Drama,Thriller
United States of America
Hard Eight is a drama film released in 1996, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. It revolves around the life of John, a seasoned gambler who mentors a young man named Jimmy, played by Tom Cruise.
The film starts with John running into Jimmy in a Reno diner and striking up a conversation with him. John introduces himself as a professional gambler and offers to teach Jimmy all he knows about gambling. After a few wins at the casino, Jimmy's luck runs out and he finds himself in debt to a dangerous man named Clementine. John offers to help Jimmy pay off his debt and they head to Las Vegas together.
In Las Vegas, John introduces Jimmy to a hooker named Clementine, played by Gwyneth Paltrow. Clementine and Jimmy fall in love and get married, but their happiness is short-lived as Clementine's pimp, played by Philip Baker Hall, shows up and puts her back to work.
John helps Jimmy get his wife back and they also befriend a vulgar casino regular named Dean, played by Samuel L. Jackson. The four of them make a plan to rob a casino, but the plan goes awry and they are forced to improvise.
Hard Eight is a character-driven film that explores themes of redemption and mentorship. The film was well-received by critics and was the debut film of renowned director Paul Thomas Anderson.
