Sydney (Philip Baker Hall), a mysterious professional gambler, befriends John (John C. Reilly), a young man in trouble, and teaches him the ways of making a living in the casinos of Reno. John gets involved with Clementine (Gwyneth Paltrow), a pretty waitress who doubles as a prostitute, and Jimmy (Samuel L. Jackson), a two-faced criminal. When trouble erupts, suddenly Sydney has to rescue his young friend, but a secret from his past threatens to destroy everything he has tried to build up. Director Paul Thomas Anderson's highly acclaimed debut feature (based on the films of Jonathan Demme and John Cassavetes) is a tight, intricate film noir character study with a more disciplined plot than his later, more expansive films. The film also features excellent work from his four actors, particularly Hall as the experienced, world-weary Sydney, and fascinating details about the lowlife world the characters inhabit. HARD EIGHT originated as a short film, CIGARETTES AND COFFEE, that Anderson developed at the Sundance Film Institute.
Product Identifiers
UPC
0043396810396
eBay Product ID (ePID)
3260320
Product Key Features
Actor
John C. Reilly, Gwyneth Paltrow, Philip Baker Hall
Director
Paul Thomas Anderson
Rating
R
Format
DVD
Release Year
1999
Movie/TV Title
Hard Eight
Genre
Drama
Additional Product Features
Region Code
Region 1
Number of Discs
1
Country/Region of Manufacture
USA
LeafCats
617
Film Country
USA
Leading Role
John C. Reilly, Gwyneth Paltrow, Philip Baker Hall