Photoanimated documentary on the life of comedians comedian bill hicks. The bill hicks story, tell shehani fernando how they assembled interviews, archive photographs and landscape pictures in a threedimensional. 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 film successfully charts the course he took to become the. It isnt surprising that codirectors matt harlock and paul thomas are having a hard time finding a u. 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. Lenny bruce, richard pryor, andy kaufman add bill hicks to that list of brilliant, fearless comics. The bill hicks story documentary american the movie. The bill hicks story is more than just a series of great standup moments from bill, though it contains plenty of those. The bill hicks story, tell shehani fernando how they assembled interviews, archive photographs and landscape pictures in. Paul thomas and matt harlocks documentary looks at the life of the comedian bill hicks. But his unique gift was to tease apart the essence of religion, the dangers of unbridled. As mary hicks says in the film, bill you shouldve known him, is all i can say.
Bill hicks used to be considered merely one of the greatest standup comics in the world. The bill hicks story is presented in 1080p high definition with a 1. Photoanimated feature documentary, uniquely narrated by the. Recording bills story filmmakers matt harlock and paul thomas trip to the us to record interviews in october 2006 was a revelation for everyone. The bill hicks story is the ground breaking new documentary that brings the tale of one of. One of the sharpest, funniest comic voices of his generation, bill hicks never achieved the level of recognition he deserved during his toobrief lifetime, but in the years since his death, his work has acquired a cult following and now, with this bbccurated film, he joins the relatively short list of comedians who have earned the documentary. 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 turbulent life and times, ranging from his early success as a teenage performer. Directed by matt harlock, paul thomas 15a cert,ifiscreen, dublin, 103 min. American the bill hicks story dvd matt harlock director, paul thomas director rated. What bill said will never change, because it is the basic truths. Seen through the eyes of uk filmmaking team matt harlock and paul thomas, the comedian springs back to life through clever use of animation, rare footage and the accounts of those who really knew him.
After his death in 1994 at age 32, he became a comedy martyr. 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. A film by matt harlock and paul thomas a deeply perceptive, fittingly honest celebration london film festival. The bill hicks story unfolds his life and work, in a. If youve never heard of him before in your life, then you need to see this film even more urgently.
Bill hicks is a hero comedian, fighter for truth and for alternative thinking. American the bill hicks story by matt harlock pdf free. Russell crowe announced in 2012 that he would direct a bill hicks biopic. 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. The film was produced by matt harlock and paul thomas, and features archival footage and interviews with family and friends, including kevin booth the filmmakers used a cutandpaste animation technique to add movement to a large collection of still pictures used to document events in. The bill hicks story, combines the best of bills comedy together with intimate new interviews and an innovative animation technique which recreates the scenes of bills life, seamlessly merging his offstage world to reveal the real man behind the incendiary performer. Sadly, weve reached the last of our london film festival 09 afternoon tea interviews, but its a great one to go out on. However, in america, where he challenged institutions and.
The bill hicks story brings the lifestory of one of modern cultures most iconic heroes to the big screen. William melvin hicks was an american standup comedian, social critic, satirist and. The bill hicks story animated documentary about the rollercoaster life of legendary comedian bill hicks, whose profound and hilarious observations on. A worthy tribute to the late, great comedian and iconoclast bill hicks. With bill hicks, dwight slade, mary hicks, steve hicks. 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. Photoanimated documentary on the life of comedians comedian bill. Legendary texan outlaw comic bill hicks was and still is an inspiration to millions. While i think he and george carlin had similar points of view, hicks had a much darker and angrier delivery. A culture hero of the modern, open and liberal america. 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. The bill hicks story, a photoanimated feature length documentary vibrantly narrated by the 10 people who knew the legendary comic the best.
