Hard Eight

Director: Paul Thomas Anderson

Countries of origin: United States

Language: English

Release date: February 28, 1997

Sound mix: Dolby

Aspect ratio: 2.39 : 1

Also known as: Sidney: Juego y prostitución

"Hard Eight" is a crime film directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, starring Philip Baker Hall and John C. Reilly.

The film tells how professional gambler Sidney taught John how to make a fortune in a casino, but in fact he was the murderer of John's father.

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Movie reviews

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By Orin 2022-09-29 16:50:15

Good in its own category

Not my favorite PTAnderson movie, since as I pointed out elsewhere, I see the father-son obsession in American films an intolerable cliche. But the acting is very strong, and the plot, in spite of all the drama, is quite plausible.

Philip Baker Hall here plays an aged and tired professional gambler, who takes a lost soul under his old, tattered wings, first driven by guilt, then by genuine affection. The lost soul, convincingly played by John C. Reilly (the cop in "Magnolia "), turns...

User comments

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By Nels 2023-09-26 08:52:36

How to define the "first master" period, it would be sloppy to evaluate only with regularization or safety first. At this time, PTA has already shown its personal style (smooth long shot, mid-section narrative), and it can be regarded as a later memorial work even if it has not yet formed. , "Gangster Complex" has the development of the end of the "Godfather Fever" (with a sense of film noir), but it seems that it cannot be overly praised for this, after all, it cannot save the script and the...
By Ashtyn 2023-09-24 11:34:16

Same universe as his [Cigarette and Coffee]; - "What the hell do you want?" - "I want you to pinch that fucking cigarette" - "I won't pinch this one out. "-"Okay, then can I ask you for a cigarette?"; Jules didn't have the miraculous bodyguard from [Pulp Fiction] this time, and got all six shots; I really like the music taste of...
By Adella 2023-09-16 17:49:29

PTA's obsession and obsession with long shots is at a...
By Ena 2023-09-03 17:33:40

It's very happy, and Virgo can tell the story so powerfully, but it's still the PTA that I don't feel the...
By Remington 2023-08-22 15:49:07

Two sources of fanfare: Melville's gambler Bob and John Ford's chivalrous...

Movie quotes

Sydney: [to Jimmy] I have the money to give you right now, in this moment. I will give you all that I have. Maybe before you were gonna kill me. Maybe. I don't know. I know John, and I love him like he was my own child. But I can tell you this: I don't want to die. I killed his father. I can tell you what it was. This is not an excuse. I'm not begging for clemency. All that matters, I do not wish to sacrifice my life for John's well-being. But I will sacrifice this money for mine because you have asked me. Because after this, I will have done all I can for John and for myself. I'm going to ask you with all the heart and sincerety that I have, please do not put a bullet in me. And, please, don't tell John what I've done. I trust that once I gave you this money, you and I will take separate paths and that this negotiation will settle everything. That is my hope. I don't wanna die.
Jimmy: What I mean - what I believe... is that you killed his father... like the stories I heard go. Now, if somebody killed my father... I would feel the need to do something. The stories I heard - you know, stories get around - is that you used to be a hard-ass. You were a hard-ass and you took his dad out, Sydney. So you think - what? You can just walk through this life... without being punished for it? Shit, man. I know all those guys you know. Floyd Gondolli, Jimmy Gator, Mumbles O'Malley. They like to sit around in Clifton's and talk, talk, talk. They love to tell stories. You can sit there and look at me sideways all you want. You probably think I'm some kind of asshole or something... but I'm not a killer... like you. You walk around like you're Mr. Cool, Mr. Wisdom... but you're not. You're just some old hood. The other night in the bar, you asking me a question... like do I do parking lot security? Well, the answer is no! I'm trusted security inside the casino. I'm trusted with security, and I don't fuck it up.

Sydney: Good that you have such a sturdy sense of responsibility.

Jimmy: Don't! Don't! Don't fuckin' do that! You understand? I can see right through that shit! You look at me as some idiot, huh? I know you do. I know you. You old guys, you old hoods... you think you're so fuckin' above it... so high and mighty. What am I to you? Some loser? Not with a gun in my hand. Not with the facts I know. Bottom line, Sydney. No matter how hard you try... you're not his father.
Sydney: [John has called Sydney to his hotel room asking for help. Sydney knocks, John answers from behind the closed door] John?

Sydney: ...Sid?

Sydney: Yeah. Open up.

John Finnegan: ...everything cool?

Sydney: What? Yeah, everything's cool. Are you alright?

John Finnegan: I'm fine.

Sydney: You gonna open the door?

John Finnegan: I said on the phone, you know... it's kinda screwed up.

Sydney: Yeah, so? Open the door, let's see what's going on.

John Finnegan: ...you promise you'll help me?

Sydney: [growing exasperated] John, it's cold out here, open the door.

John Finnegan: ...is everything cool?

Sydney: John, open the goddamn door, will ya?

Sydney: [John finally unlocks and opens the door; Sydney enters] Now what's going on, John?

John Finnegan: Just - shut the door.

[the door is closed]

Sydney: Why are the lights out?

John Finnegan: Okay, Sid?

Sydney: Okay I'm not gonna...

John Finnegan: -let's just leave them off for a second...

Sydney: -I'm not gonna stand here with the lights out.

[Sydney flips the light on]

John Finnegan: Okay now, you promised you'd help me.

Sydney: ...what is this, John?

John Finnegan: I'm sorry, Sid.

Sydney: John, what is this? Who is this man?

John Finnegan: He's uh... he's a hostage.

Hard Eight

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Movies Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson

Movies Starring Philip Baker Hall