Sydney (1996)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Paul Thomas Anderson

Writer:

Paul Thomas Anderson (written by)

Release Date:

28 February 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

When good luck is a long shot, you have to hedge your bets.

Plot:

John has lost all his money. He sits outside a diner in the desert when Sydney happens along, buys him coffee...

Plot Keywords:

Casino | Poker Game | Marriage | Remake | Directorial Debut

Awards:

1 win & 6 nominations

Cast

Philip Baker Hall	...	Sydney
John C. Reilly	...	John
Gwyneth Paltrow	...	Clementine
Samuel L. Jackson	...	Jimmy
F. William Parker	...	Hostage
Philip Seymour Hoffman	...	Young Craps Player (as Phillip Seymour Hoffman)
Nathanael Cooper	...	Restroom Attendant
Wynn White	...	Waitress
Robert Ridgely	...	Keno Bar Manager
Kathleen Campbell	...	Keno Girl
Michael J. Rowe	...	Pit Boss
Peter D'Allesandro	...	Bartender
Steve Blane	...	Stickman
Xaleese	...	Cocktail Waitress
Melora Walters	...	Jimmy's Girl

Also Known As:

Hard Eight (USA) (new title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong language, some violence and sexuality.

Runtime:

102 min | USA:101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:12 | South Korea:18 | Canada:13+ (Québec) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:R (Manitoba) | UK:15 (re-rating) (2008) | UK:15 (re-rating) | New Zealand:R16 | Finland:K-16 (video premiere) | Germany:16 (video rating) | Portugal:M/12 (video premiere) | UK:18 | USA:R | Australia:MA

Filming Locations:

Reno, Nevada, USA

Company:

Green Parrot

Trivia:

Assistant Cameraman Michael G. Riba turned down 2 weeks of work on Waterworld (1995) - which paid better - to work on Sydney (1996). Riba has been the assistant cameraman on every Anderson film since.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: Camera operator's shadow visible on the ground during the first scene where Sydney meets John (full-frame version only).

Quotes:

Sydney: [to Jimmy] I have the money to give you right now, in this moment. I will give you all that I have. Maybe before you were gonna kill me. Maybe. I don't know. I know John, and I love him like he was my own child. But I can tell you this: I don't want to die. I killed his father...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Jackie Brown (1997)

Soundtrack:

Christmas Medley

Promising debut from Anderson

This first film from Paul Thomas Anderson shows the promise he would later fulfill with BOOGIE NIGHTS. The writing here is as sharp as it was in the later film, but it must be said as a director, he sometimes lets scenes go on too long (ironic that BOOGIE NIGHTS, which is a longer film, is also a tighter one). The main connection between both films is Anderson's obvious affection for his characters. Also the relationship between Sydney and John doesn't turn out the way you'd expect. And Anderson is to be commended for avoiding melodrama.

Philip Baker Hall is one of those actors who you may not know by name, but when you see him you instinctively feel he's right for the part, no matter how small. This is one of his rare leading roles, and he's perfect, showing the character's success and also his loneliness, without sentimentalizing it. John C. Reilly is properly eager and naive as John. Samuel L. Jackson is dependable here, and Gwyneth Paltrow proves she doesn't need a British accent to give a good performance. She and Jackson should also be commended for backing Anderson when he had problems with the studio.