For this exciting, continuing installment of Scene Selection, I have dug up one of Hollywood's renowned director's debut films. For those of you who have viewed "There Will Be Blood," "Magnolia" or "Boogie Nights," you have witnessed one of the film industry's best directors and writers: none other than Paul Thomas Anderson. How many of you know about his first film "Hard Eight?"
"Hard Eight" is a classic gem from the mid-nineties that stars several big name actors, including John C. Reilly, Samuel L. Jackson and Gwyneth Paltrow. Reilly is incredible as a down on his luck gambler named John who turns his life around when Philip Baker Hall's character, Sydney, begins to mentor him and become his father figure.
This relationship between Sydney and John is the center of the film. "Sydney" was the original title for the film, but due to studio decisions beyond Anderson's control, it was retitled "Hard Eight" prior to its release. Sydney takes John in after buying him a cup of coffee and offering him $50. He teaches John how to gamble and to trick casinos out of money. John begins to mimic Sydney and accept him as a mentor in his life. When John and his lover - Paltrow's character Clementine - get caught up in a hostage situation, Sydney helps protect John as he goes on the run. This leads to a brilliant plot twist that will remain unspoiled.
DO NOT read the back of the box. This is one of those awful DVDs that gives away the entire plot on the box's synopsis. I have seen too many cases that do this, and it aggravates me to know what the awesome twist is before seeing the film. Still, this is a lost gem of the nineties that few people I know have seen.
The style is the usual Anderson, including long bits of dialogue and long cuts. The standard tracking shot that he uses in every one of his films is also used very effectively in a couple different scenes. The other Anderson touch is the use of Hall, Reilly and even an appearance by Philip Seymour Hoffman. They also appear in "Boogie Nights" and "Magnolia," the following two films by Anderson.
On the historic note, for anyone looking to buff up your film trivia, "Hard Eight" is based on a short film by Anderson, entitled "Cigarettes & Coffee." The short was featured at Sundance Film Festival, and garnered enough acclaim for Anderson to be invited to a filmmaker workshop, where he developed the feature-length script for "Hard Eight" and even shot some scenes with Philip Baker Hall and John C. Reilly.
Go search out this debut picture and enjoy the mystique of filmmaking. Happy viewing - but now for a new concept: a review and preview, the next best upgrade to dinner and a movie.
This weekend may be the best opening weekend of summer. On the family friendly side of film, there is Pixar's "Up," and on the horror date movie side, there is "Drag Me to Hell." "Up" follows the journey of a retired balloon salesman as he travels to Brazil by tying millions of balloons to his house. He also is joined by a castaway boy scout for an adventure that may be one of the best stories of the year. Paid critics have already raved that this is one of Pixar's best films, and it looks to be hilarious for any demographic. It also is the first Pixar film to be released in 3D.
"Drag Me to Hell" is about a female loan officer who declines an extension of a gypsy's loan. The gypsy gets ticked off and puts a powerful curse on her. For three days her life is living hell until she will be dragged there. It looks like a fantastic return to horror for director Sam Raimi, the man who bought us the "Evil Dead" trilogy.
Both flicks open on Friday. Look for either of these in theaters, or go rent "Hard Eight." Until the next continuing adventure of Scene Selection, get busy livin' or get busy dyin'.
Alex Kartman is a junior telecommunications major. His views do not necessarily agree with those of the newspaper.
Write to Alex at ajkartman@bsu.edu
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