Review of Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work (2010) by Tom M — 22 Aug 2010

Whether you like Joan Rivers or not in this film you will be in awe of her hard work and determination that she puts forth to remain relevant. This documentary chronicles a year in the life of Joan Rivers.

You are privy to all the elements it took and what it takes to be the performer "Joan Rivers". There was a statement she makes in the film after failing to wow the critics in England with a hopeful Broadway bound project that struck a huge cord for me.

Joan says "I'm an actress who acts like a comedian". She seriously wants to be taken seriously as an actress. I hope that she actually succeeds in landing an acting role that will allow her to do it justice and be recognized for it.

Her passion to be working all the time is admirable. She is described as a person who hears the clock tick every minute of every day. In this film she turns the mirror on Hollywood and shows the audience the brutal reality of what it takes to try and reinvent yourself in a business that clearly looks at young and pretty first.

Joan is undoubtedly gifted on many levels but you get to see her genius ability to use her brain and mouth in record speed time during a clip of a performance when a heckler challenges her on the sesitivity of a joke that he did not find funny for personal reasons.

She has to lliterally cast him out and reel the audience back in. She was amazing. I think anyone who may not be a "fan" can't help but admire her after seeing this film. For those who are already Joan fans.

..... just enjoy.