Sydney

Plot synopsis:
Sydney, a gambler in his 60s, finds a young man, John, sitting forlornly outside a diner and offers to give him a cigarette and buy him a cup of coffee. Sydney learns that John is trying to raise enough money for his mother's burial. He offers to drive John to Las Vegas and teach him how to make some money and survive. Although he is skeptical at first, John agrees to Sydney's proposal.
Two years later, John, having gotten the money for the funeral, has become Sydney's protégé. John has a new friend named Jimmy, who does security work, and he is attracted to Clementine, a cocktail waitress in Reno.
Sydney encounters Clementine at night, learning that she moonlights as a prostitute. Although Clementine believes that Sydney might want to sleep with her, Sydney actually wants to set her up with John.
Sydney receives a frantic late-night phone call from John, summoning him to a motel. He arrives to find John and Clementine holding a hostage, who is a customer who had refused to pay Clementine $300 for sex. John also reveals that he and Clementine had eloped. The situation is dangerous, because John and Clementine have called the hostage's wife to demand the money. They do not have a plan, and they have beaten the hostage badly.
Sydney manages to calm the situation, advising John and Clementine to leave town and head to Niagara Falls for their honeymoon. After the two leave, Sydney cleans up the motel room to remove any evidence. He is then confronted by Jimmy, who threatens to tell John that Sydney had killed John's father, unless Sydney gives him $10,000. Sydney cannot pay it, but gives him $6,000 instead, later sneaking into Jimmy's house, waiting for him to return and then shooting him. He then returns to the same diner where he had first met John. The film ends with Sydney covering up blood on his shirt cuff.

Tags: violence, neo noir, murder, flashback

Review:
Though he is best known for two ambitious ensemble pieces such as Boogie Nights and Magnolia, writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson was first noticed thanks to a low-key, unpretentious character study, a gem called Sydney.The film takes its title from the main character, a lonely elder man played by Philip Baker Hall.
All's well until he falls in love with Clementine (Gwyneth Paltrow), a waitress and part-time prostitute, and trouble ensues with a gangster named Jimmy, meaning Sydney will have to come up with something extreme to save his protégé.For a first-time director Anderson shows great skills and confidence: even though he doesn't do much but follow four characters, he frames each shot to perfection and proves he is every bit as good as Scorsese at staging tracking shots (a thing he perfected on his next two features).
But style doesn't really matter here: the important thing is that the audience cares for the story, and this essentially happens courtesy of sublime dialogue and great acting.Anderson fought really hard to keep the movie's original title (and partially failed, which is why the film is known as Hard Eight in some countries), and the reason is clear from the beginning: the picture rests entirely on Hall's shoulders, and he carries it admirably.
Reilly is equally good, in a turn that opened his way to becoming one of the most reliable character actors in Hollywood, and the same intensity emerges from Paltrow and Jackson, the latter in particular adding extra dramatic flesh to what could have been a rehash of his more famous roles (Pulp Fiction etc.).
He also knows how to write: the dialogue flows freely and seamlessly between the players, spawning some of the most affecting, realistic conversations ever heard in a movie, although the director can't resist the temptation to insert a couple of in-jokes as well (in one scene, Hall mentions two characters he wound up playing in Boogie Nights and Magnolia).Overall, a very good film, and a must-see for PT Anderson fans: like many other directors who rose to fame in the '90s (Tarantino, Rodriguez, Bryan Singer) he proved right from the start what he was capable of, and has never disappointed the audience since that..
Paul Thomas Anderson's first film, Sydney (titled 'Hard Eight' by the distributors), has a story, but its more concerned about the characters, and how these actors play them.
In tune with Melville, the film is decidedly European- the story is quite leisurely, almost too much so, but in the characters Anderson has created and fleshed out he has people we can care about.Philip Baker Hall, in a towering performance of professionalism (he's one of those great character actors who practically wears the years of his life on his face, not to sound pretentious about it), is the title character of Sydney.
But there's another secret that has yet to be told.All the little details of the story are accentuated by a directorial style that is usually peerless, and the tracking shots that have become paramount in Anderson's films (i.e. opening of Boogie Nights, walking through TV studio in Magnolia) are as smooth and interesting as anything from Scorsese.
