Hard Eight
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Metascore
78 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.1 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 17 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
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  • Starring: John C. Reilly, Philip Baker Hall
  • Summary: Sydney (Hall) is a poker-faced professional gambler with a soft heart for a hard luck story. He plays guardian angel to unlucky John (Reilly) and a hooker, Clementine (Paltrow), whom he grows to love like family. When John's and Clementine's honeymoon night leads to a disastrous hostage situation, Sydney takes care of it, as usual. But when slick casino pro Jimmy (Jackson) threatens to reveal a secret from Sydney's past that could destroy his relationship with the newlyweds, Sydney decides to hedge his bets and not leave anything to chance. (Sony)… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 14
  3. Negative: 1 out of 14
  1. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Keith Phipps
    100
    One of the best films of the year.
  2. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Stephen Holden
    80
    The role of Jimmy is one of Mr. Jackson's scarier characters, and this brilliant actor inhabits all four corners of his jittery, avaricious personality. When he and Sydney finally clash, the movie makes its darkest, cleverest turn into film-noir nightmare.
  3. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Maitland McDonagh
    50
    Ultimately, the material is so familiar that it's hard to work up any enthusiasm for another trip though the seamy underside of glittering gaming life.
  4. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Ruthe Stein
    25
    Noirish thrillers live or die by their plot twists and dialogue -- talk literally being cheap compared to action shots. Unfortunately, the script by first-time filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson fails on both counts.

See all 14 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. Justinavery7074
    10
    **** is this movie great. There are only a few number of filmakers that have a flawless track record. And PT Anderson is definitely one of those. Because this film has some great characters. ANd it has everything that Ocean's Eleven should've had.… Expand

See all 3 User Reviews

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