Joan Rivers: 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.
Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work | |
---|---|
![]() Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Ricki Stern Anne Sundberg |
Written by | Ricki Stern |
Produced by | Ricki Stern Anne Sundberg Seth Keal |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Charles Miller |
Edited by | Penelope Falk |
Music by | Paul Brill |
Production company | Break Thru Films |
Distributed by | IFC Films |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 85 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Box office | $2.9 million[1] |
It had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 25, 2010. It was released on June 11, 2010, by IFC Films. The film received positive reviews from critics.
![]() | This article needs an improved plot summary. (November 2015) |
The film follows Joan Rivers for 14 months, mostly during the 76th year of her life.[2] The film made an effort to "[peel] away the mask" and expose the "struggles, sacrifices and joy of living life as a ground breaking female performer."[3] The New York Times reported that Stern and Sundberg "lucked out" with their timing, starting to film the year before Rivers won Donald Trump's Celebrity Apprentice in 2008.[2]
The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 25, 2010.[4] Shortly after, IFC Films acquired distribution rights to the film.[5] It also screened at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 26, 2010,[6] and the San Francisco International Film Festival at the Castro Theatre on May 6, 2010.[7][8] It was released in a limited release on June 11, 2010.[9]
In its opening weekend, the film made $164,351 while playing at 7 theaters.[10]
On December 14, 2010, A Piece of Work was released on Region 1 DVD and Blu-ray, complete with the theatrical trailer, 10 deleted scenes, and TV spots.[11]
Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work received positive reviews from film critics. It holds a 92% approval rating on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 108 reviews, with a weighted average of 7.65/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Penetrating Rivers' coarse image, this compelling documentary offers an honest, behind-the-scenes look at her career -- and at show business in general."[12] On Metacritic, the film holds a rating of 79 out of 100, based on 34 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[13]
| |
---|---|
Stand-up specials |
|
Films |
|
Television |
|
Related |
|
Family |
|
![]() |
Films directed by Ricki Stern and Anne Sundberg | |
---|---|
|