Synopsis
A stranger mentors a young Reno gambler who weds a hooker and befriends a vulgar casino regular.
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Cast
- Philip Baker HallSydney
- John C. ReillyJohn
- Gwyneth PaltrowClementine
- Samuel L. JacksonJimmy
- F. William ParkerHostage
- Philip Seymour HoffmanYoung Craps Player
- Nathanael CooperRestroom Attendant
- Wynn WhiteWaitress
- Robert RidgelyKeno Bar Manager
- Kathleen CampbellKeno Girl
Recommendations
- 100
The A.V. Club
One of the best films of the year. - 90
Chicago Reader
Impressive for its lean and unblemished storytelling, but even more so for its performances. - 88
Chicago Sun-Times
Movies like Hard Eight remind me of what original, compelling characters the movies can sometimes give us. - 80
The New York Times
The role of Jimmy is one of Mr. Jackson's scarier characters, and this brilliant actor inhabits all four corners of his jittery, avaricious personality. When he and Sydney finally clash, the movie makes its darkest, cleverest turn into film-noir nightmare. - 80
Washington Post
Paul Thomas Anderson shows off the same sort of quirky smarts that Joel and Ethan Coen did in "Blood Simple." - 75
USA Today
We accept the sincerity and altruistic motives of the aging loner he (Philip Baker Hall) portrays in this consciously spare Nevada-set sleeper. [13 March 1997, p. 8D] - 75
ReelViews
There's something almost hypnotic about the way Hard Eight develops -- even in its slowest, most tedious moments, it keeps our attention. - 67
Austin Chronicle
Hall, one of our least appreciated great actors, is mesmerizing as Sydney.
