JOAN RIVERS: A PIECE OF WORK is a feature length documentary following US based comedian Joan Rivers as she approaches her seventy-fifth year. The documentary follows the comedienne over the course of a year and we get to see what the star has to deal with day-to-day, see her prepare for her upcoming London based play, manage her team of staff, come up with jokes etc etc etc.
I must admit that when I was asked to review this title, I thought urgh! Not my cup of tea at all, but as a critic it is my job to review absolutely everything that comes my way whether I enjoy it or not, so I reservedly popped the DVD into the player. What followed surprised me. I actually kind of enjoyed it. The problem is, I am am finding it very difficult to tell you why.
My knowledge, and indeed experience in terms of being entertained by Ms. Rivers is extremely limited. I have seen her on British television from time to time, but really I knew her from being on a glamourous red carpets at a glitzy Hollywood awards bashes stopping stars as they walk past. I had seen her various appearances on Nip/ Tuck and had possibly seen her on a few other TV guest spots like the recent Piers Morgan On Las Vegas show, but that is probably it… but I knew of her.
So, now that you now know where I am coming from, back to the review. The film gives a very candid view at one of America’s entertainment and comedy icons and we get a glimpse into her life and get to see just what goes into the day to day running of a high profile, working entertainer, who is effectively in her own words, a mini-industry. The film is seemingly broken down into three different sections as Rivers goes to work on three seperate high profile projects. The first is the aforementioned play which Rivers takes to the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland to debut, before moving it on to London’s glam West End. The second section sees Rivers take to US TV network NBC for the first time in many years for The Celebrity Apprentice (Rivers was effectively, though unofficially barred from the network for leaving their flagship The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson to work on her own solo TV show decades ago). Lastly we get to see Joan do her day job, travelling across America doing her famous comedy acts in club across the country.
I think that I enjoyed this film because of its raw-ness, and seeing someone like the hugely glam Joan Rivers literally stripped bare (the opening shots of the feature show the comedienne in an extreme close-up minus the make up, applying foundation, looking very much the opposite of the Joan Rivers that we know. We know how much the star prides herself on her looks, and the sheer amount of ‘work’ that she has had done, particularly on her face. This opening scene really sets the scene for the piece, and tells us just what to expect for the next 89 minutes or so.
I loved to witness Rivers on the road, telling jokes (which are actually a lot ruder than what we’re used to hearing the already controversial do) and seeing her collosal files full of the best part of fifty years worth of jokes, all filed away under subject header. It’s great stuff, and the fact that Rivers lets us see everything in her rather eccentric world, including all of her insecurities is simply fascinating.
For fans of the comedienne, this is an absolute must. For those, like me who knew very little about her, and previously had little interest in her, it’s also a great watch, and I am thankful that I had the opportunity for getting the chance to see it. I suggest that you do too.
