Hard Eight - Special Edition

Crime, Mystery, Thriller

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

Director	Paul Thomas Anderson
Producer	John S. Lyons; Robert Jones; Hans Brockmann; François Duplat; John Lyons
Writer	Paul Thomas Anderson
Cinematography	Robert Elswit
Musician	Michael Penn; Jon Brion

Sydney (Philip Baker Hall) is an aging gambler and spends time in casinos. John (John C. Reilly) is totally broke. John is in a desert diner, where he meets Sydney, who gives him cigarettes and coffee and then takes him to Reno, Nevada. Sydney treats John like a son who needs his help. Sydney tries to show him the ropes and gamblers’ tricks and secrets, like how to get a free hotel room. John starts to do a lot better for himself with Sydney’s instruction until Clementine (Gwyneth Paltrow) comes along. She is a waitress but also a prostitute. Events then occur which will alter all of their lives.