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The Dictator

A disappointing, often repulsive and mean-spirited mess of a film with seemingly only one real criterion on its agenda: to shock and offend.

The Woman In Black

Packed with atmosphere, this old-fashioned but deftly told ghost story delivers ample chills and thrills.

Careless Love

Sidestepping a more extreme take on prostitution, this is a quietly impressive portrait of a young woman caught in a tragic situation.

Empire Of Silver

Its backdrop is a rich and fascinating one, but the film is let down by a screenplay and direction that fails to register on a personal level.

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American: The Bill Hicks Story (Film)

by Demetrius Romeo | January 04, 2011 16:45 | Edited January 04, 2011 16:46

A great introduction to a cult comedian that will whet your appetite for more of the master’s work.

Bill Hicks died young (32 years of age in 1994) without starring in a sitcom and he only had a couple of albums to his name (although that would multiply exponentially after death). He visited Australia - even appearing on Hey Hey It's Saturday - but was dead too soon to be celebrated here as he was in England by the British comedy cognoscenti. So, he was the kind of well-kept secret known only to sleeve-note readers - Tool and Radiohead dedicated albums to his memory - and comedy bores who'd pontificate, pissed and/or stoned, about him far too loudly as the High Priest of the New Truth.

 

And yet he was amazingly brilliant. Hilarious. Albeit, somewhat of a ‘Jim Morrison': son of strict parents, he escaped into performance who, after a consciousness-altering chemical experience, broke new ground before dying far too young... That's how it always seemed to come across. American sets the story straight. It follows a linear trajectory, as told - via interview - by friends and family, mostly over photographs that have been animated in a ‘1960s Marvel Comics' manner.

 

Turns out Ma and Pa Hicks weren't as freaked out as Bill - and we - often thought; young Bill was inspired by early Woody Allen; he'd sneak out to play nightclubs as a teenager; he was amazingly good early on, then expanded his consciousness, then became an alcoholic, found a new voice, sobered up, got Truly Awesome before dying tragically young.

 

As with all comedy documentaries, the best bits are live performances - Hicks in action, at the height of his powers. It would have been wiser to begin with live footage of that. But if you're not familiar with Hicks's work before you watch this, you'll want to hunt it out after. And you'll keep hearing echoes of his comedic voice in every truly great comic of substance you happen to see subsequently.