merelyaninnuendo Hard EightThe feature is scattered among few dramatic and chaotic sequences that upbeats its scale to a whole new level with enough material to feed the audience for around 100 minutes of its runtime. Its a rare character driven feature that has quiet a good pace that holds the audience on the edge of their seat which usually isn't the case. Paul Thomas Anderson aces on creating such amusing characters that tackles their way up and through his knockout execution skills, he has got this round covered. Philip Baker Hall has done some of his career's best work amng other cast that has thoroughly supported him like John C. Riley, Gwyneth Paltrow and Samuel L. Jackson. Hard Eight hits hard and fast and knocks it right out of the park where despite of having brilliant performance on its side, the feature endorses Paul Thomas Anderson and its skills that is visible all over the screen.

Gordon-11 This film tells the story of a professional gambler, who takes a broke young man under his wing. He teaches the young man how to win in casinos, but things take a turn when they meet a beautiful waitress called Clementine.Firstly, I am impressed by the actors and actresses who have become very big names subsequent to this film. Secondly, the story is intriguing and engaging. It doesn't feel like it's 90 minutes long! Clementine is adorable and​charming, and it's easy to see why John feel for her. The events at the end are unexpected, and makes the film exec more interesting. The most memorable thing for me though, is the professional gambler. His calm, controlled demeanour is contrary to what I expect from a professional gambler!

Joshua H. In 1996, "Fargo"; "Mission Impossible"; "Romeo + Juliet"; "The Rock"; and "Happy Gilmore" we're released and stole the year away from much smaller films such as "Hard Eight". This film was the directorial debut of independent director Paul Thomas Anderson. The film stars Philip Baker Hall, as the character of Sydney, an old time gambler who lives off his winnings in casino hotels. One day Sydney runs into the character of John, played by John C. Reilly. John is a loner who went into Vegas to win some money to bury his recently deceased mother. Sydney feels pity towards John, and decides to teach him how to work the casino to his advantage and make money fast. Sydney eventually takes John under his wing, and treats him like a son. Two years pass and John befriends the mysteriously sinister Jimmy, played by Samuel L. Jackson, who knows a secret that can destroy Sydney and John's relationship. A local casino waitress Clementine, played by Gwyneth Paltrow, is going through personal troubles and has a friendly relationship with Sydney. Many fans of P.T. Anderson who mostly know him for "Boogie Nights"(1997) and "There Will Be Blood"(2007) have never even heard of "Hard Eight", and it's a real shame. This film is in my opinion the most underrated film of 1996, and of the 1990s. "Hard Eight" gives a wonderfully crafted crime, casino thriller that never let's go of your attention. Hall gives the best performance of his career as Sydney. The character of Sydney is very complicated but you can tell that this man has a very big hole in his heart and the people who fill that hole is John and Clementine. You understand the character of Sydney just by the way he dresses, the way he walks and talks, the food he eats, the way he takes his coffee, and how he smokes his cigarettes. In other words Sydney is a hard ass. There are so many things you can talk about with "Hard Eight". Most movies that take place in a casino are very fast, and exciting; that is not the case with "Hard Eight". This film is very calm, and cool, and it's a beautiful contrast because a good portion of the film takes place in a casino. Anderson takes his time to tell a good story and make sure that his cinematography is on point. My favorite scene of the film is the craps scene with the loud mouth Philip Seymour Hoffman facing off with the calm and cool Sydney. Hoffman makes all his screen time count in his two minutes in the film. Hoffman constantly harasses Sydney by talking about his sexuality, and calling him and "old timer". That scene makes me laugh every time I see it. Anderson made the film for only 3 or 4 million and only grossed a little over $400,000; and that is a goddamn shame. Production for the film was dreadful for Anderson as it was just an uphill struggle just to make the film. Now it's not like Anderson is all innocent, he did some things. "Hard Eight" is a film that people are just now discovering due to Anderson's bigger more well known films. I highly recommend YOU to see this film, it will not disappoint.

paul2001sw-1 Paul Thomas Anderson's first film really had everything - Gwynneth Platrow! Samuel L. Jackson! John C. Reilly! Philip Seymour Hoffman! and of course, a magisterial performance from veteran actor Philip Baker Hall in the lead role. But it's not just the mostly not-yet-quite-so-famous cast that make the movie stand out. Structured as a taut three-act play, the movie is mesmerising but never easy: Reilly plays a loser's loser, Paltrow's role is not the sort in which her contemporary audience to seeing her, Hofmann is just repulsive, there's something faintly effeminate (on first glance) about Jackson, while Hall is supremely enigmatic right until the end. A heavy score guides us through the confusion. In contrast, Anderson's later films seem overweight and comfortable (although the director has re-used some of the same cast in his other works). Although it has something of a beginner's feel to it (the low budget, and there's a certain show-off property in the depths of it's stylish restraint), it's still my favourite of his movies.