MovieChat Forums > Sydney (1997) Discussion > I was so hyped about going to Vegas some...

I was so hyped about going to Vegas some time in my life....

posted 15 years ago by jitterbug_cowboy
3 replies | jump to latest

.... until I saw this film yesterday.

I thought it was PTA's weakest film, but then I love Boogie Nights, Magnolia, There will be Blood and PDL a lot.
This movie made me look at Las Vegas in a completely different way than before. Not even the Nic Cage movie Leaving Las Vegas had put me off the city.

I still like this film, when considering it was PTA's debut. It's got some great scenes, such as the few seconds after Sydney enters the motel room and asks what has happened but we don't see what he's looking at. But I still feel there's something missing that keeps it from being great.
Maybe it's because the Reilly and Paltrow characters get themselves into a situation which could easily have been avoided. They say they aren't stupid but what they do in that motel room proves them wrong. Why should I care about stupid characters who get themselves into stupid situations?

I loved the Philip Seymour Hoffman cameo, that was probably my favourite scene in the movie. Anyways it was worth a watch since I'm a fan of all of PTA's other movies but it's a 3/5 for me.

ENOUGH from the clown!!!!!!!!

[–] sheridano 15 years ago

SPOILERS*****************************

Just finished this about thirty minutes ago. Spectacular debut from Paul Thomas Anderson. I think in the situation that John and Clem get themselves into, while they are stupid, it's not so important that you side with or completely understand them, but rather that you understand how Sydney has to deal with the mess they've gotten themselves into. It's important to see that. Hence the title.

[–] ndiezel 14 years ago

The setting for this movie is Reno, if I'm correct. I know it was shot in Reno.

[–] bluefellow 14 years ago

Go ahead and make that trip to Vegas. All you need to do is avoid down-on-their-luck hustlers, aging hitmen, sleazy motels and cheap hookers and you'll be fine.

I thought this movie was good, not great, and certainly not on the level of PTA's later work.

"I don't want any Commies in my car. No Christians, either."