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Hard Eight

Play trailer Poster for Hard Eight R 1996 1h 36m Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
82% Tomatometer 89 Reviews 83% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
A stranger (Philip Baker Hall) mentors a young Reno gambler (John C. Reilly) who weds a hooker (Gwyneth Paltrow) and befriends a vulgar casino regular.
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Hard Eight

Hard Eight

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Critics Consensus

An absorbing showcase for Philip Baker Hall, Paul Thomas Anderson's feature debut is a gamble that pays off handsomely.

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Critics Reviews

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Dave Kehr New York Daily News Sep 22
3/4
Written and directed by newcomer Paul Thomas Anderson, Hard Eight is an engaging independent film with the staccato rhythm of a David Mamet play -- but with unexpected warmth. Go to Full Review
Ella Taylor L.A. Weekly Sep 22
Paul Thomas Anderson's stylish, noirish feature debut so transcends its worn-out plot that for a while you believe you're seeing a film about something important: goodness, no less. Go to Full Review
Bob Fenster Arizona Republic Sep 22
1/5
The real mystery here is how first-time writer/director Paul Anderson persuaded anyone to put up money for this movie. He may have no talent for making movies, but he has an amazing talent for getting a movie made that shouldn't have been. Go to Full Review
Christopher Borrelli Toledo Blade Sep 22
4/4
Some movies slink to their endings, others leap with glee, some strut, and then there are ones that walk a few steps, duck into an alley way, smoke a cigarette, step out of the shadows, and arrive home at 3:15 a.m. Hard Eight does that. Go to Full Review
Robert W. Butler Kansas City Star Sep 22
3/4
Hard Eight offers a delicious role for Hall, a veteran character actor who has spent most of his life in supporting work, although he did play Richard Nixon in Robert Altman's Secret Honor. But Sydney is a terrific challenge. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Jack F @MovieFan111 Jan 9 This was a weird movie. It hardly had any music, which made it seem strange for some reason. It was a little short as well. It should have been titled "Coffee and Cigarettes". That would have been a better title. It was interesting though, and it really does feel like a debut film. It was ok. See more revolver.0 8 @Revolver08 Nov 27 good acting, but phasing is jarring See more Brian H Oct 7 Apart from Philip Hall, every other character is frustrating especially Gwyneth Paltrow...she is so annoying. See more john h Jun 3 Hard Eight is by no means a terrible directorial debut. It certainly doesn't compare to the rest of PTA's works, but you can still sense that his style was certainly born with Hard Eight - an experience that is just as jaw dropping as the seemingly inextricable, dark turn for our characters and the price of sacrificing for a loved one. See more thiago s @Thiagostone Mar 22 Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, o filme tem cenas de fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é mais ou menos e ninguém melhora o filme, os personagens sao ruins, e faltou muitas cenas para o filme ser bom. See more Christian K @ckacar Jan 27 Can see and feel the original PTA juice backed up by strong acting and a original story. See more Read all reviews
Hard Eight

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Movie Info

Synopsis A stranger (Philip Baker Hall) mentors a young Reno gambler (John C. Reilly) who weds a hooker (Gwyneth Paltrow) and befriends a vulgar casino regular.
Director
Paul Thomas Anderson
Producer
Robert Jones, John S. Lyons
Screenwriter
Paul Thomas Anderson
Distributor
Columbia Tristar
Production Co
Rysher Entertainment, Trinity
Rating
R
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 20, 1996, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA)
$215.6K
Runtime
1h 36m
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