This is also known as "Sydney" (director Paul Thomas Anderson's original title) after the name of the movie's central character, a somewhat mysterious casino gambler (and murderer, by the way) played by veteran Philip Baker Hall.
I am thinking of Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman (1990) and Elizabeth Shue in Leaving Las Vegas (1995) or even Catherine Deneuve in Belle de Jour (1967).Bottom line here is that this is a studied, "arty" movie well worth seeing because of the performances and as an example of Anderson's unique style, but not something for a mass audience or for those viewers looking for a diverting thriller.But see this for Philip Baker Hall, one of those rare actors to actually find his best roles and do his best work in his sixties.
"Sydney" is the first film from director Paul Thomas Anderson better known as the director of "Boogie Nights", this years loathed and loved "Magnolia" and several Fiona Apple videos.
However, their relationship is put under pressure when John hooks up with Clementine, a cocktail waitress who also turns tricks and Jimmy, a low life with no respect for Sydney.Although it was pretty badly treated in the UK and mostly ignored and overlooked, the success of Anderson's films since has given many a reason to look back on Hard Eight (the much better but less meaningful title given it for the UK release) and `discover' it.
Jackson is his usual cool self and turns in a memorable performance while Anderson even has a part for Hoffman.I can imagine some people will not like this film: it is talky for long sections and it ends with questions to be answered - this may frustrate some people but for me I felt it allowed me to think for myself and use what I had learnt about Sydney.
Most people didn't catch this movie when it was released (in the cinema or on video), but did discover Paul Thomas Anderson's work with the phenomenal "Boogie Nights."  Make no mistake: this film is every bit as good, perhaps better, than "Boogie."  It's a small film whereas "Boogie" is a huge film, but it's packed with outstanding performances (many from actors and actresses who would go on to appear in "Boogie"), a great script (and a tighter story than "Boogie"), and the same fantastic  direction.
Such great acting talent is wasted here on performances that look and feel right out of a theatrical stage play or a student film trying to play on the level of Pulp Fiction, but with massively undeveloped characters, motivations, and plot turns that are totally arbitrary or just downright illogical.
Instead we are left with what amounts to a collection of scenes that fail to tell a compelling or evolved story with only one major twist that comes out way too late.Hard Eight is essentially a great short film or one act play with enough character development appropriate for those formats, but as a feature it simply lacks enough subject matter and overall development to be anything more than a sketch of a film with a threadbare storyline and one-sided, unidentifiable characters who end up reacting more like animals than humans.Philip Seymour Hoffman despite having only one scene still manages to steal the show..
As their friendship develops a strong bond forms between them, but when John falls in love with prostitute – cocktail waitress Clementine (Paltrow), and shifty friend Jimmy ( Jackson) starts muscling in on the group, things start to go badAnderson's debut feature is a savvy character study, unhurried in execution, it thrives on bearing out the flaws of the four principal players.
I cannot praise Philip Baker Hall enough for his portrayal of Sydney, it was intriguing and utterly convincing.A very original story also.'Sydney' or 'Hard Eight', as it's sometimes known, is a classy and thrilling film reminiscent of old, great film noir.
I love the guys work, I think he's a brilliant writer and director, and There Will Be Blood, Punch Drunk Love, and Magnolia are all among my favorite movies (Boogie Nights is up there, too).With that said, Hard Eight didn't do much for me.I just didn't find it interesting.
A professional gambler, Sydney (Philip Baker Hall) happens upon John, offers to buy him a coffee and teach him how to use the gambling system to take control of his life.
As a directorial debut from one of America's finest living directors, Hard Eight is an excellent film that demonstrated Paul Thomas Anderson's skills as a filmmaker.
Like all of Anderson's films though, he certainly gets the very best out of his actors, particularly Phillip Baker Hall.
John does well until he falls for cocktail waitress Clementine.Paul Thomas Anderson consistently makes good movies.
