The film was produced by matt harlock and paul thomas, and features archival footage and interviews with family and friends, including kevin booth. After his death in 1994 at age 32, he became a comedy martyr. Book awards book club selections books by author books by series coming soon kids books new releases teens books this months biggest new releases. The bill hicks story is an autobiographical film which tells the story of bill hicks life and career. Mar 11, 2010 codirectors matt harlock and paul thomas present their emerging visions american. In the country which enshrines freedom of speech in its constitution his story is truly about what it means to be an american. Paul thomas and matt harlocks documentary looks at the life of the comedian bill hicks. Auto suggestions are available once you type at least 3 letters. Apr, 2011 bill hicks is a hero comedian, fighter for truth and for alternative thinking. Photoanimated feature documentary, uniquely narrated by the. Bill hicks american the bill hicks story official trailer.
His latest short film deep clean starring paul kaye and created with krent able, will be showing at frightfest, london short film festival, aesthetica, sf indie fest. It isnt surprising that codirectors matt harlock and paul thomas are having a hard time finding a u. 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. The bill hicks story, a conversation with director. Filmmaker matt harlock and paul thomas chronicle the life, art, and philosophy of a singular performer with the documentary american. Since his tragic death from cancer at age 32, comedian bill hickss legend and. 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. Stacy is a freelancer with over 18 years experience writing about technology and personal finance. Jan 25, 2002 i really cherish bill hicks, so when i read this book, i was a little disappointed with the content. If youve never heard of him before in your life, then you need to see this film even more urgently.
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. The bill hicks story essentially posits hicks as a comedy messiah. The bill hicks story, a british documentary directed by matt harlock and paul thomas. The film was produced by matt harlock and paul thomas, and features archival footage and interviews with family and friends. I approached this film half expecting a cashin, as bill hicks legacy seems to have. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. Since his tragic death from cancer at age 32, comedian bill hickss 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. The bill hicks story while pushing documentary storytelling in a new direction much more than a. Its called american and, naturally enough, it was made by two brits, paul thomas and matt harlock. Mar 04, 2016 this groundbreaking documentary uses a stunning new animation technique to tell the story of the modern cultural icon bill hicks. An animated documentary drama on the legendary texas outlaw comic bill hicks. Featuring highlights of some of his greatest performances, it serves as a fantastic introduction to bill hicks for those whove yet to discover him, while offering dedicated fans a deeper insight into the man and his life. The bill hicks story, matt harlock and paul thomas. Described as many things philosopher, social satirist, even preacher.
The bill hicks story 2010 starring kevin booth and john farneti on dvd and bluray. The bill hicks story, based on interviews with his family and friends, premiered on march 12, 2010, at the south by southwest film festival in austin, texas. Lenny bruce, richard pryor, andy kaufman add bill hicks to that list of brilliant, fearless comics. Featuring interviews with hicks closest friends and family members, the film uses digital animation to bring his standup routines to life and create a visual complement to his comedic vision. A culture hero of the modern, open and liberal america. Bill hicks used to be considered merely one of the greatest standup comics in the world. Awardwinning director matt harlock s films have premiered at london film festival and sxsw, and have been shown on channel 4, film4, hbo, sky and vice. The bill hicks story is more than just a series of great standup moments from bill, though it contains plenty of those.
Codirectors matt harlock and paul thomas present their emerging visions american. The film successfully charts the course he took to become the. More books by bill hicks quotes by bill hicks today a young man on acid realized that all matter is merely energy condensed to a slow vibration, that we are all one consciousness experiencing itself subjectively, there is no such thing as death, life is only a dream, and we are the imagination of ourselves. Russell crowe announced in 2012 that he would direct a bill hicks biopic. I know that having read the book, seen the sane man and other bill hicks dvd. If you already know and love bill hicks, then you need to see this film. Apr 08, 2011 filmmaker matt harlock and paul thomas chronicle the life, art, and philosophy of a singular performer with the documentary american. For codirectorproducer paul thomas, the interest was much more professional.
Cleverly shunning a conventional talkingheads approach, american. Sixteen years after his death, the cult of bill hicks is as strong as ever, and now two british. Apr 20, 2011 we caught up with paul thomas and matt harlock as american. The bill hicks story, explained, i was one of the guys who was at university in the uk in the late eighties, early nineties, who was handed a sweaty and muchcoveted bootleg of hicks work. 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. Filmmaker matt harlock talks the late comic legend as innovator of standup rebel humor, and his politics of.
Bill hicks is a hero comedian, fighter for truth and for alternative thinking. Apr 27, 2016 matt harlock, half of the team behind new documentary american. Now, two british filmmakers, matt harlock and paul thomas, offer the faithful a documentary entitled american. American navy general library program downloadable books. The bill hicks story is a 2009 biographical documentary film on the life of. That wasnt enough posthumous validation, however, so the new documentary american. Awardwinning director matt harlocks films have premiered at london film festival and sxsw, and have been shown on channel 4, film4, hbo, sky and vice. Filmmakers matt harlock and paul thomas both british are lucky that hickss family and childhood pals were happy to unburden themselves to camera, and. Produced by matt harlock and paul thomas, the film.
She has published hundreds of articles and coauthored a book. Given the fact bill hicks was much more celebrated in the uk than he was at home, it is perhaps fitting that its british filmmakers matt harlock and paul thomas who step up to pay him his dues. I very selfishly took up a nice chunk of time with directors matt harlock and paul thomas, who were at lff for the premiere of their much anticipated. Bill hicks was and still is an inspiration to millions. Photoanimated feature documentary, uniquely narrated by the 10 people who knew bill best. American the bill hicks story dvd by matt harlock dvd. His timeless comedy tackled the contradictions of america and modern life head on. The bill hicks story is a 2009 biographical documentary film on the life of comedian bill hicks. Matt harlock and paul thomas, two english filmmakers, have dug up some interesting footage for their unashamedly fawning study of. The books homepage helps you explore earths biggest bookstore without ever leaving the comfort of your couch.
Matt harlock, paul thomas starring bill hicks, dwight slade. Matt harlock, half of the team behind new documentary american. Filmmakers matt harlock and paul thomas both british are lucky that hickss family and childhood pals were happy to unburden. The son of southern baptists, this comedy preacher succumbed to his addictions at the age of 32, leaving behind a trail of questions in his wake. Weve just passed the seventeenth anniversary of the death of bill hicks, and in memoriam id like to present the trailer for american. Russell crowe announced in 2012 that he would direct. 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. The bill hicks story 2010 starring kevin booth and john farneti on dvd. We have never needed bill hicks more than we do today. Here youll find current best sellers in books, new releases in books, deals in books, kindle ebooks, audible audiobooks, and so much more. The bill hicks story essentially posits hicks as a comedy messiah who died for our sins and will. With bill hicks, dwight slade, mary hicks, steve hicks. Photoanimated documentary on the life of comedians comedian bill hicks. The bill hicks story documentary films the guardian.
Featuring interviews with friends and family, the film is an intimate exploration of the story of hicks genius through the. We caught up with paul thomas and matt harlock as american. The bill hicks story unfolds his life and work, in a. Just emerging from underground cult status when he died at age thirtytwo, bill hicks spent most of his life making audiences roar and censors cringe with biting social satire about everything from former president george bush to rock stars who hawk diet coke. American by matt harlock overdrive rakuten overdrive.
99 500 1342 1410 833 957 416 1498 118 1593 912 115 1599 248 957 868 825 1080 155 777 463 1492 1048 902 1063 508 600 706 1244 967 1001 693 753 105