AMERICAN – THE BILL HICKS STORY
IN CINEMAS FRIDAY MAY 14TH

As any good comedy fan knows, American comedian Bill Hicks was one of the most influential comedians of our time. Sadly, Hicks died of pancreatic cancer aged just 32. Fifteen years later he is more popular than ever, leaving behind a legacy of iconic routines and an army of fans.

Hicks is now the subject of a brand new movie by British filmmakers Matt Harlock and Paul Thomas. In American: The Bill Hicks Story, they have created a funny, charming and inspiring account of a true giant of stand up comedy.

Harlock and Thomas spent three years putting together the pieces of Hicks short but eventful life, using thousands of personal photos and conducting interviews with close friends and family.

Together they have woven together a rich and visually striking tapestry explaining not only what made Hicks so unique but also why he continues to entertain and influence comedians and audiences alike.

There’s enough raw footage of Hicks performing to show his unbridled charisma and talent but overall the documentary is entirely told through animated photographs set to voice over from those interviewed.

At first this may seem a little cold and unsettling but after a while it proves to be very effective and helps maintain a vibrant feel to what could have easily been another dry talking-heads style biography.

VIDEO: WATCH PART ONE OF OUR INTERVIEW WITH DIRECTORS MATT HARLOCK AND PAUL THOMAS



American consciously avoids any discussion of Hicks’ romantic relationships during his life and admittedly this would have been very interesting, given how frankly he discusses sex in his act.

 However Harlock and Thomas are more concerned with Hicks’s early life, how he evolved his trademark style as a unique voice in stand up comedy and what drove him to perform at a staggeringly young age.

Prodigious Talent
While most teenagers were sneaking out of their homes to snaffle an illicit drink down the local bar, during the late Seventies, Hicks was slinking off under the cover of night to perform a double act with his pal Dwight Slade in Comedy Workshop, possibly the only comedy club in his hometown of Houston Texas.

American is at its best when it spends time with the slightly weird comedians who also loitered around the venue at that time, each bringing their quirks and charm as they recall what Hicks was like both on and off stage.

They also bring warmth to proceedings, affectionately commenting on Hicks' progression from precocious teen to self-destructive veteran of the stand up circuit across the US and beyond.

Each one speaks like an elder brother, brimming with pride for what Hicks achieved in such a short time and in many ways they were as close as family, even though Hicks was hardly estranged from his own, as is revealed from intimate home movies of young Bill with his parents and siblings.

Coming from a close, loving middle-class American home, this is not the tale of an impoverished, angry young man using comedy to channel his own relationship inadequacies. He was fuelled by a keen, inquiring mind amused, baffled and frustrated by the world around him.

VIDEO: WATCH PART TWO OF OUR INTERVIEW WITH DIRECTORS MATT HARLOCK AND PAUL THOMAS



It's Just a Ride!
For Hicks the hypocrisy, stupidity and lies generated by society and the media inspired his angry but informed rants on sex, drugs and politics, but above all Hick's material was about personal freedom and this is reflected throughout the film, even in the title itself.

For Harlock and Thomas, Bill Hicks was a true American because he held on to belief in the American Dream and what it means to grow up in the Land of the Free. For him and many like-minded individuals, things had gone terribly awry. However, his outlook was not depressing.

Like icons such as Lenny Bruce, Woody Allen or even Hunter S. Thompson, Hicks encouraged people to think for themselves, to question everything and American captures this essence of his philosophy.

Ultimately, what sets Hicks apart is that he used comedy to show that if you took a moment to look at life differently, you’ll see that it’s just a ride. In doing so he offered an alternative way of thinking and above all, in a world seemingly gone to pot, he offered us hope.

Apart from being blisteringly funny, that is Bill Hicks' lasting legacy and that is his genius. Now open your third eye, go see this emotional and uplifting documentary and start to enjoy the ride.

Copyright : Comedy Central UK