DOWN SINCE DAY ONE?

[Pubrick]

That was the title PTA intended it to be, but the studio insisted it needed a 'catchier' title.....

thanks i already know why it's called Hard Eight and not Sydney. i was asking why HE still calls it Sydney, which fortunately u cannot answer.

edit: i've reposted this to say that i can't believe this was my goddamn 1000th post, what a sorry state of affairs when i gotta waste it on this kind of shit.

[jokerspath]

My friends said they saw this awesome movie about porn and that it was funny, so I went and snuck into it for 1/2 an hour before some other garbage (prob. like Austin Powers or something).

So I finally saw the whole thing when it came out on video and loved it.  Bought the video and played it at parties and sleepovers and I tried to expose as many people as I could to it.

Saw the trailer for Magnolia in the theatre and was blown away.  Someone else has got to have a memory of seeing that thing for the first time.  I seriously had tears in my eyes...

Before Magnolia came out, I made a point to see Hard Eight, which I did, and liked, but not loved (I still need to buy the DVD and devour it)...

Saw Magnolia in the theatres (three times).  Random friend gave me an enormous full sheet (w/ reverse image on the back) of Magnolia because she heard I liked it.  I was pleased, to say the least.

Found C&C shortly thereafter I believe.  I had never understood messageboards, so I never tried...

Got the Boogie Nights/Magnolia preordered DVDs in the mail one fine summer day...

Saw PDL a couple times in the theatre and have since bought the DVD...

aw

[Fernando]

Hard Eight: Haven't seen it yet, but I will.

Boogie Nights: I had the premier mag. in which they did an article about it, so I became interested in this film, the odd thing here is that when I first saw it on video didn't like it at all, and the thing was that I didn't even hated the film, it just didn't do anything for me, I thought, this is it? this is the film that everybody is praising? Then, some time after that, I found Greg's site, and must say that I'm proud to say that I was a very early visitor (below the 200's), back then he had a counter, and remember he was very happy when his site passed the 1000 mark. Anyway, I started reading a lot about BN, reviews, articles, fan's opinions, and even before seeing it for the second time I rewatched the film in my head and fell in love with it, isn't that odd? Then rented it again and blew me away.

Magnolia: Went to the theater this time, with a gal on a first date, there were not even 15 minutes in the movie when she whispers "I dont understand anything", I said, "It's a story of nine people that have connections with each other", she replied "I'm not liking it", didn't respond to that and we stayed for another 3hrs, the nerve of the girl, then I paid when she wanted to see The Bachelor (with Chris O'Donnel). Back to Magnolia, I liked it but not loved it, then saw it again and thought it was a masterpiece, the script is so awesome, it shits on American Beauty any day.

PDL: Went with some friends, two of them didn't like it the other did a little bit, around the middle one of them says to me "WTF is this?" I said, "It's a work of art, shut up! And let me watch it!". Funny thing is that the guy who did like it says when saw the title card of Written and Directed by: PTA "Hey, this PTA is fucking nuts" I said "He's a fucking genius" I love PDL, I think is his best film, and can't wait for his next.

[Weak2ndAct]

I guess you could say I've been down since day one or two or so.  Sydney actually played at an arthouse theatre near me during it's brief, brief run.  I was gonna see it b/c I saw Siskel and Ebert's glowing review, and b/c at that time I saw almost everything at that theatre.  When I had a night off, the movie was gone (it played for a week and not even a full day's worth of shows).  Well, anticipation grew, and as the buzz for Boogie Nights was growing I wanted to see Sydney so bad.  Rented the video the day it came out, loved it.  When BN came out, I took a two hour trip to see it before the full wide release.  Paid to see it some five more times, then saw it another 5 or so times for free b/c my friend worked at a theatre.  Snuck into a press screening of Magnolia and saw it some 3-4 weeks early (which was murder having to wait again for the release).  Paid 5 times to see it.  Got all the dvds, books, scripts (even Sydney, great purchase), posters (including my prized possession, the gigantic magnolia poster that hangs in theatre lobbies and is super durable).  Ended up seeing PDL only once as I was very poor during it's release, but was there for the first show, first day.  Gobbled up that dvd the second it came out.  I usta own the criterion BN LD, and wholeheartedly regret getting rid of that one (damn them for not porting the Holmes stuff).

Side note: BN came out the first year I was in film school and it was very amusing to hear some people knock the movie, say it had no story, was lame, blah blah blah then have those same people change their tunes and tell me it was the greatest thing they've ever seen.

[SoNowThen]

it was a masterpiece, the script is so awesome, it shits on American Beauty any day.

So true. I always had this fight with people for some reason. It's either Magnolia or American Beauty, like the Stones vs Beatles thing. The reason I so love Magnolia is because, to me, it's the anti-American Beauty, a film which I walked out of feeling like I was manipulated by this subversive message, which was smuggled in under superb lighting and acting. That film makes my skin crawl.

