Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work

 

Story:

Documentarians Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg provide an uncompromising glimpse into the personal and professional life of comedian and red-carpet mainstay Joan Rivers, a woman clinging stubbornly and steadfastly to the pop-culture bandwagon. Stern and Sundberg -- whose previous film, The Devil Came on Horseback, covered the Darfur genocide -- take a no-less-intensive approach to their subject here, taking a hard look at fame's bitter toll.

Review:

Joan Rivers isn’t just a piece of work, she’s an industry, or at least that’s what she says (then again, with all the people in her employ, how could she not be). In Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work, this strong personality willing to do anything for a job welcomes the camera crews into her 75th year of life to document a low year in her career. I know what you’re thinking, but it’s not like that (I swear!). The editor exhibits much more power over the story than does the leading lady by utilizing the seamless interweaving of archival footage with contemporary recordings of her performances and documentary scenes of her life this year. From a technical standpoint, the clear distinction between the three elements has the potential to be jarring, but actually gives the viewer a unique 360 view of the world of Joan Rivers. The archival footage is, obviously, easily identifiable by the lower quality film. While recordings of her performances are shot, unsurprisingly, with the aid of a tripod, the view of her personal life is, literally, much more shaky. The braiding of the three is clearly crafted with the forethought and work of skilled professionals.

As for Joan’s tale of woe -- let’s call it that for the sake of argument -- she couldn’t have won anyone over more wholeheartedly. This documentation of a slow work year for her presents an aspect of her story that no one would expect to see, given the size and ornateness of her home. Beginning with a view of her empty calendar, the film takes us through one “degrading” job after another as the seventy-five year old diva watches her stage play fail, takes her show on the road to small-town casinos, and becomes the butt of a Comedy Central roast that clearly cuts a little too deep. Do we really pity her? Probably not, but we have to appreciate the journey that her character takes, down into the chasm and back out again only to land on top with a big win: the words “you’re hired” from Donald Trump.

So let’s be clear about where the credit is due - Ricki Stern and Anne Sundberg take this woman of plastic and, over the course of a year, sculpt her into a human being for whom you cannot but get at least a tickle in your throat if not a tear in your eye. The creative storytelling and stunning editing create the portrait of a woman who is more than just a red-carpet old-timer, and I bet you’ll learn a thing or two about the life and work of dear old Joan that you never knew before.

Reviewed by Emily Comisar for Documentary Film Online on July 09, 2010

In Conclusion: