Review of Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work (2010) by Stuart B — 19 Jul 2011

A surprisingly honest and open documentary which literally peels back the layers of her onscreen character and exposes herself, flaws and all in a fly on the wall look at a year in Joan's life. It presents a woman who works tirelessly, probably too hard for a woman her age, but who works compulsively , unable to stop as she seeks fame and fortune as a means to overcome her deep insecurities and it was surprising to see such a figure who has been portrayed until now as a brash, loud comic unafraid to push the limits of the acceptable come off as so determined to carve success to overcome such issues.

It was enlightening to see, but also a little saddening to see too. But this is who Joan is, she can't do anything else, she proclaimed to being an actress first and foremost, and that she has acted the comedian her entire life as despite her setbacks along the way, it is a part of her, and a part she cannot give up.

I would have liked to have seen a little more research taken into what crafted Joan into becomig the type of comedian she is. There is nothing revealed of her childhood and little of the true relationship she has with her daughter, but nevertheless it was a hard hitting, in your face documentary which, like Joan, despite it's flaws was addictive to watch.