Review of Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work (2010) by Makeup M — 27 Jun 2010

Who knew hobgoblins had feelings? I'm kidding, but sort've not. And Joan Rivers is all too keenly self-aware of these perceptions, and makes sure the viewers know she is. Her career has spanned almost 5 decades, and yet she's still getting great gigs while suffering disheartening failures along the way. No business like show business, eh?

This year-in-the-life window in Joan Rivers' life is an interesting navigation of show biz insight (and savvy), the nature of staying relevant, and in seeing the fight, wisdom and insecurities of a spunky woman who has bucked convention with still-shocking humor for so many years. We follow Rivers on the expected, yet still meaningful, highs-and-lows, such as her winning Celebrity Apprentice, but also having to dismiss a longtime friend and manager (who is over-introduced to set up this story arc anyway). In short, this is not the Joan Rivers most of us perceive in the regular media these days. Her passion is tangible, but so are her failings. That she wears on her face, lathered in makeup along with that unholy mask she uses to squeeze out human expression. The movie is funny, interesting, realistic, and at times meaningful: basically, a lot of adjectives that you wouldn't ordinarily associate with Joan Rivers. It is indeed quite the piece of work.