Philip Baker Hall is the main character here and he's a great and often overlooked actor that shines as a former gambler gone right, trying to straighten out the seemingly go nowhere life of a young man.
It does have moments of lethargic moments, the odd clunkiness and the ending is somewhat anti-climactic, but the potential seen throughout the film is enormous and from the start it is obvious that 'Hard Eight' knows its own strengths and makes the most out of them.It looks impeccable, even when not very experienced in directing at this particular point Anderson's distinctive style is evident here with the long takes and tracking shots that suggest a Martin Scorsese influence.
The storytelling is still quite nicely done though, and while the characters are not the easiest to like there is a compelling realism about them and they're interesting.Phillip Baker-Hall is magnetic in the lead role, in a performance of towering sincerity, while John C.
The film stars Philip Baker Hall, as the character of Sydney, an old time gambler who lives off his winnings in casino hotels.
Hard Eight is a terrific movie with a very well developed storyline and a terrific cast.The storyline is not extremely interesting or exciting,it all relies on writing and performances ,two things which I think this movie succeeds very well at,if the characters dialogue wasn't so well written and the actors failed to deliver natural performances then this movie surely would have failed,but it did very well on both grounds.The best performance has to go to Phillip Baker Hall,his character was very unique compared to anyone I've seen in any other movie and was certainly given the best lines,Sydney is a very memorable character.I don't have much complaints about this movie,I'm giving it an eight because I didn't think it was outstanding,but it knows what it wanted to be and certainly succeeded at that.It has great characters and very natural performances,I would recommend Hard Eight to anyone looking for a good drama or crime film.
Reilly in his Oscar-nominated performance in "Chicago" and by Gwynneth Paltrow in her Oscar-winning performance in "Shakespeare In Love." The dismal box office failure of "Hard Eight" at the time of its release has been completely offset by the steamrolling cult following that has developed over the years.This truly UNDERRATED film is gradually being recognized for the true gem that it is..
Philip Baker Hall, in an always impressive character study, portrays Sydney who takes on a young John C.
"Sydney" is the name of the lead role and considering how this is an ensemble, character-driven drama like nearly all of director/writer Paul Thomas Anderson's later films would become, that's a fitting title."Sydney" stars Philip Baker Hall in his most intensive role ever out of the hundreds he has had.
In Hard Eight, first time director Paul Thomas Anderson has constructed a subtle yet powerful commentary on redemption, it's prices and ultimately, its viability.Sydney (Philip Baker Hall) is a professional gambler, we know nothing about his background for most of the film but it becomes quickly apparent that he spends most of his time in casinos (with only brief respites in dinners).
Sydney teaches John, first how to gain casino hospitality with very little loss and eventually mentors him in the ways of professional gambling.For the majority of the film, the intrigue lies in the fact that he seems to have no motive for doing any of this, and it only grows when Sydney seems only too willing to help Clementine (Gwyneth Paltrow) out of her damaging lifestyle as well.
Jackson), who is a friend of Johns, but who Sydney has little time for.The Film is almost entirely character driven and contains impeccable performances by all involved, indeed it has to since the plot is not nearly strong enough without them.
Paul Thomas Anderson's debut feature film 'Hard Eight' is rather different from his other films, namely the better known 'Magnolia' and 'Boogie Nights'.
Still, for the most part his movies will not disappoint and this again shows that point.This movie had good acting and great performances from Anderson's favorite crew of actors (Phillip Baker Hall, John Reilly, and a small bit by S.
Gwyneth Paltrow is great against type and Samuel L Jackson is just a "bad-ass".The best part of the movie is probably the beginning (from when Sydney picks John up at the restaurant to when he instructed John how to take advantage of a casino in order to earn comps).However, the movie is a really slow mover and while all the questions are answered by the end (like why is Sydney helping John?), The answers come as a bit of a shock and violently.While it does stay true to the movie (which is really about Sydney and less about playing the "Hard Eight" in craps), it is easy to see how the movie did not do great at the box office.Its a good rental and I gave it a 6 (recommended only if you like the style)..
I found the character of "Sydney" (apparently the original title to the film) offered nothing to the world of ideas and Philip Baker Hall could have mailed in his performance from the set of one of his many other films that he "acts" in (this guy is not very picky when it comes to choosing parts).
