Hard Eight (1996) Stream rent

[iamwhatiseem]

A story of an ageing man seeking redemption, and the sad sack loser (John C Reilly) that he hopes will fill that need.
If only he could fix his stupidity, teach him how to do things...
It is not a comedy. A simple story. An old man desperate to amend his sins, and a young man that is his own worse enemy.

It is a good movie. Slow burn, some surprises and the writing/acting is solid.

 

[whitehall]

Powerful performances by Paltrow, Reilly, Jackson and Baker. It never did get the recognition it deserved.

 

[Flopper]

This is a good movie to watch to see fine character development. I thought Reilly and Hall were particularly good. The script, acting, and direction was fine. The plot is basically a mystery about an old gambler, Sidney (Phillip Baker Hall), John (John C. Reilly), a not so bright failure at gambling, Clementine a bar girl (Gwyneth Paltrow), and Jimmy, a gambler (Samuel L. Jackson}.

Sidney offers John a cigarette and a cup of coffee and that begins a story of Sidney teaching John the ropes and backing John in the world of gambling. Clementine enters the picture as a love interest, and Jimmy as the a gambler with an interest in these characters. The plot is really a mystery about who these people really are and their motives. By the end of the movie we learn who Sidney is and his motives and about what makes John, Clementine, and Jimmy tick.

As I said, this is a character study and it is done very well. By the end of the movie you have an understanding of the motives of the characters. This is a drama about flawed characters and why they behave as they do. It is not about justice or retribution.

Philip Seymour Hoffman appears as a young crap player and we see what a great lost he was to the stage and screen.

 

[iamwhatiseem]

This is a good movie to watch to see fine character development. I thought Reilly and Hall were particularly good. The script, acting, and direction was fine. The plot is basically a mystery about an old gambler, Sidney (Phillip Baker Hall), John (John C. Reilly), a not so bright failure at gambling, Clementine a bar girl (Gwyneth Paltrow), and Jimmy, a gambler (Samuel L. Jackson}.

Sidney offers John a cigarette and a cup of coffee and that begins a story of Sidney teaching John the ropes and backing John in the world of gambling. Clementine enters the picture as a love interest, and Jimmy as the a gambler with an interest in these characters. The plot is really a mystery about who these people really are and their motives. By the end of the movie we learn who Sidney is and his motives and about what makes John, Clementine, and Jimmy tick.

As I said, this is a character study and it is done very well. By the end of the movie you have an understanding of the motives of the characters. This is a drama about flawed characters and why they behave as they do. It is not about justice or retribution.

Philip Seymour Hoffman appears as a young crap player and we see what a great lost he was to the stage and screen.

?
The entire premise of everything Sydney is doing is about redemption.
Sydney shows up at the coffee shop when he learned that John's mother died, and because he murdered John's father, he is now alone. John makes a reference to hard times, and he and his mother don't have any money... which alludes to the reason for that is they don't have his fathers income anymore. Which would also be his fault.
Sydney's attraction to Clementine is similar to John. He is a man with regrets. Wasted his life on meaningless schemes and low earning crimes. He is alone. He is nobody. He knows he is close to death, but is desperate to do something righteous before he does. Seeking redemption.