Customer Reviews

Hard Eight (Special Edition)

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1 star:		(4)

 

 

Paul Thomas Anderson is, by his own admission, a big fan of dvd/laserdisc commentary tracks, where, if you are lucky, you'll hear the director, actors, writers and/or the cinematographer of the movie you are watching talk about how it was 'all done'.

Hard Eight, or "Sydney" as it is better known to the people that made it, is a superb example of what a DVD presentation has to offer. There is the marvellous widescreen transfer - the movie LOOKS great, then there are TWO commentary tracks, the first by P.T.A. and star, Philip Baker Hall on 'Audio 2', and the other track is a great combination (the first I've seen like this) where the director interviews cast and crew members himself (on the set during the production of Magnolia) - you get their thoughts and comments cleverly sandwiched in-between the movie's music cues - so you essentially get an isloated music track and second commentary on the 'Audio 3' track. The isolated music track is, in places, different to what actually appears in the film too.

On top of this there are deleted scenes from the movie and footage from a Sundance Institute Filmakers Lab, which show scenes that were shot as an experiment/example of what the real film could/would be.

PT Anderson's commentary tracks are very enthusiastic, honest and extremely informative. If you have any interest in filmaking this is a really good one!

Oh, and it's a good film too.

Talk about a more-than-impressive debut from a very important director, P.T. Anderson's "Hard Eight" hits all of the right notes at all of the right times. It's a film that's built around characters and dialogue rather than plot. It's a film that takes you for an unpredictable ride into the unknown and delivers a good time. Debuts come and go, but rarely do they come in top-form like this. A film noir filled with drama, humor and heart, "Hard Eight" is a very satisfying film that is enjoyable to watch.

Sidney is an old timer who used to be a successful gambler. He stumbles upon a not-so-lucky John, who is pretty much broke. Sidney unexpectedly takes him under his wing and helps him get back on his feet. The two become very close friends as time goes by and as John's winning streak improves more and more. However, John's going to need serious help from Sidney later on, and it's something that's a lot more serious than money troubles in this very involving film noir that is both thoughtful and dark.

As with the other P.T. Anderson films, I had no idea what to expect from this movie. And that's what's so great about him. No film is ever the same, and each film has a look and feel of its own. In no way could P.T. Anderson ever be a one-trick director. It is apparent that he has MANY tricks up his sleeves, and has only begun to reveal them to us.

The film certainly stands out from other debuts. It's got a strong cast, a smart screenplay, and a certain direction it wants to take. The film is complex, but not because of the plot. It is complex because the characters themselves are complex. That is what's so unique about the film. You want to take the time to get to know the characters. Not for story's sake, but because you actually want so know what makes each character tick. The acting is superb, and I don't use that term lightly. Philip Baker Hall steals the show and certainly does know his stuff. John C. Reilly also gives it his all, which leads to successful results. Everybody else is great too, but it's clear that the movie is a success because of those two particular actors. Still, it must be said that Gwyneth Paltrow and Samuel L. Jackson are also very impressive in the movie as well.

The DVD has a few extras; not many, but enough to keep us happy. The picture and sound quality is really great. You have the choice of watching the movie in its original widescreen format or you can view it in fullscreen. Extras included are commentaries, trailers, a deleted scene, and Sundance Institute filmmaker lab scenes. Not the most explosive DVD package, but it gives enough to satisfy.

"Hard Eight" is a great film for many reasons. It's smart, involving, electric and powerful. This is not something to see if you're looking for a movie with lots of action, shoot-outs, car chases and so on. If you're looking for a smart film noir that's more focused on characters rather than plot, this is the film to check out. P.T. Anderson is an impressive filmmaker, and an important one as well. So far it's always been a joy to watch his movies. It may take time to get used to him, but once you give him the chance, he really grows on you.

Paul Thomas Anderson knew what he was doing. Back in the year-o-our-Lord 19-hundred-and-ninety-six, he made a small film called SYDNEY (It was the studios idea of calling the film Hard Eight). It featured a wonderful Phillip Baker Hall (who was again featured in Magnolia and Boogie Nights). As well as John C. Reilly (Magnolia and Boogie Nights again) as well as a wonderfully done Gwyneth Paltrow and Samuel L. Jackson.

The script is just absolutely top-notch. This is not an action film. This is a character film, as is all of Paul Thomas Anderson's films. The cinematography (how the film looks) is amazing. Its not a cliche-ridden film as most movies are when centered around Reno or Vegas. You meet a man with an unknown past, find little facts about him along the way, and before its over, you're not sure whether it was better to know or be left in the dark.

The story is that Sydney (Phillip Baker Hall)helps a down-on-his-luck guy, John (John C. Reilly). He takes him under his wing. Wonderful writing, action, and suspense follows. I won't give away too much. I like to get the surprises as they come.

