Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.0

American: The Bill Hicks Story Blu-ray Movie Review

A solid biography of a comedian and pop-culture satirist who died at the young age of 32...

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown June 21, 2011

The likelihood that stand-up comedian Bill Hicks -- or any fringe-circuit comic who rose to fame and disappeared into the night before the dawn of YouTube -- will suddenly be discovered and embraced by a modern audience rests somewhere between slim and none. Talent and taste aside, comedians are one of just a few artists that are, by and large, products of their time, doomed to fade from memory in all but the rarest of cases. Even in 2011, when online videos make it possible to immortalize anyone with a one-liner and a video camera, the chances of a deceased comedian being resurrected by hungry new fans aren't good. But that's exactly what makes American: The Bill Hicks Story such a worthwhile documentary. Hicks, who died of pancreatic cancer in 1994, would have been forgotten by all but his friends, family and most devoted fans were it not for co-directors Paul Thomas and Matt Harlock's award-winning film; a biographical documentary that comes as close to a proper immortalization as any darkly funny comedian could hope for.

On stage, little seemed to make Hicks happy...

Hicks' life and times unspools in fascinating fashion by way of home movies, archive footage and decently crafted animated sequences (assembled using countless photographs), while his story is told by his closest family and friends, among them his mother Mary, his older brother Steve, his sister Lynn, longtime cohort and producer Kevin Booth, original comedy partner Dwight Slade, photographer David Johndrow, and comedians John Farneti, Steve Epstein, Andy Huggins and James Ladmirault (Jimmy Pineapple). Thankfully, Thomas and Harlock are far more interested in exploring Hicks the Man than Hicks the Comedian, meaning you don't have to appreciate Hick's angst-fueled style, shout-y humor or abrupt delivery to enjoy the documentary on its own merits. Like so many comics, Hicks was a tormented, discontented obsessive who grew increasingly frustrated with the state of the world, the nature of politics, the practices of religion and the ignorance of the common American citizen. His jokes eviscerated anything or anyone that genuinely got under his skin, and his on-stage fury was less of an act and more of an exercise in carefully controlled rage-ventilation.

Honestly, though, I knew nothing of Hicks going into American, and it didn't take long for me to figure out his schtick just wasn't for me. Even so, I never had the urge to take a break or step away. I watched intently as Hicks struggled to earn respect from a generation seemingly set against him; as he fought to gain his footing in comedy at a very young age; as he worked against the grain in every way imaginable; as he succeeded and failed; as he desperately tried to shine a light on things society was determined to leave in the shadows; as he succumbed to cancer and death at the age of 32. Through it all, Thomas and Harlock never pause to consider whether everyone in the audience is as in love with Hicks and his comedy as they are, nor should they have. Strange as it may sound, Hicks' comedy isn't the focus of their film at all. They're more intrigued by the turmoil of Hicks' life and the tragedy of his death; the rise of a bright young star snuffed out in his prime. They certainly don't skirt past his strides or contributions to comedy -- the friends and family they interview wax poetic about Hicks' scathing humor and brilliance as a social commentator and satirist -- but it's all presented within the context of Hicks' three-decade battle against the proverbial machine.

If anything, American occasionally praises its subject at the expense of objectivity. The mounting adulation doesn't exactly detract from the film -- after all, Hicks' story is being told from the perspective of those who were dearest to him, so it comes as little surprise that his friends and family express little more than love and loss -- but it doesn't paint as complete a portrait of the comedian as a more traditional documentary. Still, it accomplishes a lot in a relatively short amount of time. (It's worth noting, though, that the supplemental package expands the experience by an additional three hours. More on that in a bit.) For newcomers, American effectively introduces Hicks and offers full access to his personal life. For those more familiar with the comedian, it expounds upon his comedy, career and passions. For diehards, there's plenty to love, even if the documentary itself isn't quite as invasive a biography as some may be hoping for. Ultimately, American: The Bill Hicks Story has something to offer most anyone, be it a smile, a laugh or a tear.

American: The Bill Hicks Story Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

BBC Video's 1080i/AVC-encoded transfer is, naturally, a mixed bag. So much of American: The Bill Hicks Story is comprised of grizzled home videos, standard definition-sourced archive footage and aging photographs that the results aren't consistent in the least. That said, I doubt anyone will complain, especially considering how good directors Paul Thomas and Matt Harlock's newly recorded footage and photo-animated sequences look. Yes, some banding, aliasing and artifacting crops up, and yes, the aforementioned animation has been intentionally distressed with ungainly noise, scratches and faux-print blemishes. But trying to determine which issues come by way of Thomas and Harlock's hand -- not to mention which might possibly trace back to an imperfect transfer -- is a fool's errand. Ultimately, colors are satisfying, skintones are relatively on point and black levels are nice and deep. Detail is also admirable, even if some minor anomalies swarm the image. All things considered, little detracts from the intended image, and the transfer is in line with the aesthetic Thomas and Harlock establish from the beginning. If nothing else, I suspect this is the best the film could look. No one is suddenly going to regret their purchase.

