Rating: 
Summary: Anderson's monumental debut
Review: I saw this film after Boogie Nights, the film that made P.T. Anderson. My expectations were very low. I was expecting a debut-style film. However, this film was in my mind superior to Boogie Nights and even Magnolia. While those two relied on star power to promote, all Hard Eight had was four actors, one a forgettable veteran (Hall), one a chameleon-like perennial supporting player (Reilly), one an actress who was trying to live down the press of being a star's ex-girlfriend (Paltrow), and an Oscar nominee who everyone thought was a fluke (Jackson). All the players deliver brilliant performances, especially the extremely underrated John C. Reilly. A simple story with terrific plot twists and great camera work. The Vegas & Reno backdrop provide the perfect atmosphere for these seemingly lowlifes. In my mind, Anderson saved the best for first. Boogie Nights and Magnolia were good, but Hard Eight was fantastic.
Rating: 
Summary: Pt Andersons best by far
Review: This is one kikin movie.It shows what pt can do with a minimal plot and very witty dialogue
Rating:
Summary: The debut of a masterful director
Review: Along with Quentin Tarantino and Martin Scorsese, Paul Thomas Anderson is one of the greatest current film makers of modern cinema. His debut film, "Hard Eight" does more than prove that. Philip Baker Hall stars as Sydney who is a former gambler who knows all the tricks. He finds a broke John C. Reilly out front of a diner one day and then volunteers to teach him his former trade. Hall's performance is really something to see in this film. His character is acted out with such brilliance that it sends chills down your spine. Gyneth Paltrow plays a cocktail waitress who does some hooking on the side. Samuel L. Jackson also appears and is as great as always. P.T. Anderson would become better recognized for "Boogie Nights" but his debut is quite a film to see as are "Boogie Nights" and his latest film, "Magnolia". Anyone who is a film of good cinema should appreciate this one.
Rating:
Summary: Sidney! What a Film!
Review: The only thing that upsets me about this movie is that Philip Baker Hall didn't win (or even get nominated for...) an Oscar for Best Actor. Absolutely an amazing movie from probably the greatest director of the younger generation. John C. Reilly is sublime, Gwyenth plays "THE" ditz, and Samuel L. is cast perfectly as the casino town hood. Sidney's character is so amazing to watch you'll probably end up watching this movie a whole bunch of times. Flawless writing, acting, cinematography and music...You can't ask for anything more from a 25 year old filmmaker. Gem.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best DVDs, esp. if you like commentary tracks
Review: Paul Thomas Anderson is, by his own admission, a big fan of dvd/laserdisc commentary tracks, where, if you are lucky, you'll hear the director, actors, writers and/or the cinematographer of the movie you are watching talk about how it was 'all done'.Hard Eight, or "Sydney" as it is better known to the people that made it, is a superb example of what a DVD presentation has to offer. There is the marvellous widescreen transfer - the movie LOOKS great, then there are TWO commentary tracks, the first by P.T.A. and star, Philip Baker Hall on 'Audio 2', and the other track is a great combination (the first I've seen like this) where the director interviews cast and crew members himself (on the set during the production of Magnolia) - you get their thoughts and comments cleverly sandwiched in-between the movie's music cues - so you essentially get an isloated music track and second commentary on the 'Audio 3' track. The isolated music track is, in places, different to what actually appears in the film too. On top of this there are deleted scenes from the movie and footage from a Sundance Institute Filmakers Lab, which show scenes that were shot as an experiment/example of what the real film could/would be. PT Anderson's commentary tracks are very enthusiastic, honest and extremely informative. If you have any interest in filmaking this is a really good one! Oh, and it's a good film too.
Rating:
Summary: Contemporary All-American Film Noir Classic
Review: Hard Eight is a classic of contemporary American Film Noir, in the tradition of Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs and Leaving Las Vegas. Combining some of the great ensemble players of Boogie Nights and The Talented Mr. Ripley, Hard Eight is one of the best lesser known films of the 90's! Suspenseful, intriguing, completely unpredictable with characters you care about. Go for it.
Rating:
Summary: very good
Review: good movie if you like a deliberate,wordy sorts of fair. if not stay as far away from this as you can
Rating:
Summary: An entertaining, thoroughly assured debut from PT Anderson
Review: Not a sweeping epic like Boogie Nights, but rather a very tight, engaging film about characters who live at the margins of society. Anderson's script is a model of storytelling and character development, and is fleshed out by stellar performances from Phillip Hall, Samuel Jackson, and especially John C. Reilly, who played Dirk Diggler's sidekick in Boogie Nights and really deserves to be better-known.
Rating:
Summary: I liked it so much, I might start gambling
Review: Finally, a starring lead role for one of my favorite actors John C. Reilly (check out "State of Grace" and "Magnolia") and he doesn't disappoint. Philip Baker Hall (i.e. Mr. Bookman from "Seinfeld") is solid as well. Did any one spot Philip Seymour Hoffman? I havn't seen the film in a while but I think he played a loud mouth gambler. The wonderfully talented P.T. Anderson even uses the same music that he used in "Boogie Nights" (the slow church bell tune - you know, the one in which Dirk Diggler gets jumped). Same sort of style too (he loves to follow actors walking) and it really works. Terrific film.
Rating:
Summary: Simply Magnificent
Review: HARD EIGHT is definitely not P.T. Anderson's best work but remember, this is his debut film (which I think is one of the finest debut films ever made). I refuse to compare this film to Anderson's two absolutely ground-breaking films BOOGIE NIGHTS and MAGNOLIA since HARD EIGHT is a small beautiful gem, not an operatic epic like the other two. Philip Baker Hall's performance as a father-figure gambler still haunts me. I love the way he walks around in the casino. After seeing him in all of Anderson's works, he is now on my list of favorite actors. If you expect to see loads of violence Tarantino-style, this is not the movie for you...its not about violence or even gambling. It's about one old man's redemption and his fatherly relationship with a young loner.
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