The performances are amazing, establishing Phillip Baker Hall (which P.T. Anderson wrote it for) as one of the best actors out there today. Samuel L. Jackson gives a surprisingly interesting performance, as well as Gwyneth.

It is not Boogie Nights. It is not Magnolia. It stands on its own as a dwelve into the mind of a man with a sordid past and the sweet-and-sour need for redemption, in any fashion you can get it. The extras are very interesting (only ONE deleted scene? Are you kidding me?), the most being the Sundance Lab test-shots. Its actors just acting, little scenery, no music. Its raw and beautiful, the way these actors go from the rough video to the big screen.

A definite must-see.

Few movies can make characters seem entirely real, or convey a mix of feelings as subtlely as this film can. "Hard Eight" is one of those few. With characters that seem like real people, a sinuously twisted plot, and plenty of suspense, rain-darkened skies and shady characters.

A former pro gambler, Sydney (Philip Baker Hall), stumbles across a young man named John (John C. Reilly) at a roadside restaurant; John is broke, embittered, homeless, and needs money for his mother's funeral -- money he doesn't have, and doesn't know how to get. Sydney makes him an offer: John will come to Vegas and Sydney will teach him how to gamble. Though John is suspicious at first, he soon comes to trust Sydney, who takes the young man under his wing and gets him a job.

Two years later, Sydney also takes the young waittress/hooker Clementine (Gwyneth Paltrow) under his wing, giving her a place to stay, and letting her and John go out to have fun. But their day out takes a horrific turn when Clementine falls back into her old ways and sleeps with a jerk. When he won't pay, John takes him hostage, and turns to Sydney for help. After learning that John and Clementine got married, Sydney does bail his young friends out of their predicament. But then he comes face-to-face with Jimmy (Samuel L. Jackson), who knows -- and may reveal -- the shadowy secrets in Sydney's past.

"Hard Eight" fulfills the specifications of film noir like few modern films do. The overcast sky and constant rain hint at the dark threads running through the film. Adding to the feeling are the complex and secretive characters, the glimpses into the darker sides of human nature, and the fact that very little is what it seems. While you can guess from the first minutes of the film that Sydney has some secret motivation for what he does, you cannot even begin to guess it.

The writing for the movie is phenomenal. One of the best things is that the characters, under pressure, act like real people -- they freak out, they say things they don't mean, they act stupidly or childishly. Yet it's because often they're scared (John), or lack confidence (Clementine); Clementine and John both cling to Sydney when they're in trouble, out of a genuine belief that he can make all right with the world.

Hall is simply amazing as Sydney. His immaculate dark suits, gravelly voice and melancholy eyes are perfect as the haunted ex-gambler. Reilly does a good job making the transition from bitterness to trust, although at times he gets a little too hysterical. Paltrow is fantastic as the troubled prostitute whom John and Sydney are struggling to help in their different ways. And Samuel L. Jackson is delightful as Jimmy.

Harkening back to an era with Bogart, Lorre and Greenstreet, "Hard Eight" is a solid, multifaceted drama with wonderful acting and a subdued pace. Sit back and let it soak in.

Before Boogie Nights, Magnolia, and the upcoming Punch-drunk Love, PT. Anderson made Hard Eight nee Sydney. Hard Eight is just as compelling as his latter works, though incredibly different and a unique experience. It's a marvel to see the seeds of genius being planted onscreen.

The main difference between this film and Magnolia and Boogie Nights is it's slower paced and less flashy. But it's never ever boring and the characters and dialogue are so compelling as is that camera wizardry would have killed this movie's intentions.

The plot follows Sydney, a Nevada gambler, an old-timer, a gentleman. One day, he meets John, a drifter who needs 6,000 dollars to pay for his mother's funeral. Sydney offers him advice and soon the two form a father-son bond that is touching and chilly at once.

Philip Baker Hall gives an Oscar-worthy performance as Sydney. He gave an incredible performance as Richard Nixon in Robert Altman's Secret Honor, but this is the role that most people will see and think "genius." John C Reilly is equally adept at portraying his character, a sort of dim guy with a good heart and a lot of love to give.

The emotions that run through this film are true and touching. John needs a father. Sydney needs to clear his conscience and discovers something true in the process.

When the titles roll up, you almost feel healthy having seen this beautiful film.

This is also known as "Sydney" (director Paul Thomas Anderson's original title) after the name of the movie's central character, a somewhat mysterious casino gambler (and murderer, by the way) played by veteran Philip Baker Hall. The new and more commercially-viable title comes from the game of craps in which the dice player can roll an eight with a six and a two or with a five and a three or with two fours. Since probabilistically the hardest way to roll an eight is with two fours, that's called a "hard eight." Such a choice occurs twice in the movie, and symbolically a "hard eight" may represent the gambler's psychology.

Co-starring as Sydney's protege is John C. Reilly as John Finnegan, a kind of loveable schmuck who falls in love with a Reno waitress/prostitute named Clementine, played quirkily by Gwyneth Paltrow. Samuel L. Jackson has a modest but very convincing part as a casino security sleaze.

