Joan Rivers: A Piece Of Work

I saw this movie when it first came out and was really surprised by how NOT funny it was. But it was not funny in a really good way. It featured the real Joan and who she was as a person. She's often just seen as a funny and brash comedienne, but she was 1,000 times bigger and better as a human being. This documentary brings up a lot of interesting things. For one, she says that no man had ever told her she was beautiful, not even her husband. She had a good marriage but he never said she was beautiful. She says that she was never anyone's first pick for anything in her life – always seconds. I find this inspirational because, despite never being "chosen" first, she accepted the offers and showed the world who she was. She didn't feel pretty, she didn't feel first, but she used what she had (a lot of smarts) and made lemonade out of the lemons. Big time. I always thought she was very attractive and had a lot of style. There are parts of this film that made me want to cry. She says at one point in the film that any time a car showed up for her to take her somewhere, she always said thank you and felt gratitude for what she was given in life. That is a poignant moment in the film. Joan was an extremely generous person and cared for everyone who came into her life. She paid her staff excellent salaries, put all of their children through school (including college) and covered all of their healthcare. Even after her death, Melissa is still taking care of these people, per Joan's wishes. She was a great lady. Melissa appears in the documentary but more briefly than expected. It is important to note that Joan raised a daughter who also embraces the same values and continues her mother's legacy. Between this documentary and the series, Joan and Melissa, I think you get a good picture of the kind of person Joan was, behind all of the jokes and gags. Joan was a rare celebrity who actually remembered from whence she came. She didn't have to die when she did. What a travesty. Definitely recommend.

Waited patiently for this movie on DVD as it was not in wide release in the Chicagoland area. It's a stunning personal look at a wonderful person, Joan Rivers. I saw her in the airport and in first class on my flight and she was witty, fun, posed for photos, and never once seemed put off by the attention. Not at all a diva, she exemplifies an ethos that is now forgotten: hard work at a craft you love will pay off, and the fans are to be relished, cherished and treated as human beings. Joan was this in real life, and her charm and sincere heart comes through in spades on this excellent documentary. Her insecurities about her looks, her lack of true male love in her life (she and Edgar were more of a business relationship as portrayed in this film), her geographic distance from her only child Melissa, and her tireless work ethic are sparking gems in this well-paced movie. Before leaving the airport, we had a lay-over, and Joan shopped alone in some of the stores in the terminal, dressed to the nines, hair perfectly coiffed and absolutely charming and gracious to everyone from the shop clerk to the janitor waxing the floors. The DVD is inspirational for the way to treat others. Joan truly does practice this even off camera, Thank you, Joan. You're not only a comedy icon, you are a deep and thoughtful person, and it's my pleasure to get to know you.

I saw this documentary twice in theaters, and bought the DVD for my grandmother. I'd read a few reviews claiming the filmmakers were slightly harsh on Rivers, but what I found instead was a heartfelt look at a woman who has put her entire heart and soul into building a career out of comedy and truly believes in the power of laughter to heal. One of the most memorable moments comes when she is heckled by a man whose daughter is deaf. Rivers goes off on him onstage, then rails against those who'd use their seats in the crowd to protest the content of a comedy show in that way, but offstage, we see that she's rattled, that some of that stage persona was, in fact, bluster. It's this nuance that shines through here; when Rivers is "on," she is completely on, and so much of her life is focused on her career. Seeing her paging through her potentially blank calendar book, then determinedly doing everything she can to fill it up, it's clear that work is her lifeline, and has been, through traumatic events like her husband's suicide, and is what keeps her going through old age. She is not trying to be selfless, but she is extremely driven, and the filing cabinet full of all her jokes shows her work ethic has sustained her for her long and still-enduring career. The filmmakers aren't asking us to emulate Rivers, and, indeed, the appearance of her daughter Melissa Rivers shows that while they love and support each other, there is some tension in that relationship. Melissa works as a great foil here. This is an entertaining look at a legendary comedian who hasn't stopped going going going, and doesn't intend to.

Ms. Rivers is one of my favorite comediennes but this documentary was remarkable in terms of all that it revealed about her, especially the insecurities and ambition that drive her to perform all around the country, appear in multiple reality shows, and design jewelry and clothing that appear regularly on QVC. The moments of vulnerability, especially her talking about her husband's suicide, came across as sincere and touching and reminded me that we're all human, no matter how high a pedestal we may be on.

Joan Rivers was once just an innocent Jewish girl, growing up in Brooklyn, NY. Now she is the face of female comedy, and an undoubtable legend. Love her or hate her, Joan Rivers really is "A Piece of Work", in this documentary of her struggling to be taken seriously as an actress, whilst dealing with age, self-doubt and the pressures of staying on top in show business. The film is compelling right from the start, as Rivers applies her morning make-up ritual, then showing a short reel of her career. We are let into Rivers' life, with very little confidentiality. From her dazzling "how Marie Antoinette would've lived, if she'd had money" Manhattan apartment, to her time on Donald Trump's the Celebrity Apprentice. The film shows captivating shots of "the city that never sleeps" and Rivers going through tragedy, rejection, and talking to us of her past and career at the same time. She [Rivers] lets us into her daily schedule, the team which gets her on stage, the process of "Joan Rivers: A Life in Progress by A Work in Progress" and it's harsh reception to the London critics, and a lifestyle many desire to live. But it's not all been plain sailing for Joan, as she reveals her opinions on her husband's suicide, keeping on top at her age and dealing with competition and biting criticism. Rivers is a strong woman, a performer and a businesswoman, and an extremely talented woman, yet manages to keep a level head at the end of the day. Any Rivers fan must own this and to those who hate her, once you watch this, you'll stop hating for sure!

Divine Joan Rivers for ever! Très beau documentaire où elle est FABULOUS comme d habitude, mais sur 1 registre plus intimiste...Pour tous des admirateurs souvent gays.

one of the best documentarys ever made! Joan Rivers is such a role model and will live on forever in our hearts.

I happen to love her and like the DVD very much!!!!

great introspective of this amazing woman.