Slow and contemplative, Hard Eight follows a couple of career gamblers through a series of revealing decisions.
The cast is great, putting in understated work that helps highlight the character over the performance. Sam Jackson and Gwyneth Paltrow have key supporting roles, but the central focus is on the relationship between Sydney (Phillip Baker Hall) and John (John C. Reilly), who are respectively mentor and mentee.
Every action builds upon those previous and further reveals the characters. And when the guilt, fear, and hardness in the hearts of the protagonists become fully clear, the movie ends. And just on time; the story feels complete.
Content warning: violence, sexual content, prostitution
Plot: 5
Characters: 7
Themes: 9
Spectacle: 7
Overall score: a hard eight, and a winning one.
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