B Movies and Couch Classics: Hard Eight • Fletch

B Movies and Couch Classics
By Dan Dumbauld, of Movie Merchants

HARD EIGHT

Compulsive gamblers in movies are usually portrayed as hard-luck losers at the end of their rope, like Harvey Keitel’s character in Abel Ferrara’s 1992 film The Bad Lieutenant. However, the film Hard Eight gives the viewer a different perspective through the character of Sydney, played by Philip Baker Hall. Sydney is a career gambler who does not change expressions whether he is hitting a big payday or losing $2,000 on the roll of the dice. Much like a lifetime alcoholic who sits at the bar all day, Sydney no longer derives enjoyment from gambling, but it’s simply something that he must do.

Although gambling is what defines Sydney, it is just a backdrop for Hard Eight’s plot. Sydney picks up a wayward soul, played by John C. Reilly, and takes him under his wing. Sydney quickly becomes a father figure to John, however, his reasons for helping John out are not initially explained. Despite the fact that the two just met, he is there for John whenever he needs him no matter what the situation.

Sydney and John’s relationship starts to change. John meets Clementine, a waitress/hooker, and makes friends with a shady character named Jimmy (Samuel L. Jackson). Sydney starts to control John’s life as he pushes him towards Clementine. Conversely, Sydney wants John to stay away from Jimmy. Jimmy knows something about Sydney’s past that will eventually affect everyone.

In the tradition of film noir, writer/director P.T. Anderson slowly builds the characters. As the film progresses, each character’s motivations become clearer leading up to a great final sequence.

Hard Eight is Anderson’s directorial debut. He also has the film Boogie Nights coming out in theaters in October. Although the story is well done, Anderson’s focus is on the extremely developed characters. Philip Baker Hall gives a tour-de-force performance as the laconic Sydney. The veteran character actor, who is probably most famous for a guest spot as the book detective on Seinfeld, is in virtually every scene. Samuel L. Jackson is equally impressive in a supporting role. Gwyneth Paltrow’s down-trodden Clementine is a change of pace from her usually perkier roles.

The mood of Hard Eight is rather melancholy, which fits the film perfectly. It is certainly not a feel good movie; however, it does feature a good story, great characters, and superb acting.

FLETCH

Movie comedies have died in the 1990s. Unless you can stomach the sophomoric antics of Jim Carrey, Chris Farley, and Adam Sandler, there has not been much to laugh at on film the past several years. Hollywood no longer makes the classic comedies of the 1970s and 1980s that can be watched over and over again.

A perfect example of a great comedy that can be, and should be, watched multiple times is the 1985 film Fletch. Fletch stars Chevy Chase as Irwin R. Fletcher, an investigative reporter with a knack for straight faced one-liners and disguises.

Fletch, as he prefers to be called, is working on a story about drugs on L.A.’s beaches. He soon finds out that the actual selling of the drugs is not the real story but it’s who’s supplying them that is. Fletch then assumes every identity from insurance salesman to auto mechanic to get to the bottom of the situation.

Chevy Chase created memorable characters in the 1980’s classics Caddyshack and the Vacation films, however, he is at his best in Fletch. It is a perfect vehicle for his unmatched physical comedy and quick wit. Fletch is a movie that gets better with each additional viewing as you catch something extra Chase says or does.

Like other great comedic actors Bill Murray, Dan Ackroyd, Eddie Murphy, and Billy Crystal, Chevy Chase is a veteran of Saturday Night Live. SNL has suffered a marked dip in popularity and quality in the last six or seven years. So perhaps until the show gets better, comedy fans will have to rely on the classics on video.

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