Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work (2010)

Celebrities -- and, more specifically, comedians -- are a different breed. They are driven and desperate while being both tough and sensitive. I don’t envy them one little bit.

Although I've been a fan of Rivers for a long time, mostly for her honesty on her short-lived talk show and her willingness to "go there" when interviewing award-show-goers on the red carpet, I discovered during this film that I simply don’t find her stand-up very funny. I think she relies more on shock and ribaldry than cleverness -- but I’m still rooting for her.

This was a fascinating peek behind the curtain at a woman who will never stop working -- and she works hard -- because she'll never stop craving attention and acceptance. It's hard to know whether to admire or pity her.

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