American Comic

A A A Comments By Thorin Klowsowski Thursday, Jun 2 2011

Bill Hicks is often called the greatest comic of his generation, and seventeen years after his death from pancreatic cancer, his impact on comedy is still being felt. But Hicks’s goal wasn’t just to make people laugh; it was to make people think. American: The Bill Hicks Story is a documentary by Matt Harlock and Paul Thomas that attempts to tell his story using abundant live recordings as well as animations and interviews. At the film’s New York premiere, Keith Olbermann called it “artistic and yet also true to documentary style while still being innovative. It’s as good as Bill was.”

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Hicks has been called the greatest because he delivered a unique experience with his comedy — not just by poking fun at modern living, but by breaking it down and assessing it. American is aware of what made Hicks innovative and attempts to convey the same in documentary form.

American: The Bill Hicks Story will screen at the Denver FilmCenter, 2510 East Colfax Avenue, today through June 10; tickets are $9.75. For more information and a list of showtimes, visit www.denverfilm.org or call 303-595-3456.
June 3-10, 2011

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