Hal

Hal is a captivating and intimate documentary about the life and legacy of Hal Ashby, one of the most innovative and influential filmmakers of the 1970s. Directed by Amy Scott, the film explores Ashby's life and work through a tapestry of archival footage, interviews with friends, family, and collaborators, and clips from his classic films.

Born in 1929, Ashby grew up in Utah and served in the Air Force before moving to Hollywood to pursue a career in film. He started out as an editor, working on films like In the Heat of the Night and The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming, before making his directorial debut with The Landlord in 1970. Over the next decade, he would direct a string of critically acclaimed and influential movies, including Harold and Maude, The Last Detail, Shampoo, and Being There.

Hal delves deep into Ashby's creative process and the personal experiences and political beliefs that shaped his perspective. Through interviews with actors like Jane Fonda, Jeff Bridges, and Jon Voight, as well as industry figures like Norman Jewison and Haskell Wexler, the film reveals how Ashby's empathy for outsiders and countercultural sensibilities informed his work.

At the heart of the film is the relationship between Ashby and his frequent collaborator, writer-producer Charles Mulvehill. Mulvehill, who passed away in 1999, was instrumental in bringing Ashby's vision to the screen and served as a sounding board and confidant throughout his career. In one poignant scene, Ashby's daughter talks about how her father and Mulvehill would often pause in the middle of a conversation to give her a hug or ask how her day was going.

Hal also explores Ashby's struggles with addiction and his tumultuous personal life. While his films were celebrated for their sensitivity and humanism, Ashby's own relationships were often fraught with conflict and heartbreak, and he struggled with substance abuse until his death in 1988.

Throughout the film, Scott weaves together clips from Ashby's films and interviews with Ashby himself, capturing the director's wry humor and deep passion for his craft. Whether he's talking about working with Jack Nicholson on The Last Detail or discussing the challenges of getting a film made in Hollywood, Ashby's insights are always sharp and illuminating.

In short, Hal is an essential documentary for fans of Ashby's work and anyone interested in the history of American cinema. Scott's masterful direction and the wealth of archival material at her disposal provide a vivid and moving portrait of one of the most important filmmakers of his generation.