Anderson's direction of these very talented actors was excellent. I wish I could say the same for his script. Most viewers I suspect will find this a bit dull; and, as it unfolds and we find out why Sydney is playing guardian angel to John, viewers may even be disappointed. I know I was. I had expected something original as Sydney's motivation, but what we learn in the last reel is quite ordinary (as movie motivations go).

What kept me watching was of course trying to figure out what makes Sydney tick and why and how he can spend his time so aimlessly gambling (and almost always losing), and where his money comes from. I also was intrigued by the originality of Anderson's treatment as opposed to his story per se. The stylized, slightly "off" dialogue, especially well-suited to Reilly's studied interpretation and Philip Baker Hall's inscrutability, reminded me of something that might have been written by David Mamet or even Quentin Taratino. Finally I was interested in seeing how Paltrow would play a role seemingly quite removed from her screen persona. I thought the delicate and very winning star of Shakespeare in Love (1998), etc., worked hard to create the sort of lower-class, uneducated, "victim" of the Las Vegas/ Reno casino culture that Anderson had in mind, and I thought she did it well. However, hers was not a sympathetic role and it did not test Paltrow's range as a actress, although playing a prostitute is something many actresses find interesting. I am thinking of Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman (1990) and Elizabeth Shue in Leaving Las Vegas (1995) or even Catherine Deneuve in Belle de Jour (1967).

Bottom line here is that this is a studied, "arty" movie well worth seeing because of the performances and as an example of Anderson's unique style, but not something for a mass audience or for those viewers looking for a diverting thriller.

But see this for Philip Baker Hall, one of those rare actors to actually find his best roles and do his best work in his sixties. Indeed, his performance here revitalized a career that had long languished. In this regard I am reminded of the Swedish actor Victor Sjostrom who gave perhaps his greatest performance in Ingmar Bergman's Wild Strawberries (1957) when he was 80 years old. Although I have seen little of Hall's work, I am willing to bet that this was one of his greatest performances.

Small town America... only this isn't the pleasant and white-picketed small town America of film noir fame, it's the gray and colorless small town America of neo-noir, and there's the man on the sidewalk looking like a lost bum to prove it. A bum who's being approached by that famous "Man in a Black Trenchcoat"...

Hard Eight (AKA Sydney, but I've yet to see a version of it anywhere that actually claims that title) is a debut pretty much as promising as Blood Simple to the brothers Coen. Paul Thomas Anderson immediately sets out to give us only the best, with actors he wants to make famous and a script that has characters doing almost nothing we want (or expect) them to do, but who yet remain completely sympathetic throughout.

Anderson also uses neo-noir color to great effect, allowing red and blue to do what harsh black and white contrast is supposed to do in classical noir. That said, Anderson still knows where the majority of the talent lies, and despite the long takes and steady-cam shots that would develop into those dizzying long takes from later movies, he focuses most of his time on the characters' faces, and just lets them be.

If he hadn't already done the amazing and always stunning later work of Magnolia, Boogie Nights, and Punch Drunk Love, I'd say that this is a "promising debut that makes me impatient for the next Anderson picture to come out," but since he does now have four classics notched into his belt, I must say, "See this to see Anderson at his roots," and "Man I can't wait for his next feature!"

--PolarisDiB

This movie was razor sharp. The acting is top notch. I haven't seen a movie this excellent, and low-budget, with this few main characters, since Glengarry GlenRoss, and this movie slices that in half. Philip Baker Hall gives a knife-edged performance "worthy of an oscar nomination." Why the quotes you ask? Because lately it seems the Oscars given out for acting aren't about acting at all. I mean, was Russell Crowe really the "best actor" of 2000? I think not. Bottom line: Get this DVD, you won't regret it. It's the chronic.

Hard what? It's a gambling term, as you learn half-way thru, but it STILL doesn't tell you anything! A gem of a movie. A very good story, well acted and well put together. Lots of close-ups and subtle facial expressions. But no car chase, so obviously no box-office hit. I had never heard of the writer/director, but I definitely want to see other movies he's made. A film about kindness, redemption, and old-fashioned courtesy against a background of gambling. John C. Reilly is just brilliant, tho all the leads are excellent, and Philip Seymour Hoffman's single cameo is almost worth the price of the video in itself. The DVD bonus material is very interesting. Somehow, the movie reminded me of "Slingblade": tho the story is different, some similar elements are the slow pace, undercurrent of violence, the long hard look at characters who slowly reveal themselves, and the excellent acting.

Not a sweeping epic like Boogie Nights, but rather a very tight, engaging film about characters who live at the margins of society. Anderson's script is a model of storytelling and character development, and is fleshed out by stellar performances from Phillip Hall, Samuel Jackson, and especially John C. Reilly, who played Dirk Diggler's sidekick in Boogie Nights and really deserves to be better-known.