Hidden Gems - Hard Eight

Hard Eight

Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson

5 reasons to watch it.

1- A 1996 film written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, starring Philip Baker Hall, John C. Reill, Gwyneth Paltrow and Samuel L. Jackson. Robert Ridgley, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Melora Walters also appear.

2- The film originally titled Sydney was Anderson's first feature.

3- In many ways this film reminds me of Melville's film, Bob The Gambler as the odd pro with style and old world charm, Sydney, teaches the young gambler, John to make a living from gambling and how to do it smartly, with class.
4- "Hard Eight" is a talky movie, with great pacing. Anderson builds his characters well and the casting is perfect.

5- Hard Eight borrows from noir thrillers with some violence, gunplay and a few plot twists, but this is more of a character drama than anything else