Although perhaps better known as an introduction to the work of Paul Thomas Anderson, who was later to make "Boogie Nights," this film (which I saw under the title "Hard Eight"), was of interest to me mainly because it was among the earliest films for both Gwyneth Paltrow and John C.
Reilly, she as a cocktail waitress who also works as a prostitute, he as a hapless and clueless young man whom Philip Baker Hall ("Sydney" -- the movie's other name)befriends and tutors as a gambler for reasons unexplained until very late in the film.
Sydney and John decide to take Clementine under their wings, and soon the trio spawns a deep admiration for each other that are firmly rooted in their hearts.After a somewhat wandering beginning (that is nevertheless fascinating), Paul Thomas Anderson's film debut picks up speed and introduces one of those sinful chain reactions that I love ever so much in cinema.
While most people would say that Punch Drunk Love is Paul Thomas Anderson's 'Black Sheep' film of his great filmography, I would argue that Hard Eight is his most underrated.
Paul Thomas Anderson's feature film debut may not be as memorable as his subsequent works but his ability to create interesting characters and bring out compelling performances from his cast is one aspect that's evident here, along with a number of techniques that he would go on to perfect in his future films.The story of Hard Eight follows a veteran gambler named Sydney who meets a young man with no money outside a diner and decides to take him under his wing.
Under Sydney's fatherly tutelage, he learns the tricks of the trade and becomes a small-time gambler himself but everything is put to test when he falls for a cocktail waitress.Written & directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, Hard Eight is a feature-length adaptation of his own short film and finds the then-new filmmaker experimenting with number of storytelling techniques to carve his own distinct style, such as intersecting story lines, smooth manoeuvring of the camera & many other elements that ended up being his trademarks.The cast consists of Philip Baker Hall, John C.
Reilly plays his loser character with conviction, Paltrow chips in with a fragile rendition while Jackson does well with what he's given.On an overall scale, Hard Eight is a finely crafted character study that showcases Paul Thomas Anderson's filmmaking talents in a transparent manner, especially his firm grip of characters & story, but apart from its cast's honest performances, there isn't much that stands out.
First feature from the young director Paul Thomas Anderson, who would several years later make the brilliant movie "Magnolia", but also "Boogie Night" and "Punch Drunk Love".
By the way, these guys are also casted several other P.T. Anderson movies, as well as Melora Walters in (she only has a very small part in "Sydney").Philip Baker Hall is wonderful in this crime drama.
This film has perhaps the best performance's of Philip Baker Hall, John C.
When there are few things wrong with a film, it's easy single out and best recall those very few things.Philip Baker Hall and Sam Jackson are great and, aside from her performance in the scene mentioned above, Gwyneth Paltrow is as well..
Of course it's a smaller and less ambitious movie than 'Boogie Nights' or 'Magnolia' but it's still an excellent character study that shows just what a talented writer Anderson is.
All of the actors here make you feel exactly what is going on during the film, and Gwyneth Paltrow gives one of her best performances in this underrated story by Paul Thomas Anderson.
Let me preface my remarks about this movie by acknowledging that I did not see "Sydney/Hard Eight" until AFTER I had seen P.T. Anderson's following films, "Boogie Nights" and "Magnolia"; and at this point I had become a "rabid" fan of the young director.
P.T. Anderson's debut feature film, Hard Eight, or Sydney, is an excellent picture from beginning to end credits.
Philip Baker Hall stars as Sydney, a mysterious figure who helps out John, a guy he meets sitting outside a diner who's fell on hard times.
Paul Thomas Anderson's debut picture is by no means as good as his more successful ventures, "Boogie Nights" (1997) and "Magnolia" (1999) but there is still a lot to appreciate in the film.
Sydney (which is a much more appropriate  title than Hard Eight) is a beautifully done character study, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson.
Philip Baker Hall gives the performance of his life as Sydney in this movie.
I thought this movie was great with terrific acting from Phillip Baker Hall, John Reilly, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Samuel L Jackson.