August 20, 1999

Archived update from Cigarettes & Coffee, run by Greg Mariotti & CJ Wallis from 1999-2005

Another Summary of the Hard Eight DVD

"You know the first thing they should've taught you at hooker school? You get the money up front!"

Philip Baker Hall, John C. Reilly, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Samuel L. Jackson all learn the hard way that "there are six ways to roll a seven ... but only one way out of trouble," in Boogie Nights director Paul Thomas Anderson's debut feature, "Hard Eight: Special Edition" [1996; CTS; A (2.35),PS; DS; R; 101m; EN:CC,EN; $27.95; 10/5].

"Sydney (Hall) is a deadpan professional gambler, who operates in the twilight casino world of Reno. He takes John (Reilly), a younger and somewhat naïve man, under his wing after what appears to be a chance encounter. As their relationship develops, John's confidence grows under Sydney's tutelage. He falls in love with a waitress and sometimes hooker, Clementine (Paltrow), and then falls into some bad company in the form of Jimmy (Jackson), an obnoxious and dangerous small-time crook who openly challenges Sydney's influence. Despite Sydney's attempts to keep him out of trouble, he is soon forced to intervene when John and Clementine kidnap an overzealous client and lose control of what becomes a violent situation. It's then that Jimmy plays his trump card: having learned of Sydney's previous illegal occupation, and the real reason Sydney took him under his wing, Jimmy plots a vicious blackmail."

"Hard Eight" will include:

Two audio commentaries (Director Paul Thomas Anderson and cast; Anderson and cast and crew);

The deleted scene, "The Kiss";

Three Sundance Institute Filmmaker Lab scenes: "The Coffee Shop," "Jimmy Threatens Sydney," and "The Phone Call";

Cast and crew bios, and two "Hard Eight" trailers.

August 16, 1999

Archived update from Cigarettes & Coffee, run by Greg Mariotti & CJ Wallis from 1999-2005

Let the Magnolia Invasion Begin!

On the heels of the Entertainment Weekly piece yesterday. The official Magnolia website is up and running! There are two downloadable teaser's, three photos, a poster, and a cryptic plot summary. (Please note: the teasers at this site are different from the teaser that is currently playing at the theatre. The theatrical teaser does have actual footage from the movie while these two do not)

August 15, 1999

Archived update from Cigarettes & Coffee, run by Greg Mariotti & CJ Wallis from 1999-2005

Magnolia

: Starring William H. MACY, Julianne MOORE, Philip Baker HALL, John C. REILLY, Jason ROBARDS, Felicity HUFFMAN, Tom CRUISE
directed by Paul Thomas ANDERSON
what's the big deal? The much-anticipated follow-up to Anderson's critically hailed ''Boogie Nights'' -- the movie that made Marky Mark a big deal (at least in its last scene).
release date Dec. 25

''I'm going to get final cut once in my career, so I might as well abuse it to the hilt,'' says the 29-year-old director. Exactly how he'll abuse it isn't entirely clear, though we do know, based on ''Boogie Nights,'' that Anderson isn't afraid of complicated story lines or sprawling running times. Nor does he shy away from risqué subject matter. But Anderson, who also wrote the script, is keeping ''Magnolia's plot details double top secret.

This much we do know: The film is set in modern-day San Fernando Valley, takes place over the course of 24 hours (except for a 15-minute prelude set at the turn of the century, which Anderson filmed using an old-fashioned hand-crank Lumiere camera), and features a brief cameo by Tom Cruise.

''It's about family relations, how they need to be mended -- or broken, depending on your point of view,'' is all Anderson will (cryptically) reveal. Hall (who'll also appear in ''The Talented Mr. Ripley'') isn't much help either: ''It's a multiple-story format, with about five different plotlines running through it,'' he says. ''It's a little like Robert Altman's 'Short Cuts'... but that's really all I can say about it.'' BUZZ FACTOR: 7

August 12, 1999

Archived update from Cigarettes & Coffee, run by Greg Mariotti & CJ Wallis from 1999-2005

Magnolia Test Screening Down Under?

Editors Note: I received this email from a reader who had the opportunity to see a rough cut of Magnolia in Australia. There are very minor spoilers so read with caution!

I live in Sydney Australia, and would you believe I saw "Magnolia" a week ago! I was handed a flier in the street which said "You and a guest are invited to the most anticipated film of the year 2000". It didn't say anything else other than where it was on and that it ran for 3 hours. Out of curiosity more than anything else I went along. The cinema was packed, and no one new what they were about to see. Finally an American guy came out and said that he wasn't going to say anything about the film except that it wasn't quite finished, and that we were the first audience in the world to see it.

I had no idea what I was about to see or why it was being shown in Australia. Within about 20 minutes of it starting, Tom Cruise appeared. Then one by one, heaps of the cast of Boogie Nights. Then it hit me. Tom Cruise was in the audience. He had to be.  He's in Sydney at the moment doing Mission Impossible 2. The back row of the cinema was reserved with security sitting on the aisles. The back row was empty when the credits rolled (obviously to get Tom out in time) and why else would they show an unfinished version of a new film in Sydney? Obviously Tom wanted to see it and see it with an audience reaction.

So, what was the film like? I thought it was brilliant. It ran for 3 hours 25 minutes and wasn't boring for a second. The performances are uniformly sensational (Tom Cruise at his best ever). It's quite bizarre at times. The soundtrack is great by the way. It's just a superb movie in so many ways.

At the end of the movie the American guy came back into the theatre. There were only about five people left in there. I asked him what his connection with the movie was. He said, "Oh I wrote and directed it". I couldn't believe it. Here was the genius right in front of me. I shook his hand and told him he was brilliant. He asked us whether the film was too long. I said only by a bit, and he said he was going to cut it by about 20 minutes. It would be perfect at that length. I said I loved the music and he said it was all going to stay in. I said, "Even Revolution 9 (Beatles Song)?". He laughed and said, "No, all except that one. I can't afford that one". Damn that Michael Jackson, hey. Anyway, as he was leaving I got him to sign a popcorn container for me. I was pretty chuffed about that. He was THE nicest guy. Very humble, incredibly friendly.

August 9, 1999

Archived update from Cigarettes & Coffee, run by Greg Mariotti & CJ Wallis from 1999-2005

Hard Eight DVD Officially Announced!!!!!!!

Columbia TriStar has announced the October 5th release of HARD EIGHT. HARD EIGHT will feature audio commentaries, a deleted scenes, DD surround and dual aspect ratios including 16x9 enhanced widescreen. 

courtesy of The Big Picture

Also set for release on October 5 is a special edition of Hard Eight, a gambling drama in the realms of Reno starring Samuel L. Jackson. The release will contain two separate commentary tracks with the director and various actors and crew members. A deleted scene called "The Kiss" will be part of the release and you will be seeing the Sundance Institute Filmmaker Lab Scenes "The Coffee Shop", "Jimmy Threatens Sydney" and "The Phone Call" on the disc. "Hard Eight" comes with a pan & scan and anamorphic widescreen transfer and a Dolby surround soundtrack