moonspinner55 Review of Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work

Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work (2010)

Lightly engaging documentary on "the actress who played a comedienne"

[6/10 · 7 September 2017]

Well-produced, though not particularly incisive documentary on the career of groundbreaking stand-up comic Joan Rivers, one where the (rehearsed) humor and (probably rehearsed) pathos do not especially work their way into your heart, but which is a must-see for historians of comedy--especially now that the star's raspy voice and self-deprecating jokes have been forever silenced. Writing and rehearsing a comedy play (with much stand-up in it), Rivers is seen opening the show in Scotland and England, but is apprehensive about taking the production to New York City (where the star assumes her critics are laying in wait, their poison pens at the ready). This seems odd for a popular, much-loved talent who had some of her greatest triumphs in the Big Apple. Brief introductions and interviews with Joan's staff and circle of friends achieve absolutely nothing (except padding the film's running-time); although, when Rivers is seen on-stage, playing Performer, all the excess drama and neuroses are neatly filtered out. The woman was positively in her element while in the spotlight. **1/2 from ****