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
8.1 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 23 Ratings

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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)… Collapse

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. Movieline
    Reviewed by: Stephanie Zacharek
    80
    Rivers appears to have more energy than most 30-year-olds; she gets more done in a day that some of us could accomplish in a week.
  3. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: John DeFore
    80
    A highly entertaining documentary revealing a serious talent behind the one-note present-day reputation.
  4. 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.
  2. 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
  3. txrangersfan72
    8
    As a person who has never been a Joan Rivers fan, much less a Joan-and-Melissa Rivers fan, this documentary of a year in the life of the most irritating comedienne on the planet is surprisingly, uhm, UN-irritating. Joan is the most human I've ever seen her and, like the movie Comedian by Jerry Seinfeld showed, the makeup of a comedian is rooted in insecurity and a sad, self-loathing existence that they feel trapped in. I'd never related why we saw George Burns, Sid Caesar, Milton Berle, etc. continuing to publicly perform their comedy until near-death. We still see it in people like Don Rickles and, as is painfully displayed here, Joan Rivers. On one hand, the viewer has to admire her raw talent and endless drive, but on the other hand, one wants to just hug her and say, "uhm...go retire. Go do something you've always wanted to do." That's just it, though. She IS what she's created. And that IS what she wants to do, even as each year looks sadder and sadder. She owns her existence, though, and while even aware of its flaws, she continues to power through. If you've seen her honest dialogue with Louie this past season and was moved by the honesty of it, this documentary will blow you away.… Expand
  4. j30
    7
    A very entertaining movie about a very entertaining woman. It didn't particularly make me like Joan Rivers in any way, but she's funny and as the title suggests 'A Piece of Work.'… Expand

See all 8 User Reviews

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