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Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work
Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work Image
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Metascore
79 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 34 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.2 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 21 Ratings

Your Score
10 out of 10
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  • Starring: Joan Rivers, Kathy Griffin, Melissa Rivers
  • Summary: Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work takes the audience on a year long ride with legendary comedian Joan Rivers in her 76th year of life. Peeling away the mask of an iconic comedian and exposing the struggles, sacrifices and joy of living life as a ground breaking female performer. The film is an emotionally surprising and revealing portrait of one the most hilarious and long-standing career women ever in the business. (IFC Films)… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 32 out of 34
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 34
  3. Negative: 0 out of 34
  1. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Mick LaSalle
    100
    It's one of the best documentaries ever made about show business, about what it really consists of and what it demands.
  2. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Owen Gleiberman
    100
    She's a teller of hilarious gutbucket truths as surely as Lenny Bruce and Richard Pryor ever were. Yet while they were consumed by their demons, Rivers is just the opposite.
  3. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: Joe Neumaier
    60
    If you're looking for an incisive portrait of self-generated stardom, you won't do better than this.

See all 34 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. NathanT
    10
    Wanted to watch it again as soon as I was done.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  2. Tony
    9
    Both intimate and heartfelt, this is a hilarious documentary that details Rivers' dedication to comedy and success. Rivers is a national treasure, and hopefully she will finally get the respect she deserves. It's a shame this didn't make the Oscars' Documentary Feature shortlist.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. OscarPicks2010
    9
    I was surprised of the movie not being recognized by the Academy of Documentary. I guess they don't want anything to do with Joan Rivers, and that's the whole point of the documentary. The doc started out with Joan Rivers' lowpoint of her career (when she's already 70 years old), and it progresses with Rivers working her way up again. The film demonstrates how the once comedic icon and well known star turned into "a piece of work". With her comedic talents blending with her sad emotions, Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work is a snub that the Academy missed out on. OscarBuzz: NONE, that's the point!… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes

See all 8 User Reviews

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