American: The Bill Hicks Story

American comic Bill Hicks, who died of cancer in 1994 at the age of 32, is remembered as the “comedian's comedian” and as the most politically focused satirist of his generation. While he struggled on the club circuit in the U.S.—revered by colleagues but largely unknown to the American public—in Britain Hicks was practically a rock star, routinely filling concert halls for his performances. Directed by Matt Harlock and Paul Thomas, the BBC-aired documentary American: The Bill Hicks Story interweaves remembrances and stories from family and friends with archival photos and clips of Hicks' standup act—ranging from rough footage of his early open mic nights and gigs in Los Angeles to professionally shot scenes from British venues. Offstage, Hicks defies the familiar stereotype of self-destructive, angry genius. While he did go through a bout of drug and alcohol addiction, he subsequently got himself clean and his act became more politically and socially pointed, zeroing in on injustice, hypocrisy, and lies. Serving up an interesting portrait of a funny man with a social conscience, this documentary features numerous extras, including over three hours of bonus interviews, additional performance clips, deleted scenes, and audio interviews with Hicks. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (S. Axmaker)