After the broadcast, the film will be available here on the american masters website until the morning of october 8th, 2014. A piece of work ricki stern annie sundberg ricki stern 2010 filmmakers ricki stern and annie sundberg document a year in the life of the comedy pioneer as she works tirelessly to keep her career thriving in a y. The film is an emotionally surprising and revealing portrait of joan rivers. With joan rivers, melissa rivers, kathy griffin, jocelyn pickett. Shes a pioneer, an icon, and a consummate survivor, but in the ruthlessly honest documentary joan rivers. You may have that idea about joan rivers, who is 75 in this film and never tires of reminding us of that fact. Watch the clip titled thanksgiving for the film joan rivers a piece of work 2010. The opening sequence from the smash hit documentary, joan rivers. By every objective standard, joan rivers has reached the pinnacle of success in comedy. Right now, he says flatly, they see her as a plastic surgery freak whos past due. You will leave this film remembering that joan rivers is one very funny woman albeit a vulgar one. Like the film, but had a feeling that rivers was always keenly aware of the. Love her or hate her, joan rivers really is a piece of work, in this documentary of her struggling to be taken seriously as. Peeling away the mask of an iconic comedian and exposing the struggles, sacrifices and joy of living life as a ground breaking female performer.
A piece of work is a 2010 documentary film about the life and. Joan rivers a piece of work a year in the life of a legend. Depending on your own point of view of rivers, the film is either a celebration of her. Sundance film festival joan rivers on a piece of work and why leno isnt funny. Joan rivers was the primary guest host for the tonight show for a long time, but over the years werent there many people who filled in for carson for a night or a week. But joan can handle hecklers as well as rickles any day. The boomer list, american masters presents an in memoriam tribute broadcast of joan rivers. Immediately following the premiere of american masters. A piece of work 2010 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Joan rivers the making of a piece of work duration. The filmmakers appear to have had unlimited access to rivers, probably because she was a star who constantly worried about being out of the spotlight.
A piece of work was released in 2010 on friday, june 11, 2010 in 6 theaters. Filmed over 14 months and released to great critical acclaim in 2010, joan rivers. Peeling away the mask of an iconic comedian and exposing the. In one stretch in this film she closes a show in toronto, flies overnight to palm springs, does a gig, flies overnight to. A documentary on the life and career of joan rivers, made as. A piece of work is a mustwatch for those wanting to learn more about the performer in light of her death this. Penetrating rivers coarse image, this compelling documentary offers an honest, behindthescenes look at her career and at show business in general. As the film follows her through her 75th year, rivers fights to stay busy and relevant in a world with waning interest in her work. Howard welcomed joan rivers to the studio and told her hed been depressed by the new documentary about her life, joan rivers. A piece of work, rivers behaves as if her fragile sense of selfworth will dissipate completely if a crowd at an indian casino in wisconsin doesnt guffaw heartily at every wisecrack and adlib. The film is an emotionally surprising and revealing portrait of one the most hilarious and. No matter how you think of her, joan riversa piece of work is likely to expand your idea of who, exactly, joan rivers is. That, at least, is what i thought after watching twice the documentary joan rivers. Cameras followed joan rivers around for a year, filming her daily life for the documentary, a piece of work.
A piece of work is a 2010 documentary film about the life and career of comedian joan rivers, also featuring melissa rivers, don rickles and kathy griffin it had its world premiere at the sundance film festival on january 25, 2010. While its true that the film maker could have dug a bit deeper into some of the darker subjects, i think that. A documentary on the life and career of joan rivers, made as the comedienne turns 75 years old. This clip was originally shared with the broadcast of joan rivers. Comedian joan rivers is a real piece of work june 9, 2010 shocking played well as latenight fare, of course, and for a time, joan was the latenight queen, anointed by the king himself, johnny. Joan rivers prepares for her favorite holiday, thanksgiving, by. If youve ever liked her jokes, definitely go see this movie. A piece of work captures a year in the life of the late comedienne as she turned threequarters of a century old. A piece of work premiered at the 2010 sundance film festival to acclaim. Joan rivers a piece of work takes the audience on a year long ride with joan rivers in her.
Features original music by paul brill with amber rubarth. 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, selfdoubt and the pressures of staying on top in show business. A piece of work 2010 this revealing documentary follows the life and career of joan rivers, a veteran comedienne arguably more known for her extensive plastic surgery than for her. A piece of work takes the audience on a year long ride with legendary comedian joan rivers in her 76th year of life. We are still waiting for our first breakout success off the year on the limited release front. A piece of work takes the audience on a year long ride with legendary comedian joan. A piece of work, the legendary comics manager offers up an assessment of the general perception of his client. Culture film features movies you might have missed. Comedian joan rivers is a real piece of work few topics are offlimits for the brash comedian. Joan is a comedy legend and its absolutely amazing what she accomplished her. A piece of work takes the audience on a yearlong ride with joan. The movie is a documentary film that draws inspiration from the life of joan rivers.
She has joked about her many face lifts, her husbands suicide. Filmmakers ricki stern and annie sundberg the devil came on horseback, the trials of darryl hunt expose the private dramas of this irreverent. Joan rivers a piece of work a year in the life of a. This might be the most honest film ever made about the. Joan rivers a piece of work takes the audience on a year long ride with joan rivers in her 76th year of life. Opening tonight in theaters is joan rivers, a piece of work, a funny, touching and brutal yearlong ride with the driven, groundbreaking comedian in her 76th year of life 76. The film follows joan rivers from her luxury manhattan apartment, to business meetings and media appearances, revealing some of her private. Empty park city audiences who know joan rivers only for plastic surgery and timefilling redcarpet banter are in for something else with joan rivers. There are a couple films on this weeks list that could be the first, including the dramatic film winters bone and the documentary joan rivers.
In one stretch in this film she closes a show in toronto, flies overnight to palm springs, does a gig, flies overnight to minneapolis, and performs another one. A piece of work, premiered at the sundance film festival on january 25, 2010. This documentary was directed by ricki stern and anne sundberg. A piece of work covers the events in about a year of her life. There were 7 other movies released on the same date, including the ateam, the karate kid and winters bone. Documentary on comedian premieres at the 2010 sundance film festival. One of the best sequences in the film offers a glimpse into rivers writing habits. The filmtech forums are designed for various members related to the cinema industry to express their opinions, viewpoints and testimonials on various. Joan is a comedy legend and its absolutely amazing what she accomplished her life, and surreal. If the filmmakers didnt have total access, i dont want to see what they missed. Early in ricki stern and anne sundebergs extraordinary documentary portrait joan rivers. A piece of work 2010 starring joan rivers and melissa rivers on dvd and bluray.