https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12orSBYKiMc
Paul Thomas Anderson's first feature film is a case study in complex character portrayals, especially that of its lead character, Sydney.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56mCuVlPpMA
Billy explains why Paul Thomas Anderson's obscure debut film, "Hard Eight," deserves to be taken off the shelf, dusted off, and viewed today!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_Eight_(film)
Hard Eight (originally titled Sydney) is a 1996 American crime film written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson in his feature directorial debut, and starring Philip Baker Hall, John C. Reilly, Gwyneth Paltrow and Samuel L. Jackson.It is the expansion of the short film Cigarettes & Coffee.The film follows the life of a senior gambler and a homeless man.

https://www.brightwalldarkroom.com/2020/05/04/hard-eight/
In a brief cutaway serving as the first suggestion that Hard Eight, 1 Paul Thomas Anderson's debut feature, may have greater stylistic ambitions than to simply join the wave of chatty, violent American indies that littered the mid-1990s, we see John waiting in line for a movie when his pocket abruptly bursts into flames. "Something to do

https://tilt.goombastomp.com/film/hard-eight-at-25-paul-thomas-andersons-stunning-low-key-debut/
Revisiting Hard Eight. Everyone knows that Paul Thomas Anderson broke through, in the fall of 1997, with his 1970s porno opus Boogie Nights.But it was not, however, Andreson's feature debut- that was Hard Eight, which after a Sundance debut in January of 1996 was released theatrically in February of the following year. That's 25 years ago this week and just eight months before the arrival

https://www.flicks.co.nz/features/hard-eight-may-be-paul-thomas-andersons-worst-but-its-still-very-very-good/
For a long time I thought Boogie Nights was Anderson's first. He seemed to have sprung out of nowhere, but the cast of Hard Eight alone should be enough to signal it as an important entry: Early appearances from John C Reilly, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Samuel L Jackson (two years after Pulp Fiction made him a star), and esteemed character actor Phillip Baker Hall, given

https://criterioncast.com/column/for-criterion-consideration/for-criterion-consideration-paul-thomas-andersons-hard-eight
What's in a name? As the director's latest film, The Master, finally arrives in all of its years-best glory this weekend, it's time that we all take a deep look back at the director's feature film debut, Hard Eight.Also known to some (mainly the film's own auteur Paul Thomas Anderson) as Sydney, very few American film debuts have been as auspicious and as generation defining

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQftwq34IgE
Paul Thomas Anderson on Making His First Feature Film, "Hard Eight." Interview conducted by Marc Maron.Great book on a truly great filmmaker: https://amzn.to

https://studios.wearebraindead.com/movies/hard-eight/
Paul Thomas Anderson, USA, 1996, 35mm, 102 min. Some call it a living. Others call it 'hedging your bets.' Half-wit John (John C. Reilly) finds himself down to his last dollar and stranded in Reno, where he meets professional gambler Sydney (a magnetic Philip Baker Hall), who takes pity on him, offering to school him in the finer points of the game.

https://talkfilmsociety.com/articles/never-ignore-a-mans-courtesy-paul-thomas-andersons-hard-eight
About. Podcasts. Features

https://variety.com/2006/scene/markets-festivals/paul-thomas-anderson-hard-eight-1117936368/#!
Anderson brought his first film, "Hard Eight" to both the Screenwriters and Directors Labs -- in January and June 1993, respectively. Admittedly, he was a green filmmaker of only 23 years, so he

https://thecinemaarchives.com/2019/06/03/hard-eight-1996-p-t-anderson/
Hard Eight - 1996 Paul Thomas Anderson. The first image is brilliant—the perfect framing of Philip Baker Hall's shadow on the far right with Jack's Coffee Shop—stunning—the ending is strong as well but we really never hit this high again. a jaw-dropper first image using architecture here.

https://www.reddit.com/r/paulthomasanderson/comments/11xrkm2/hard_eight_by_paul_thomas_anderson_the_most/
Unpopular opinion here: Hard Eight is my #1 favorite P.T. Anderson film - and I've seen them all. Excellent movie, especially given that it was his first. Another underrated movie involving gambling is Rounders (1998) - starring Ed Norton, Matt Damon, and Gretchen Mol. 40 votes, 11 comments. 14K subscribers in the paulthomasanderson community.

https://facts.net/movie/49-facts-about-the-movie-hard-eight/
Key Takeaways: Hard Eight" is a 1996 crime drama film that explores themes of redemption and mentorship in the world of gambling, featuring standout performances and a distinct directorial style by Paul Thomas Anderson.; The movie's screenplay showcases Anderson's talent, with a mix of drama and thriller elements, strong character development, and a distinct visual style, marking the

https://www.timeout.com/movies/hard-eight
Sidney (Hall) - old, well-kept - approaches a roadside café. John (Reilly) - young, down-and-out - is slumped in front of the joint. Sidney offers John cigarett

https://www.truemythmedia.com/true-myth-media/reviews/hardeight
Summary. A man makes it big in gambling with the help of a mentor, but all good things must come to an end… My Thoughts. Hard Eight is the first feature film by auteur Paul Thomas Anderson ("There Will be Blood", "The Phantom Thread"), and while it may have slipped under the radar back in 1996, it's still a showcase of an incredible young talent, who would soon become one of the most

https://collider.com/paul-thomas-anderson-philip-seymour-hoffman-movies-ranked/
Hard Eight was Paul Thomas Anderson's first feature film, and gets a little overlooked as a result. Sure, it's not as great as the masterpieces or near-masterpieces he showed himself capable

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119256/reviews
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. Like its inspiration, Jean-Pierre Melville's Bob le Flambeur, understanding who these people are in this seedy, desperate environment, is the key.

https://www.reddit.com/r/paulthomasanderson/comments/t3zrlm/hard_eight_at_25_paul_thomas_andersons_stunning/
15K subscribers in the paulthomasanderson community. A Place for Fans to Gather and Discuss All Things Paul Thomas Anderson.

https://www.getoutdoorskansas.org/trails/ninnescah-river-trail
Trail along the north side of the Ninnescah River on the east side of Pratt

https://legendsofkansas.com/ninnescah-river-kansas/
The Ninnescah River, a 56.4-mile stream of southern Kansas, has two branches. The north fork rises in the southern part of Stafford County and flows northeastwardly to Plevna in Reno County, where the course changes to the southeast. The south fork has its source in the western part of Pratt County.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninnescah_River
Ninnescah River. /  37.56806°N 97.70528°W  / 37.56806; -97.70528. /  37.32139°N 97.16639°W  / 37.32139; -97.16639. The Ninnescah River is a river in the central Great Plains of North America. Its entire 56.4-mile (90.8 km) length lies within the U.S. state of Kansas. It is a tributary of the Arkansas River.

http://prattcountyhistoricalmuseum.org/
The Pratt County Historical Society was founded in 1968, and dedicated to the preservation of the history of Pratt County, Kansas and the surrounding area. This 24,000 square foot museum features the history of Pratt County and takes visitors on an instant time travel to the days when America began building an empire out of a vast prairie.