Hal The Life and Work of Filmmaker Hal Ashby
Hal Ashby directed a remarkable string of acclaimed, widely admired classics throughout the 1970s (such as Harold and Maude and Being There), but is often overlooked amid the crowd of luminaries from his generation. Amy Scott's exuberant portrait explores that curious oversight.
Featuring interviews with film legends that worked with him and were inspired by him such as Adam McKay, Alexander Payne, David O. Russell, Dustin Hoffman, Hal Ashby, Jane Fonda, Jeff Bridges, and Judd Apatow.
Nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. Nominated for the Best Documentary and Best First Time Director Award at the Critics' Choice Documentary Awards.
"A most welcome reassessment of one of the most important figures in 1970s Hollywood." - Todd McCarthy, The Hollywood Reporter
Running Time
91 mins
Year
2018
Kanopy ID
6455954
Filmmakers
Features
Adam McKay, Alexander Payne, David O. Russell, Dustin Hoffman, Hal Ashby, Jane Fonda, Jeff Bridges, Judd Apatow
Languages
Subjects
Show More
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Comments (12)
Being There beguiled me when I was a TV-addicted child, then Harold and Maude blew my 21-year-old mind when I saw it on a cross-country hitchhiking trip in 1990. Somehow I never connected them with the same director, let alone one with a name: Hal Ashby. It's weird what blind spots can ...Read more
Being There beguiled me when I was a TV-addicted child, then Harold and Maude blew my 21-year-old mind when I saw it on a cross-country hitchhiking trip in 1990. Somehow I never connected them with the same director, let alone one with a name: Hal Ashby. It's weird what blind spots can persist, even for someone who is usually more cognizant of any given film's personnel. Anyway, this documentary is righteous and compelling and has provided this viewer with a half dozen Ashby titles to check out ASAP. Thanks, Amy Scott and Kanopy!
Read lessthank you AMY SCOTT for making this film~!
Like Ben said!
I used to teach freshmen college students for awhile at CSU and I think they saw most of his films. Why? Because they'd say, "What was it *really* like back then? " This was 2008/2015. Was amazed at how far the jaws of this supposedly "sophisticated" generation dropped ...Read more
Like Ben said!
Read lessI used to teach freshmen college students for awhile at CSU and I think they saw most of his films. Why? Because they'd say, "What was it *really* like back then? " This was 2008/2015. Was amazed at how far the jaws of this supposedly "sophisticated" generation dropped when they watched "The Landlord" or "Shampoo"...but the important thing was they GOT it in a way that amazed me.
Also led to some "So, professor, what did you do in the '70s?" Actually, the old guy with a cane was kind of flattered. lol.
But I digress; I think the thing that struck me most here was that while I certainly considered him one of the greats, it never occurred to me that his was the name that never came up in any discussion of great directors.
So, Kanopy, please, like Ben said. Throw us a bone or two or three...
You'll be able to find HAROLD AND MAUDE on Kanopy! We've let our Licensing Team know of your request for more Hal Ashby titles - we hope we'll be able to offer them soon.
yes yes yes please! Being There is a film everyone should see. Especially NOW...please consider adding it. The Landlord is also important. I've never seen Coming Home and would love to find it here!
TY
yes yes!
Great!
c'mon kanopy, now we need his film films on here!
I adore Ashby's work and have been waiting for a doc about him - had no idea there was one, brand new!
Well done doc about a true original. Ashby's films informed the politics of my teenage years for which I am indebted to him.
Harold and Maude and Being There are two of my favorite movies. Now I want to see all of the movies Hal directed. Great Stuff!
His stuff is great! Coming Home is amazing, and the oft-overlooked The Landlord is wonderful as well. His cinematography was ahead-of-the-time and un-appreciated (at the time....still unappreciated now IMO) by critics and film historians (including fast but meaningful cuts, 360-degree ...Read more
His stuff is great! Coming Home is amazing, and the oft-overlooked The Landlord is wonderful as well. His cinematography was ahead-of-the-time and un-appreciated (at the time....still unappreciated now IMO) by critics and film historians (including fast but meaningful cuts, 360-degree rotations, multiple screens, traumatic flashbacks, among other signature techniques are such stunning). His DP work on the original The Thomas Crown Affair show most of this.
Read lessIn the Heat of the Night was more tame and mainstream DP work but still great.