Review of Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work (2010) by Jim G — 13 Feb 2011

âA Piece of Workâ? is a very apt subtitle for this film, since it sums up rather succinctly the driving force behind Joan Riversâ(TM) careerâ"she is a woman constantly on the lookout for her next piece of work.

Perpetually aware of just how difficult it is to hit a moving target, Rivers never seems to slow down. At the age of 75, she keep herself busier than many working actors/comedians 1/3 her age. Ricki Sternâ(TM)s film chronicles Riversâ(TM) career, from her beginnings on âThe Tonight Showâ? through her stint as permanent guest host, her devastating decision to leave that show for her own talk show (a decision that created a rift between Rivers and Johnny Carson that never healed), her husbandâ(TM)s suicide, and her struggle to recover from it both personally and professionally.

Riversâ(TM) daughter Melissa is of course a big part of this film, and her presence creates perhaps an unintentional stark contrast to Rivers herself. Joan is the consummate hard-working, smart, talented, honest professional entertainer, while her daughter, who claims to have chosen a career in show business, actually possesses little or no talent and has forged a âcareerâ? in entertainment simply by virtue of her status as Joanâ(TM)s daughter.

If Melissa Rivers were not Joanâ(TM)s daughter, I doubt she would be able to find any work at all in the entertainment industry. Be that as it may, âJoan Rivers: A Piece of Workâ? is a penetrating and entertaining documentary about the life and career of one of the funniestâ"if not THE funniestâ"women in the business.