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All Movie Info
Starring:
Philip Baker Hall, John C. Reilly, Gwyneth Paltrow, Samuel L. Jackson, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Robert Ridgely, Melora Walters, F. William Parker, F. William Parker, Nathanael Cooper, Wynn White, Michael J. Rowe, Kathleen Campbell
Directed By:
Paul Thomas Anderson
Written By:
Paul Thomas Anderson
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Hard Eight (1996)
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Movie Review by Rodney 
December 22nd, 2007
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Never Ignore a Man's Courtesy...
not too many films are as subtle, yet unflinchingly bold as Hard Eight. The story is simplistic and easy to pick up. Its the motives surrounding Sydney (Hall) that grabs the audience from the opening scenes and keeps us engaged. Outside of a diner, Sydney meets the unfortunate John (Reilly) who broke even trying to win six grand in Vegas to pay for his mother's funeral. Without a place to stay, Sydney shows John how to turn $50 dollars into a life of freedom.
Hard Eight is the great P.T. Anderson's film debut and what a great debut it is. His shots are far from amateur and his decisiveness is intricate in moving the story. The entire cast (save Hall) play supportive roles. In essence, Sydney is the plot of the film and the emotion behind what's happening on screen. The pay off isn't questioned; its convincing and satisfying.
All of Anderson's films are centered on character development and thats how films should be. Characters nowadays are there to move the plot forward. Rarely are they the reason for the picture in the first place. Hard Eight offers a redemptive drama built on the mistake of a man's past, that stems from guilt to being rooted in love.
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