The bill hicks story a look at the life of one of the worlds greatest comedians and. Oct 18, 2014 legendary texan outlaw comic bill hicks was and still is an inspiration to millions. I approached this film half expecting a cashin, as bill hicks legacy seems to have. The amazing life story of the outlaw comic who wanted to save. Much more than a comedian, bill hicks was and still is an inspiration to millions. Apr 20, 2011 we caught up with paul thomas and matt harlock as american. The bill hicks story 12 may 2010 15 106min when bill hicks died of pancreatic cancer in february 1994, he left a void which the american standup world has found impossible to fill. But directors matt harlock and bill thomas take the story of the groundbreaking standup comedian and come up with something that offers enough visual kick to complement hicks own scathing material. 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. Pdf american the bill hicks story by matt harlock download. The amazing life story of the outlaw comic who wanted to. 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 08, 2011 filmmaker matt harlock and paul thomas chronicle the life, art, and philosophy of a singular performer with the documentary american.
The bill hicks story, producers matt harlock and paul thomas artfully combine performance footage, personal photographs and powerful interviews with hicks family and friends, bringing this legendary and complex icon to the screen. May 12, 2020 american the bill hicks story by matt harlock pdf free download american scream. Comedian bill hicks lived a short and wild life, but his philosophy of life and unhinged barbs aimed at american society inspired generations of standup comedi. The bill hicks story is a 2009 biographical documentary film on the life of comedian bill hicks. Apr, 2011 bill hicks is a hero comedian, fighter for truth and for alternative thinking. May 11, 2010 matt harlock and paul thomas, directors of american. His timeless comedy tackled the contradictions of america and modern life head on. We caught up with paul thomas and matt harlock as american. Described as many things philosopher, social satirist, even preacher. American the bill hicks story john farneti unseen footage. There were 14 other movies released on the same date, including soul surfer, your highness and hanna. That wasnt enough posthumous validation, however, so the new documentary american.
A documentary film by matt harlock and paul thomas american. A film by matt harlock and paul thomas coyote productions. Featuring interviews with friends and family, the film is an intimate exploration of the story of hicks genius through the. A documentary film by matt harlock and paul thomas 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.
The bill hicks story was released in 2011 on friday, april 8, 2011 in 1 theater. The film was produced by matt harlock and paul thomas, and features archival footage and interviews with family and friends, including kevin booth. 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. Check out other translated books in french, spanish languages. Bill hicks american the bill hicks story official trailer redband. Get 50% off hundreds of family movies when you preorder on fandangonow today. The bill hicks story has no intention of tearing this reputation down it was made with the full cooperation of hicks family and friends, many of whom are heard interviewed on the voiceover, with their testimonies taking the place of a single narrator but it explodes several of the myths that have obscured reality.
The bill hicks story while pushing documentary storytelling in a new direction much more than a. Cleverly shunning a conventional talkingheads approach, american. 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 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. Photoanimated feature documentary, uniquely narrated by the 10 people who knew bill best. William melvin hicks december 16, 1961 february 26, 1994 was an american standup comedian, social critic, satirist and musician. The filmmakers used a cutandpaste animation technique to add movement to a large collection of still pictures used to document events in hicks. He didnt enjoy the same success as carlin and was bitter after spending years on the road, playing in shitty clubs. 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. A documentary film by matt harlock and paul thomas.
The bill hicks story synopsis still photos and interviews illustrate the life of a talented comic who died of cancer at age 32. Mar 11, 2010 codirectors matt harlock and paul thomas present their emerging visions american. The bill hicks story is a biographical documentary film on the life of comedian bill hicks. The bill hicks story brings the tale of one of modern cultures most iconic heroes to the big screen. If you already know and love bill hicks, then you need to see this film. The trick to outreach, as we learned from my last feature american.
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 essentially posits hicks as a comedy messiah who died for our sins and will. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. A true product of the american dream, his rebellious and exhilarating comedy left no stone unturned and his. Bill hicks 19611994 was an american standup comedian known for his intense performances that criticised religion, politics, entertainment, commercialism and society. If you dont know hicks now, you will understand his cult following by the end of this brilliant film.
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