What does Hard Eight mean in this film?
I know that hard eight is a term used in gambling, but what is the significance of the term hard eight in this film? I remember reading something about it once but I can't find the post. Anybody know???
shareAha! A hard eight is a term used in the "craps" game. It's rolling the dice with two fours! The biggest win. Whew, now I can sleep at night! haha
shareIn my Opinion, there is a deeper meaning in the concept of Hard Eight in this film.
Hard Eight is the biggest win, but is difficult to get (more difficult to get Hard than Soft Eight).
These characters went for big wins, which were difficult/unlikely to be obtained.
Starting with Sydney (Philip Baker Hall/PBH) trying to find John (John C. Reilly) and take him under his wing.
Then John's marriage to Clementine (Gwyneth Paltrow) and the ensuing drama with the hostage.
Then Jimmy's (Samuel L Jackson) extortion of Sydney, and Sydney's ultimate response.
All true, but even more important is that inside bets (wagers placed on the inner portion of the craps table) such as hard eight are regarded suckers' bets because of the terrible odds they offer the gambler. It's the governing metaphor for the movie and Sydney's propensity to take these longshots at the craps table and in his relationships.
shareThanks, Brandon611 and stevenewman[...]. That was helpful!
shareHow so it is the metaphor for the movie? I know, you wrote this 6 years ago on the imdv boards, figured it was worth a shot.
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