Paul Thomas Anderson’s name was nothing to me before I watched the films Boogie Nights and Punch Drunk Love, two movies that I absolutely adore.

This film, Hard Eight, is a film that’s really interesting, but really slow at the same time.

THe movie follows a gambler who meets a man outside of a diner and offers him a cigarette and eventually becomes like a father to him.

The film fast forwards five years, and we see the man, named John, enjoying what seems to be a normal life.

Enter Samuel L. Jackson, and Gwyneth Paltrow and now we have a story!

John and his new love Clemantine get married quickly, then get into a pickle when she picks up a “john” who refuses to pay her for services rendered. The two end up beating the guy nearly to death, and Sydney (the old man) has to bail the two out.

This is about an hour in, and I almost turned the movie off…

Then a brick came flying through my television set and hit me in the face. Samuel L. Jackson blackmails Syd, then well…things happen. The blackmail happens due to the “plot twist” which has Sydney killing John’s father.

The movie is slow. I won’t lie to you, it’s a slow movie, and the resolution at the end of the film is depressing to say the least. You think one thing is going to happen, and really, the opposite happens.

If you’ve invested your time in this film, you might as well finish it, however if you’re not a fan of slow moving plots, you’re not going to enjoy this film.

What it does have going for it, is the sheer fact that the acting is really good, and the visuals are really well done. P.T. Anderson showcases such a great visual understanding, and story telling that just magnifies off the screen.

Here’s a trailer for the film Hard Eight:

The music fits in at times, but at other times just doesn’t fit in at all. THe movie makes you almost care about the characters, but there are certain elements are treated really loosely and relaxed, in light of how serious the allegations and truth are.

I recommend this movie if you ar ea fan of P.T. Anderson’s other films, but if you haven’t seen it, you’re not missing out on something that will get mentioned by many folks outside of film geek circles.

I do commend the director for such fluidity and lucidity towards the end, and the visuals, are just amazing at times.

It falls apart at the seems though, and the pacing really bugs me.

Hard Eight is available in our online store for a low price, and it helps me keep the stupid webhosting on this place….grrr….(sorry).