Maybe it should come as no surprise that documentary films about comedians are rarely barrels of laughs. This is usually because the comics themselves have lived lives riddled with tragedy.
Even if Joan Rivers' life has been far from tragic, she comes on like it has. She firmly believes that critics and networks, particularly NBC, have it in for her.
That doesn't mean this movie was miserable or dull; far from it.
I can't say I've ever been a huge fan of hers, but she certainly stands out as unique, at least for her generation, and the movie is funny, shocking, sad and absorbing.
If you've seen the trailer, you've already heard most of the film's gags. The bulk of the movie has us listening to her talk with her staff: agent, manager, 2 assistants, 2 housekeepers, daughter Melissa and grandson Cooper. We watch as a woman addicted to work presses for any gig, in any town, at any time of night or day.
She's not poor by any means, so it's not financial survival that drives her, but the almost pathological desire to stay in the public eye, to prolong her career for at least another 20 years past her current 75.
She's not poor by any means, so it's not financial survival that drives her, but the almost pathological desire to stay in the public eye, to prolong her career for at least another 20 years past her current 75.
You come away from the film not necessarily liking her, but at least appreciating what makes her tick, and admiring her for that.
PS: Amo - who saw the film with us last night - spotted this follow-up to the angst that surrounds Rivers. Joan's former manager, a close friend for 30 years, whom she variously lavished praise on, and then dissed, has now sued her. Here's the story.
Billy Sammeth says he was defamed in Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work. Joan Rivers' former manager has sued her for $2m, saying she defamed him in a documentary and that she owes him money. Sammeth says that in the film she says he had "disappeared" when she had in fact sacked him. He also submitted a list of Rivers' work for which he says he is owed 10%. Sammeth says her career was "dormant" when he became her personal manager in 2002. He said that the star had been performing about 12 shows a year, but that when he was fired last year that stood at 40. He also said he had helped Rivers to victory in US reality show Celebrity Apprentice last year. He said he had paid $18,000 at a charity auction that was part of a task in the program, and that his payment helped her ultimately win the show. He says commission and other money owed to him amounts to $200,000, while he is seeking a further $2m in damages.
Rivers' response: "This is the claim of a former personal manager who was properly terminated over one year ago. Billy Sammeth is now making claims for money to which he is not entitled and I am confident that the judicial system will dispose of his lawsuit in the appropriate manner".
PS: Amo - who saw the film with us last night - spotted this follow-up to the angst that surrounds Rivers. Joan's former manager, a close friend for 30 years, whom she variously lavished praise on, and then dissed, has now sued her. Here's the story.
Billy Sammeth says he was defamed in Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work. Joan Rivers' former manager has sued her for $2m, saying she defamed him in a documentary and that she owes him money. Sammeth says that in the film she says he had "disappeared" when she had in fact sacked him. He also submitted a list of Rivers' work for which he says he is owed 10%. Sammeth says her career was "dormant" when he became her personal manager in 2002. He said that the star had been performing about 12 shows a year, but that when he was fired last year that stood at 40. He also said he had helped Rivers to victory in US reality show Celebrity Apprentice last year. He said he had paid $18,000 at a charity auction that was part of a task in the program, and that his payment helped her ultimately win the show. He says commission and other money owed to him amounts to $200,000, while he is seeking a further $2m in damages.
Rivers' response: "This is the claim of a former personal manager who was properly terminated over one year ago. Billy Sammeth is now making claims for money to which he is not entitled and I am confident that the judicial system will dispose of his lawsuit in the appropriate manner".
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