. Neat characters.

IMDB has this listed as Sydney, even though it shows the DVD cover as Hard Eight.

PTA was furious that the studio changed the title from Sydney to Hard Eight.