Hard Eight (1997)

An aging gambler (Philip Baker Hall) takes a not too bright young man (John C. Reilly) under his wing and teaches him how to beat the odds in Las Vegas and even thrive. But when a rather dim witted waitress/hooker (Gwyneth Paltrow) and a security specialist (Samuel L. Jackson) enter their lives two years later, things turn ugly. The directorial debut of Paul Thomas Anderson may not match that of Orson Welles' 1941 masterpiece but this is still a near astonishing first film. So meticulous and assured that it seems to have come from an experienced film maker. While many film makers make promising film debuts that signify more great films to come, too many aren't able to fulfill the promise of that first gem. Luckily (like Quentin Tarantino), Anderson's debut film was just a hint of the wonderful films that would soon follow. While Reilly, Paltrow and Jackson are good, it's Hall's detailed and fastidious performance that holds the film together. An atmospheric piece that can't help but hold your attention. With Philip Seymour Hoffman overacting a bit and Melora Walters.