#paul thomas anderson

Hard Eight
Written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson
USA, 1996

Watched on 1st March 2014
First viewing

This was Paul Thomas Anderson’s first feature film, and while the performances are good and much of PTA’s distinctive visual style is already present, the actual story wasn’t as compelling as most of his others. Not bad, but not great.

“[Paul Thomas Anderson] saw my movie [The Chambermaid Lynn], which was a very small German movie — no one saw it… He saw it, of all people, and that’s how I got into the casting process [for Phantom Thread].

Later I said to Paul, ‘But why did you watch that movie?’ Because no one watched the movie! And he said, ‘I don’t know, I was interested by the poster.’ And I said, ‘Yeah, but why were you interested?’ He said, ‘I don’t know, because of your face… I think I have seen you before.’ So I said ‘But where? It’s impossible!’ And then we came to the realization that he had seen Philip Seymour Hoffman’s last movie, which was A Most Wanted Man.

I play a very small role… Something that we laughed about was that maybe it was Philip Seymour Hoffman — who I liked a lot during the shoot — who put us together. Maybe it was his plan that Paul would see my next movie.” –Vicky Krieps (inPaul Thomas Anderson: Masterworks by Adam Nayman)

joaqsphoenix:

Title cards: Paul Thomas Anderson

Boogie Nights. Paul Thomas Anderson. 1997. USA.

Inherent vice, 2014