Phillip Baker Hall is perhaps best known for his collaborations with Paul Thomas Anderson. He is burned into the memory of filmgoers who rewatch titles like Magnolia and Boogie Nights ad nauseam. Some fans might say Phillip Baker Hall helps make Magnolia one of P.T. Anderson's best movies.
However, the actor has been performing in features since the early 70s and has appeared in dozens of films. From small cameos to starring roles, fans have taken to Rotten Tomatoes to rate Phillip Baker Hall's best movies.
Hard Eight (81%)
P.T. Anderson presents his first feature film with Hard Eight. Fans of the director will notice the movie introduces some of his long-time collaborators with some of the thrilling elements of his most celebrated movies. It follows a man, John Finnegan, who is out of luck in the outskirts of Las Vegas until he gets help from a stranger, Sydney.
Phillip Baker Hall plays Sydney alongside John C. Reilly's John. The film presents perhaps Hall's most prominent role in an Anderson film. Fans might say it is one of the director's most underrated films, showcasing reflections to his other early works like Boogie Nights and Magnolia.
In Good Company (82%)
In Good Company is a rom-com from the early 2000s. It follows Dennis Quaid's Dan Foreman. Foreman gets a new boss at work who is much younger than he expects, even than himself. Things get more complicated when the boss vies for his daughter's affection.
Phillip Baker Hall has a supporting role in Eugene Kalb. Kalb is presented in a meeting with Foreman and his young boss as they try and do business with his company. Fans of the movie might say it is a light and warm comedy.
The Talented Mr. Ripley (83%)
A thriller is presented in The Talented Mr. Ripley. The movie follows the titular Tom Ripley as he is assigned to bring back a wealthy man's son, Dickie Greenleaf, from overseas after he is mistaken for a former classmate. When Ripley finds Dickie, he becomes enamored with him, along with his own newly crafted persona.
Some fans call The Talented Mr. Ripley a forgotten 90s gem. Devotees might say it showcases the stunning scenery of southern Italy, along with a gripping tale. Phillip Baker Hall plays Alvin MacCarron, a P.I. hired by Dickie's father to find him after Tom fails to deliver. Viewers might say he adds a memorable performance to the film.
Magnolia (83%)
Fans of P.T. Anderson might say Magnolia is his most ambitious project. The movie presents several intertwined stories in a drama presenting fantastic and psychological elements with a large ensemble cast. Several stories are unpacked including a motivational speaking event and a game show.
Phillip Baker Hall leads the game show segment as Jimmy Gator, host of "What Do Kids Know?" Devotees of the movie might say Hall gives one of his most memorable performances in the starring role. Fans might say Magnolia is bizarre, thought-provoking, and immersive.
Islander (88%)
Islander is perhaps one of Phillip Baker Hall's lesser-known movies. The mid-2000s drama features the story of a man who returns to his home on an island off the coast of Maine and faces his tumultuous past in trying to reconnect with his family.
Phillip Baker Hall plays Popper. Fans perhaps say he gives a memorable performance. Others might say Islander is one of his underrated movies.
Boogie Nights (93%)
Boogie Nights showcases an original story following Eddie "Dirk Diggler" Adams. He is a teen from a troubled family who gets discovered and becomes a massive star in the adult film world. He is welcomed into a group of filmmakers who face challenges as times change around them.
Phillip Baker Hall plays Floyd Gondolli and is joined by an ensemble cast featuring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Julianne Moore, and Don Cheadle. Some fans say Boogie Nights is Philip Seymour Hoffman's best film. Other audiences perhaps call the movie one of the best of the late 90s thanks to its impressive cast and spirited director.
50/50 (93%)
50/50 is an early 2010s dramedy starring Seth Rogen and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. The story follows Gordon-Levitt's Adam Lerner. Adam lives a low-risk life and finds out he has cancer giving him a 50% chance of survival.
Phillip Baker Hall plays a supporting role as Alan Lombardo. Adam meets him during chemotherapy, as he is a fellow cancer patient. Audiences might say the movie is touching and that Hall presents a small but memorable performance.
The Truman Show (95%)
Many viewers call The Truman Show one of Jim Carrey's best movies. He stars as the titular Truman Burbank. The movie follows Truman as he peels back the façade of his life, soon discovering he is and has always been the main subject of a 24-hour reality TV series.
Phillip Baker Hall plays a small part in The Truman Show. He takes on the part of an unnamed network executive who works behind the scenes of the show. Fans perhaps say the movie is smart, prophetic, and entertaining.
The Insider (96%)
The Insider is a drama from the late 1990s. The narrative is based on a true story. It unpacks a dispute between a television executive and an employee for the tobacco industry trying to expose nefarious truths.
Phillip Baker Hall plays Don Hewitt, an executive producer at CBS. Fans of the movie might say it tells an intriguing story based on true events, and that Hall adds one of several spirited performances.
Path To War (100%)
Path to War is an HBO TV movie from the early 2000s. It presents a historical drama. The movie examines the events of the Vietnam War from the perspective of the U.S. government under the leadership of Lyndon B. Johnson.
Phillip Baker Hall plays Everett Dirksen. Devotees might say the film presents one of Hall's lesser-known performances, despite Path To War's high rating on the Tomatometer. Others perhaps say the movie showcases an important time in American history.