Seventeen years after his death, bill hicks has taken a permanent place in the cultural landscape and is widely recognized as one of the greatest american comedians of the modern era. Portions of content provided by tivo corporation 2020 tivo corporation whats new. The bill hicks story is an exuberant celebration about a unique, sorely missed. The bill hicks story a look at the life of one of the worlds greatest comedians and thinkers, as. The bill hicks story, a conversation with director. 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. Using an animated photo collage that recalls the kid stays in the picture, codirectors matt harlock and paul thomas have assembled a legion of family, friends, and fellow performers to wax rhapsodic about hickss.
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 a biographical documentary film on the life of comedian bill hicks. 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. A worthy tribute to the late, great comedian and iconoclast bill hicks. William melvin hicks december 16, 1961 february 26, 1994 was an american standup comedian, social critic, satirist and musician. The film was produced by matt harlock and paul thomas, and features. Formed at the comedy workshop comedy club in houston, early members included sam kinison, bill hicks, ron shock, steve epstein, carl labove, riley barber, dan merryman, john farnetti, and jimmy pineapple.
Lenny bruce, richard pryor, andy kaufman add bill hicks to that list of brilliant, fearless comics. 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. Discover 11 highresolution movie posters of american. 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 film was produced by matt harlock and paul thomas, and features archival footage and interviews with family and friends, including kevin booth. Theres a great deal of promise and potential in the idea of a documentary study of hicks. I approached this film half expecting a cashin, as bill hicks legacy seems to have. The bill hicks story animated documentary about the rollercoaster life of legendary comedian bill hicks, whose profound and hilarious observations on american life changed the face of. For codirectorproducer paul thomas, the interest was much more professional. Bill hicks was, in many ways, the consummate american. A treasure trove of archival material and interviews, american. Photoanimated documentary on the life of comedians comedian bill hicks. 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, celluloid screams.
The film tells the story of bill hicks, one of the most influential and incendiary comics of the last 25. American by matt harlock overdrive rakuten overdrive. Filmmakers matt harlock and paul thomas offer an indepth look into the life and art of bill hicks in their documentary american. His materialencompassing a wide range of social issues including religion, politics, and philosophywas controversial and often steeped in dark comedy at the age of 16, while still in high school, hicks began performing at the comedy workshop in houston. The bill hicks story animated documentary about the rollercoaster life of legendary comedian bill hicks, whose profound and hilarious observations on. His timeless comedy tackled the contradictions of america and modern life head on. 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. The bill hicks story is a 2009 biographical documentary film on the life of comedian bill hicks.
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. Bill hicks was and still is an inspiration to millions. American the bill hicks story dvd matt harlock director, paul thomas director rated. Jan 01, 2009 bill hicks certainly came close as portrayed in matt harlocks and paul thomas american. A culture hero of the modern, open and liberal america. The bill hicks story, a documentary about the legendary rebel comic which screened at south by southwest. Matt harlock, half of the team behind new documentary american. After his death in 1994 at age 32, he became a comedy martyr. Directed by matt harlock, paul thomas 15a cert,ifiscreen, dublin, 103 min.
The texas outlaw comics were a group of comedians based in houston, texas in the mid1980s. The bill hicks story, the georgiaborn standup comedian was an alcoholic and drug abuser for a. Other members included andy huggins and steven juliano moore. Bill hicks certainly came close as portrayed in matt harlocks and paul thomas american. The bill hicks story is an autobiographical film which tells the story of bill hicks life and career. Matt harlock, paul thomas starring bill hicks, dwight slade. That wasnt enough posthumous validation, however, so the new documentary american. The bill hicks story, matt harlock and paul thomas, 101 mins 15 vincere, marco bellocchio, 121 mins 15 eyes wide open, haim tabakman, 91 mins 12a. Filmmaker matt harlock and paul thomas chronicle the life, art, and philosophy of a singular performer with the documentary american. Matt harlock and steve hicks on the sound of young america from jesse thorn on vimeo matt harlock is one of the directors of american. The bill hicks story documentary, animation, biography, comedy on movieposterdb. Produced by matt harlock and paul thomas, the film incorporates never before seen animation techniques to bring. The bill hicks story wikipedia, the free encyclopedia american. Photoanimated documentary on the life of comedians comedian bill.
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. Apr 27, 2016 matt harlock, half of the team behind new documentary american. The bill hicks story a look at the life of one of the worlds greatest comedians and thinkers, as told by the family and friends who truly knew him. 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. The filmmakers used a cutandpaste animation technique to add movement to a large collection of still pictures used to document events in hicks. Bill hicks american the bill hicks story official trailer. The award winning true life story of the outlaw comic bill hicks, told by the people who knew him best. Mar 11, 2010 codirectors matt harlock and paul thomas present their emerging visions american. Photoanimated feature documentary, uniquely narrated by the. The bill hicks story with steve hicks and matt harlock maximum fun. The bill hicks story unfolds his life and work, in a. The bill hicks story while pushing documentary storytelling in a new direction much more than a.
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 compliment to his comedic vision. The bill hicks story, matt harlock and paul thomas. Mar 04, 2016 this groundbreaking documentary uses a stunning new animation technique to tell the story of the modern cultural icon bill hicks. The bill hicks story a look at the life of one of the worlds greatest comedians and. American navy general library program downloadable books.
The bill hicks story, the georgiaborn standup comedian was an. The bill hicks story was written, directed, and produced by matt harlock and paul thomas. Filmmaker matt harlock talks the late comic legend as innovator of standup rebel humor, and his politics of. Russell crowe announced in 2012 that he would direct a bill hicks biopic. The filmmakers used a cutandpaste animation technique to add movement to a large collection of. The bill hicks story, and given the singular tone of hicks work. As mary hicks says in the film, bill you shouldve known him, is all i can say. Codirectors matt harlock and paul thomas present their emerging visions american. 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. Bill hicks is a hero comedian, fighter for truth and for alternative thinking. American the bill hicks story by matt harlock pdf free download american scream. Photoanimated feature documentary, uniquely narrated by the 10 people who knew bill best. Paul thomas and matt harlocks brilliant documentary is absent many of the trappings normally at home in retrospective retellings. Sadly, weve reached the last of our london film festival 09 afternoon tea interviews, but its a great one to go out on.
The bill hicks story was first released in late 2009 but made its worldwide debut in may of 2010. 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 documentary, american. Apr, 2011 bill hicks is a hero comedian, fighter for truth and for alternative thinking. Using an animated photo collage that recalls the kid stays in the picture, codirectors matt harlock and paul thomas have assembled a legion of family, friends, and fellow performers to wax rhapsodic about hicks s turbulent life and times, ranging from his early success as a teenage performer, his struggles with drugs and alcohol, periodic. 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. Pdf american the bill hicks story by matt harlock download. Bill hicks used to be considered merely one of the greatest standup comics in the world. Harlock talked with us about the film in austin, along with hicks brother steve.
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