Hard Eight

"Columbia/TriStar has done a fantastic job with the DVD release of Paul Thomas Anderson's debut film Hard Eight. The disc comes with a pair of transfers. The widescreen anamorphic transfer preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1, and is preferable in every way to the standard full-frame image. The closed-captioned English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital Surround. English and Spanish subtitles are accessible. The superb supplemental materials include a pair of commentary tracks. Anderson and his lead actor, Phillip Baker Hall, provide entertaining details about the making of the film as well as the tense relationship Anderson had with the money-men who funded the film. They provide a second commentary track that is coupled with comments recorded on the set by the crew that sheds light on the making of the film and provides details about Anderson's time at the Sundance lab. He explains that while at the lab, he shot four of the film's scenes on video. Three of those videotaped scenes are included on the disc. They offer a fascinating look at how the material has been shaped over time. The theatrical trailer rounds out this superb title that will please those who were entertained by Anderson's intense commentary on Boogie Nights."