‘Hard Eight’

The perfect role for veteran actor Philip Baker Hall came along at last with Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Hard Eight.” As Sydney, an aging, gentlemanly gambler with the heart of--is it really gold?--who’s the main fascination of this 1997 release, made just before Anderson’s “Boogie Nights.” The title refers obliquely to an eight rolled with a four on each of the dice. Gwyneth Paltrow (pictured) also stars (TMC Sunday at 5 p.m.).