Hard Eight

Before There Will Be Blood, Magnolia, or Boogie Nights, Paul Thomas Anderson made a film he called Sydney, and later renamed Hard Eight.

Much has been written about how Robert Altman's films influenced Anderson. Even Anderson has discussed this at length. Hard Eight seems to be the most Altman-esque of Anderson's work — even casting Philip Baker Hall in the lead role.

But touches of Stanley Kubrick's work appear in the cinematography as well, along with French New Wave films. I'd go on citing other influences, but that's not the point — and you can read.

Hard Eight was one that I had to track down on glorious VHS, after I'd seen Magnolia and Boogie Nights. Even later, I picked up a copy on DVD at my local, dying Borders store. Unfortunately, I never got around to re-watching the film until tonight.

I've written a lot about films that impressed me long ago, but don't seem to sit the same way now — maybe they don't disappoint me, but I feel differently about them. I've also written about films that are just as good as I remember — ones that haven't aged a day.

Occasionally, a film is even better than I remember. Hard Eight is like that — great characters in complicated situations, with a cast that feels just right. I don't know why I don't watch this film more often (I probably say that about my whole collection). The film isn't Anderson's best, but looking again was totally worth the time.