"Flamboyant exhibitionism and stoic masochism have rarely been more visibly wired together in a performer’s dynamo than in this funny,...
"Flamboyant exhibitionism and stoic masochism have rarely been more visibly wired together in a performer’s dynamo than in this funny, complex portrait, onstage and off, of comedian Joan Rivers. No celebrity flunkies, filmmakers Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg spent a year – her 75th – filming the doyenne of bad-mouthed women’s stand-up. She begins the movie so out of work she claims she’d knock out her own teeth to be cast in a denture ad. We watch as she fills up a blank appointment book and has a ball. But observe her sang froid the morning after an adoring audience have lapped up her show, as she has her assistant spell out every withering review: you might learn a lot about cruelty and pain, guts and survival in showbiz." (New Zealand International Film Festival 2010)
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92 %106 reviewsRotten Tomatoes® rating
82 %12,432 reviewsAudience score rating
"Mixing hilarious standup footage with admiring if not exactly cuddlesome behind-the-scenes glimpses."
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Variety
Variety"This convulsively funny movie takes an up-close and sometimes queasy-personal approach to its motormouth subject, who, when she's not making you howl with laughter (or freeze up in horror), brandishes her deeply held hurts, fears, prejudices, poor judgment and bad taste as if they were stigmata."
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The New York Times
The New York Times"There's not a timid, sympathy-begging minute in it. Even better, you leave Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work with the exhilarating feeling that the lady is just hitting her stride."
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Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone"Fascinating and has a lot of laughs in it."
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Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert"Hilarious, disturbing and brilliant.An unflinching look at a desperate Joan Rivers makes compelling viewing."
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New Zealand Herald
New Zealand Herald"She is by turns blue, bitter, hilarious, unbroken; a Hollywood-style portrait in infinite ambition. In that role, Rivers is unforgettable."
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Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times"A highly entertaining documentary revealing a serious talent behind the one-note present-day reputation."
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Hollywood Reporter
Hollywood ReporterJoan Rivers: A Piece of Work | Details
Award winner- Documentary Film Editing Award, Sundance Film Festival 2010.
- Runtime
- 85
- Genre
- Documentary
- Country of origin
- USA
