Plot As much for the Hicks faithful as it is for new converts, this is an immersive, inventive delve into the life of a stand-up visionary.
Review "If anyone here's in marketing or advertising, kill yourself,” Bill Hicks would infamously quip. Or not. “There’s no fucking joke coming,” he’d add, voice rising, smile fading. “You are Satan’s spawn filling the world with bile and garbage.” It says something about the strength of Hicks’ act that even now, 16 years after pancreatic cancer killed him at the age of 32, those words resound enough to make Empire feel tainted just providing a line from this review to help advertise his own life story. Sorry, Bill. But you deserve it.
It’s not hyperbole to insist that the Texan stand-up’s material came loaded with profound power. Negative drug stories in the news, fundamental Christians, America’s warmongering foreign policy... It’s depressingly unsurprising that once Hicks hit his stride, he was thought too hot for homeland consumption and developed a bigger following in Canada and here in the UK. It’s easy to lionise those who were snuffed out just as their fires flared brightest, but there’s few who’d mock you for describing Hicks as the greatest ever stand-up.
Co-director Matt Harlock certainly wouldn’t. After all, before embarking on a three-year odyssey to shoot this, he hosted Hicks tribute nights in London. Together with Paul Thomas, he won the confidence of Hicks’ family and his closest friends, gaining access to 1,300 photos and unseen footage. Taking their cue from Nanette Burstein and Brett Morgen’s The Kid Stays In The Picture, Harlock and Thomas have animated these photos and, threading them with the footage, woven a visual narrative so effective it will render any future biopics irrelevant. (Russell Crowe as Bill? Nah. Bill as Bill will do just fine.) The only weakness is that, unlike The Kid, this film involves multiple voiceovers, meaning you’re not always sure who’s talking when.
If you’re worried about Harlock and Thomas getting too easy a ride, then rest assured that while they never question his politics (it might have at least been entertaining to hear from Hicks’ critics), they do show us the warts, specifically Hicks’ struggle with drink and drugs. Yet essentially it’s the story of a man’s life told by those who loved him, and the man himself. And as such, it’s beautifully told
Verdict From his early days doing stand-up at the age of 15 in Houston, Texas, to his membership of the Texas Outlaws comedy collective, to his supremacy as a brilliant controversist, American tells the story of comedian Bill Hicks’ tragically short life through the eyes of those who lived it with him.
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Average user rating for American: The Bill Hicks Story
RE: American: The Bill Hicks Story
Directors: Matt Harlock, Paul Thomas
Starring: Bill Hicks, Mary Hicks, Dwight Slade, Kevin Booth
Synopsis
In this photo-animated feature documentary, we get to explore the life and works of the stand-up comedic visionary that was Bill Hicks.
Review
I was never fascinated by the workings of stand-up, which is probably due to fat men like Peter Kay or sweat bags like Lee Evans. It was clever individuals such as Eddie Izzard (who funnily described the meaning of Easter) and Woody A... Read More
In terms of an artistic vision its a marvellous piece of work. The amount of archival footage and photos of the great man is nothing short of remarkable and creators Matt Harlock & Paul Thomas have done a fine job in using this to celebrate the life of one of stand up's greatest acts in an interesting way. It's just a pity we weren't able to get a more rounded viewpoint of Hicks through the women in his life but that's in no way the fault of the film-makers. A towering achievement th... Read More
Really want to see this too, I hope it's playing in at least one Cineworld in London!
I have watched a lot of stand up and no one has even come close to Bill Hicks.
George Carlin and Lewis Black are both quite good (and at times very good) and their stand up is similar to Hicks' in style but it just doesn't have that genuine, spontaneous, no bullshit, rock and roll attitude Bill had.
Other stand ups I enjoy are Eddie Izzard, Jerry Seinfeld and Dylan Moran but, again, their stand ... Read More
It's not in Cineworld in Dublin either.
Has it been released today in the UK?
Anyone seen it?Any good?
I was looking forward to seeing this! ... Read More
Even in that 10% of time he wasnt especially funny, he mateial was tremendously important and interesting. Truly the gresatest stand up.
I cant find this on many places either, its on in Derby at the arty cinema but cant find many others. ... Read More
Bill Hicks was the greatest stand-up ever, from mocking Christians and M C Hammer to rattle political cages he was unstoppable, still missed now. ... Read More
Classic
Excellent
Good
Fair
Tragic