American: The Bill Hicks Story Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

American's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track goes down much more smoothly, excelling in spite of the quality and condition of its source elements. It should come as no surprise that voices are somewhat bulky in scenes that rely heavily on archive video footage and audio recordings, but it may surprise you to hear how well each one has been cleaned and clarified in the mix. Just shy of crystal clear, Bill Hicks' banter and stand-up routines almost sound as good as the newly recorded interviews with his friends and family. It's obvious a lot of time and effort has gone into restoring the more problematic audio clips, and noise and hiss are kept to an absolute minimum. Mark Daniels' original music and Thomas and Harlock's song selections support the voices beautifully too; prioritization is dead on, particularly for a documentary. LFE output doesn't pack punch, but it does have power; the rear speakers aren't overbearing, but they are affecting; the soundfield is front-heavy, but not flat in any way. Ultimately, BBC Video's lossless track isn't aggressive, it isn't showy and it isn't going to blow anyone away. It will draw people deeper into Hicks' story though, and that's all that really matters.

American: The Bill Hicks Story Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The 2-disc Blu-ray release of American: The Bill Hicks Story is chock full of content. More than three hours of additional interviews and deleted scenes, rare vintage clips and audio recordings, multiple featurettes, reunions and returns... all in high definition. Simply put, BBC Video's supplemental package is as comprehensive as they come. Yes, production tidbits about the making of the film itself are few and far between, but just as Thomas and Harlock's American is The Bill Hicks Story, so too is its special features. Fans of the comedian couldn't ask for much more.

• Extended Interviews (HD, 181 minutes): An hour of excellent extended interviews with Hicks' family, friends and colleagues are available on the set's first disc. Among the topics, "Bill's Early Life," "Creating Characters," "School Years" and "The Comedy Begins." Disc two offers two more hours of equally engaging interviews. Segments include "Early Annex Years," "Heading to LA," "Back in Houston with the Outlaw Comics," "The Dark Years," "Going Sober," "Performing in the UK," "Diagnosis," "Bill Tells His Friends" and "Love, Laughter & Truth."
• Deleted Scenes (HD, 16 minutes): Deleted, alternate and early animation scenes are available as well -- "The Older Kids," "Bill Calls Dwight," "Dangerfields," "Early Bill and Dwight Recordings," "Ninja Bachelor Party," "STRESS," "Tragic Love Lives," "Houston House," "Mary and Jum Watch Bill," "Flying to New York," "Writing Jokes," "Last Ranch Trip," "Teenage Rebellion" and "Wimberly."
• Rare Clips (HD, 34 minutes): A wealth of archive materials have been assembled as well, including "Annex - Girls," "Annex - Eating," "Annex - Scary Movies," "Annex - Mom Comes to Town," "Funny Bone - UFO," "Indianapolis - Dad's a Goober," "Indianapolis - Jews Killed My Lord," "Outlaws Get Religion - Jesus is Pissed," "Outlaws Get Religion - School Rivalry," "Sacramento - Housekeeping," "Sane Man - Bill You Don't Fit In," "Sane Man - Non-Smokers," "Spellbinders - In Hospital," "West Palm Beach - Childbirth," "West Palm Beach - Did God Make a Mistake," "Bill & Dwight - Bat & Ball," "Bill at Waco" and "Ninja Bachelor Party Trailer."
• Comedy School (HD, 19 minutes): Dwight Slade and James Ladmirault discuss the art of comedy in yet another series of extended interview segments.
• Austin Panel at SxSW (HD, 10 minutes): Bill Hicks: Sane Man director David Johndrow, Bill's brother Steve Hicks, and comedians Jimmy Pineapple and John Farneti sit down for a Q&A helmed by American director Matt Harlock. Old stories and memories swirl to the surface and make this brief panel well worth watching.
• Dominion Tour (HD, 8 minutes): Bill Hicks: Revelations director Chris Bould, Revelations producer Charles Brand and Steve Hicks visit London and reminisce about Bill's show at the Dominion Theater.
• Festivals in UK & USA with the Hicks (HD, 15 minutes): The surviving Hicks attend a variety of 2009 film festivals honoring American: The Bill Hicks Story, on both sides of the Atlantic.
• Hicks at Abbey Road Studios (HD, 5 minutes): A quick look at Bill's love of music, as well as Steve's subsequent remastering and editing of Bill's own songs at Abbey Road Studios.
• Kevin Shoots His Film in LA (HD, 4 minutes): Kevin Booth talks about his induction into documentary filmmaking and the role Bill's life and death played in his passions and career.
• The Ranch (HD, 8 minutes): Booth returns to his Fredericksburg, Texas childhood stomping grounds, unearths memories of simpler times when he and Hicks felt as if they were going to live forever, and reflects on their lives and friendship.
• 15th Anniversary Tribute (HD, 8 minutes): The Hicks family attends a Bill Hicks Lives! tribute in England.
• Dwight in London (HD, 6 minutes): Slade travels to London and riffs on the cultural differences between the UK and the US.
• Making of Arizona Bay (HD, 7 minutes): An overview of the production of Arizona Bay, a conceptual comedy album by Bill Hicks.
• Bill's Audio Journal Clips (36 minutes): Three audio clips play against static photographs -- "Bill, Lonely in LA" (1981), "Bill Leaves New York for LA" (1992) and the lengthy "Rare Interview with Nick Doody" (1992).
• Audience Reactions Theatrical Trailer (HD, 2 minutes)

American: The Bill Hicks Story Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

American: The Bill Hicks Story is a fascinating tribute to a comedian whose star was snuffed out much too early. Told by way of the memories of those who loved and knew him best, it does what any documentary of its ilk should. Whether you're new to Hicks or a longtime fan, though, American will leave you anxious to plow through the hours and hours of supplemental materials included in BBC Video's 2-disc set. Factor in a solid video transfer and an excellent DTS-HD Master Audio surround track, and you have a documentary release most anyone can enjoy.