Hard Eight ( Sydney ) ( Last Exit Reno 8 )

Hard Eight (DVD) (*)

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Original Title: Sydney
Alternate Title: Last Exit Reno 8
Screened, competed or awarded at:
Other Film Festival Awards

Language Selections:
Danish ( Subtitles )
English ( Dolby Digital Stereo )
English ( Subtitles )
Finnish ( Subtitles )
Norwegian ( Subtitles )
Swedish ( Subtitles )

Product Origin/Format:
United Kingdom ( PAL/Region 2 )

Running Time:
97 min

Aspect Ratio:
Anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1)

Special Features:
Anamorphic Widescreen
Interactive Menu
Scene Access

Movie filmed in 1996 and produced in:
United States ( USA, Canada )

Directed By:
Paul Thomas Anderson

Written By:
Paul Thomas Anderson

Actors:
Philip Baker Hall ..... Sydney
John C. Reilly ..... John
Gwyneth Paltrow ..... Clementine
Samuel L. Jackson ..... Jimmy
F. William Parker ..... Hostage
Philip Seymour Hoffman ..... Young Craps Player
Nathanael Cooper ..... Restroom Attendant
Wynn White ..... Waitress
Robert Ridgely ..... Keno Bar Manager
Kathleen Campbell ..... Keno Girl
Michael J. Rowe ..... Pit Boss
Peter D'Allesandro ..... Bartender
Steve Blane ..... Stickman
Xaleese ..... Cocktail Waitress
Melora Walters ..... Jimmy's Girl

Synopsis:

Before his commercial breakthrough with Boogie Nights (1997), writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson made this drama. John (John C. Reilly), a half-bright loser stranded in Reno, is down to his last few bucks when Sydney (Phillip Baker Hall), taking pity on him, buys him breakfast and offers him a few tips on making money in the casinos. Two years later, John has become Sydney's partner, but his lack of common sense goes from problematic to dangerous when he falls in love with Clementine (Gwyneth Paltrow), a cocktail waitress who isn't above turning a few tricks when she needs to make money - and isn't any brighter than John. HALL and Reilly, both first-rate character actors, are cast in rare leading roles, and Paltrow is cast strongly against type as a part-time prostitute with a serious lack of street smarts.

From the director of Boogie Nights and There Will Be Blood comes an intense crime thriller - Hard Eight. Sydney (Philip Baker Hall) is a poker-faced professional gambler with a soft heart for a hard luck story. He plays guardian angel to unlucky John (John C. Reilly) and a hooker, Clementine (Gwyneth Paltrow), whom he grows to love like a family. When John and Clementine's honeymoon night leads to a disastrous hostage situation, Sydney takes care of it, as usual. But when slick casino pro Jimmy (Samuel L. Jackson) threatens to reveal a secret from Sydney's past that could destroy his relationship with the newlyweds, Sydney decides to hedge his bets and leaves nothing to chance.

Sydney is a veteran gambler in his sixties who still spends his time at the casinos. When he meets John, a loser with no money at all, he sees him as a son and tries to help him. He takes care of him and teaches him all the tricks of his work. He also helps him to make a relationship with Clementine, a young girl who works at the casino as a waitress. John doesn't seem to be bothered by the fact that Clementine is also a hooker, but soon something happens that turns their lives upside down.

This product was added to our catalog on Tuesday 25 October, 2011.

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