Noir tale of tricks, tough guys and gambling. It is the first motion picture of Paul Thomas Anderson, in a solid crime drama with powerful performances (Philip Baker Hall is the biggest badass), and some of the techniques that PTA would use in later movies (the quick travellings, the sarcastic sense of humour of his characters, the language, etc). So, Hard Eight is much more than just the debut of a great director.
* * * * 1/2