[Shaun Digi]

(Deep Breath) Saw "Boogie Nights" in the 99-cent theatre in Manhattan at age 14 and thought it was good but hand't felt its full impact. Ended up purchasing a used VHS copy of the film and let it collect dust on the shelf for a few months. Saw it again with a bunch of friends and really dug it. One of my friends dug it so much that he would come over everyday and we'd watch certain sequences a dozen times. Noticed it was written-directed by a P.T. Anderson. Saw 30-second "Magnolia" teaser on MTV while watching their Video Awards in late 1999. Went insane and began anticipating the film like I've never anticipated a film before it. Began watching "Boogie Nights" obsessively, bought soundtracks and screenplay. Found C & C site while researching PTA. Saw "Magnolia" the first day it opened in Manhattan...twice. (Dec.17) I caught the first show then caught the midnight one. Ended up seeing it NINE, count that, nine times in its theatrical run. Discovered "Hard Eight" on DVD and the rest, as they say, is history. In my book, PTA has made FOUR MASTERPIECES. All hail king Homer...er, PTA. (Sigh)

[SoNowThen]

(Deep Breath) Saw "Boogie Nights" in the 99-cent theatre in Manhattan at age 14 and thought it was good. Ended up purchasing a used VHS copy of the film and let it collect dust on the shelf for a few months. Saw it again with a bunch of friends and really dug it. One of my friends dug it so much that he would come over everyday and we'd watch certain sequences a dozen times. Noticed it was written-directed by a P.T. Anderson. Saw 30-second "Magnolia" teaser on MTV while watching their Video Awards in late 1999. Went insane and began anticipating the film like I've never anticipated a film before it. Began watching "Boogie Nights" obsessively, bought soundtracks and screenplay. Found C & C site while researching PTA. Saw "Magnolia" the first day it opened in Manhattan...twice. (Dec.17) I caught the first show then caught the midnight one. Ended up seeing it NINE, count that, nine times in its theatrical run. Discovered "Hard Eight" on DVD and the rest, as they say, is history. In my book, PTA has made FOUR MASTERPIECES. All hail king Homer...er, PTA. (Sigh)

A beautiful post.

[Pubrick]

i just hope one day i'll be cool enuff to call Hard Eight - "Sydney".

[Cecil]

yeah, i dont get calling hard eight sydney either.

[filmcritic]

This is the way it worked for me.

Hard Eight - saw it on Bravo at first, bought it on VHS, then bought it on DVD

Boogie Nights - rented it, bought it on DVD

Magnolia - bought it on VHS, bought it on DVD

Punch Drunk Love - saw it in theatres, bought it on DVD


I would have loved to have seen his first three movies in theatres, but sadly I couldn't because of my age. Not anymore!

[TheVoiceOfNick]

I saw Boogie Nights in the theatre, but didn't know much about it other than it had to do with the porn industry in the 70s... I loved it, but just saw it as a run of the mill movie... I really enjoyed that it took place in the valley (where I live)... But I wasn't a hardcore film buff yet... then I got into college around the time Magnolia came out... everyone in my film and screen writing classes were talking about it... so I said I had to see it... of course, I didn't end up seeing it until mid-2002!!! By this time I was a hardcore film fanatic, and started working on my own productions, so I got into several cool directors... that's when my friend suggested I see magnolia.. he brought it over, and we watched twice on DVD that night!! I then immediately had to see BN again and also saw Hard Eight... all in the same week... by the time PDL came out, I was already a super-PTA-freak. I blame my freakness about Robert Altman and Jaques Tati on PTA too!!! After PDL I saw all of Tati's movies, and also saw every Altman film.

[chainsmoking insomniac]

i just hope one day i'll be cool enuff to call Hard Eight - "Sydney".

P, what the fuck are you talking about?

Sydney was the original title.  I'm not trying to be "cool."

I'm just trying to stay true to the creator's original intention.  That's all.

[Pubrick]

P, what the fuck are you talking about?

Sydney was the original title.  I'm not trying to be "cool."

I'm just trying to stay true to the creator's original intention.  That's all.

God u are so fucking stupid.

i wasn't even talking to u when i asked in the first place, i didn't say WHY IS IT CALLED SYDNEY, i said WHY DO YOU (the ppl who call it sydney) CALL IT SYDNEY.

u didn't even call it sydney, shit man. ur a fuckin crazy man. u just butted in and started giving me obvious information without knowing what the fuck i mean and then when i explained, and that it wasn't directed at u, u still don't know what the fuck i'm talking about.

i've tried not to snap at u man, i've tried hard.

i was making a point and Cecil agreed, that ppl who call it sydney are in a sense kidding themselves and well just stay out of it cos if u don't understand what i'm saying after this u should just unregister urself now cos ur just gonna make me get more grey hairs.

[SoNowThen]

I saw Boogie Nights in the theatre, but didn't know much about it other than it had to do with the porn industry in the 70s... I loved it, but just saw it as a run of the mill movie... I really enjoyed that it took place in the valley (where I live)... But I wasn't a hardcore film buff yet... then I got into college around the time Magnolia came out... everyone in my film and screen writing classes were talking about it... so I said I had to see it... of course, I didn't end up seeing it until mid-2002!!! By this time I was a hardcore film fanatic, and started working on my own productions, so I got into several cool directors... that's when my friend suggested I see magnolia.. he brought it over, and we watched twice on DVD that night!! I then immediately had to see BN again and also saw Hard Eight... all in the same week... by the time PDL came out, I was already a super-PTA-freak. I blame my freakness about Robert Altman and Jaques Tati on PTA too!!! After PDL I saw all of Tati's movies, and also saw every Altman film.

Have you seen California Split and Three Women?? I really wanna find these...

[bonanzataz]

actually, i kind of prefer hard eight to sydney. it's only the title of the film, i dislike when paul gets bitchy about it, it's still a great movie. i see the movie as a hard eight and not a sydney, but that's just me.