If youve never heard of him before in your life, then you need to see this film even more urgently. I really cherish bill hicks, so when i read this book, i was a little disappointed with the content. A true product of the american dream, his rebellious and exhilarating comedy left no stone unturned and his profound observations on american life were a life changing experience for many who saw him. Weve just passed the seventeenth anniversary of the death of bill hicks, and in memoriam id like to present the trailer for american. The bill hicks story isnt a bill hicks greatest hits video or filled with.
Please login or register to post messages and view our exclusive membersonly content. Audio collage, montage and music from the best standup comedian of all time william melvin bill hicks born on december 16, 1961 he was a comedian, philosopher, musician, critic and truth teller bill was one of the rare people who truly exercised his freedom of speech to speak truth to power while making us laugh and think. A documentary about bill hicks should capture the same style and tone as a bill hicks routine. The bill hicks story is little more, really, than a lot of bill hickss best routines interspersed with the story of his life. It was marshall mcluhan who said the medium is the message.
Much more than a comedian, bill hicks was and still is an inspiration to millions. Hicks material stands up to repeated viewing and he was much admired by his peers in comedy, but american. The story of a son, a brother and a friend, this funny and critically acclaimed film is told in the. American does us the favor of avoiding such namedropping and keeps the story on the evolution of this.
Filmmaker matt harlock talks the late comic legend as innovator of standup rebel humor, and his politics of. The bill hicks story movie trailers, exclusive videos, interviews from the cast, movie clips and more at. The bill hicks story since his tragic death from cancer at age 32, comedian bill hicks. The bill hicks story is a new favorite when it comes to documentaries, especially biographical documentaries. A freshfaced guy and a girl with a swinging ponytail, each in black sxsw volunteer tees, moved slowly back along the long line of badgeholders waiting to get into the north american premiere of american.
The bill hicks story is an autobiographical film which tells the story of bill. Bill hicks was a comedian, though that term hardly describes the full range and impact of his work. He is still regularly found in top 20 polls of best comedians, and is regarded by many as the comedians comedian such is his high regard. While bill hickss transformation from clownish southern baptist teenager to cultishly adored social commentator is an arresting tale, american falls short in failing to focus on the monologues that made him a beloved and alienating rogue.
A comics comic and unflagging critic of hypocrisy and cultural emptiness, hicks was one of a kind, a lenny bruce for the late 20th century, and few are. Directed by matt harlock and paul thomas, american. A true product of the american dream, his rebellious and exhilarating comedy left no stone unturned and his. The bill hicks story 2010 starring kevin booth and john farneti on dvd and bluray. For better or worse, his material was much more interesting than his short existence on earth he passed away. American is the story of one of the most influential comedians of the modern era. We have never needed bill hicks more than we do today. Bill hicks certainly came close as portrayed in matt harlocks and paul thomas american. Bill hicks comedy has been a godsend in my personal life. The narrative is more of a school report about bill hicks than a documentary. Lenny bruce, richard pryor, andy kaufman add bill hicks to that.
Available on itunes, pluto tv, prime video, tubi tv legendary texan outlaw comic bill hicks was and still is an inspiration to millions. Bill hicks is considered by many to be the greatest comedian of the modern era. The bill hicks story is an excellent documentary which has the hard task of making bills childhood years interesting, and chartering his long, lonely years on the road. The bill hicks story, a portrait of the shortlived artist that will move fans while letting the uninitiated witness. A groundbreaking comedian gets a step closer to immortality with american. I loved the approach, with using voice over interviews over top of some. You are experiencing a small sample of what the site has to offer.
Being a native of the balkan region of former yugoslavia trying to acclimate to american society without acculturating and losing my identity, his work was invaluable. Watch it, then go and consume every bit of hicks you can find, from comedy albums to. I recommend it to anyone who is interested in bill hicks comic genius. Youll gain access to additional forums, file attachments, board customizations, encrypted private messages, and much more. E ver since bill hickss death in 1994 at the age of 32, the texan comic has been subject to a creeping lionisation that. The award winning true life story of the outlaw comic bill hicks, told by the people who knew him best. Maybe i expected a bit more detail about his early years as a teenage comic or even during his outlaw comic days, but i was left wanting more knowledge all around to fill in some details about where his humor originated. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. Bill hicks is a hero comedian, fighter for truth and for alternative thinking.
Much more than just a comedian, bill hicks has become an inspiration to millions around the world. Legendary texan outlaw comic bill hicks was and still is an inspiration to millions. A culture hero of the modern, open and liberal america. A true product of the american dream, his rebellious and exhilarating comedy left no stone unturned and his profound observations on american life.
The bill hicks story doesnt set out to tell us everything there is to know about bill hicks. The bill hicks story is a biographical documentary film on the life of comedian bill hicks. The brief trajectory of bill hicks is a saga that has only grown larger since his death from cancer in 1994, with the comedians brainily profane, takenoprisoners. Mary hicks, bills mother, appeared on the late show with david letterman in january 2009, where letterman belatedly aired bills 1992 set and apologized for the incident after taking responsibility for the editing. He was described by many names philosopher, social satirist, even preacher, but he was ultimately a comic who believed that he could reach his audiences with. His timeless comedy tackled the contradictions of america and modern life hea. The result is 12 audio cds, 6 dvds and a photo book containing both. The bill hicks story a groundbreakingly angry american, abroad an inventively animated documentary gets the basics right in its portrait of the late bill hicks, a. Since his tragic death from cancer at age 32, comedian bill hicks s legend and stature have only grown, and this unique documentary tells his story, blending live footage, interviews and animation to fill in the details of a life cut short. Cynthia true, comedy critic for the new york edition of time out, never interviewed bill hicks, but this book is no mere cutandpaste job. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books. American scream by cynthia true is a fairly straightforward biography of bill hicks, telling the story of his short life, until the untimely death of age 32, describing his childhood, influences, passion and intellect. The film was produced by matt harlock and paul thomas, and features archival footage and interviews with family and friends, including kevin booth. Being a native of the balkan region of former yugoslavia trying to acclimate to american society without acculturating and losing my.