Thursday, July 9, 2009

Hard Eight

Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson
Starring Philip Baker Hall, John C. Reilly, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Samuel L. Jackson

In the opening sequence of Hard Eight, a mysterious old man approaches John (John C. Reilly), offers him a cup of coffee and a cigarette. This man is Sydney (Philip Baker Hall), who claims he has a surefire way to help John earn some cash in Vegas toward his mother's funeral. John has never met Sydney before, and much like the audience, is curious as to why Sydney wants to help him.

The reason? Insignificant now. The fact is, Sydney's technique helps John become very successful, and the bond between the two of them becomes very strong, so much that when we are introduced to Clementine (Paltrow), she is endeared by the way John looks up to Sydney.

Is the reason why Sydney helps John just a MacGuffin? Not necessarily, but it is one of many ways in which the film creates suspense in this masterful debut film of his. To reveal any more of the plot would not necessarily ruin the film, but might take away the impact of the first viewing of the film. While the atmosphere is familiar to the film noir variety, the twists and turns the plot takes are completely unexpected, so that even the most seasoned viewers of the film will be find a delightful surprise in store for them.

Hard Eight is the impressive debut of Paul Thomas Anderson, who has gone on to make even better pictures than this later in his career. His trademark steadicam tracking shots, courtesy of cinematographer Robert Elswit, are already in place. There's one notable shot that sticks in my mind which follows Sydney as he walks through a casino. The way the colors light up the screen gives a sense of beauty to a place riddled with alcohol, addiction, loose women and sleazy men.

Samuel L. Jackson deserves a mention, as this is possibly his second best performance to his performance in Pulp Fiction a couple years previous to this. Philip Seymour Hoffman also has a memorable cameo as a young gambler who taunts Seymour.