connection: Hard Eight and Midnight Run

[socketlevel]

I've been thinking about this for a while and i want other people's opinion.

There is a weird connection between these two films.  Phillip Baker Hall's character in "Midnight Run" is named Sidney.  Also, his role is an advisor to a mob boss and works primarily in a casino.  I wonder if there is some connection between the two films.

was hard eight an extension of this character?  something like Terrance Stamps' character in "The Limey" and "Poor Cow."  I would love to ask PTA if there is any connection.  Like this is Sidney's character later in life.

tell me what you think.  coincidence or not.

-sl-

[cron]

(you may know this already but) all i can say is that PTA , in the commentary track, talks about how he wanted Sydney to be a "retired" mobster",  or  put in  Jimmy's words "A classic".   PTA also says that one of the ideas he had at the creative phase of the movie was to make Sydney a James Cagney-like character, 20-30 years after all the mischief they could have done, and in search of redemption.