Richard Pryor, one of the most beloved and acclaimed stand-up comedians of all time, was certainly a man recognised for his contributions to film comedy over the years, especially when working alongside Gene Wilder in films like Stir Crazy and See No Evil, Hear No Evil. Pryor only ever directed one film, though – Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life is Calling, released in 1986.
Now lovingly restored by The Criterion Collection, the time seems to have finally come for this film to receive the love that it deserves. Jo Jo Dancer is one of the most audacious biopics ever made, despite Pryor's comments in various interviews that the film was not personal. Any quick research reveals that the film is, in fact, quite closely based upon Pryor's extremely bleak personal life and that the film is the most confrontational, self-loathing work in the history of the art form right next to Bob Fosse's 1979 masterpiece All That Jazz.
The film tells the story of Pryor's life, under the name of Jo Jo Dancer, from the infamous incident when Pryor almost burned himself to death while high on cocaine to his childhood spent growing up in a brothel run by his grandmother. Forever toeing the line between abundantly bleak and subtly warm and humorous, Jo Jo Dancer is a miraculous film. The level of vulnerability from Pryor as writer, director, producer and star is stunning, and it isn't even wasted on a film that has that intimacy but does nothing with it. Instead, Pryor makes a point to investigate how Jo Jo's (and his own) experiences moulded him into the renowned comedian he would go on to become.
Bleak from its beginning, the film is shockingly well made for a debut. While Pryor's strength as a writer was hardly a surprise at this point in his career, his ability as a director is impressive. The cinematography of John A. Alonzo is beautiful, thriving in its use of wide angled lenses and the neon lighting of the bars and nightclubs which Jo Jo performs in, and the editing of Donn Cambern is lively and punchy. Pryor's performance is career best work, maintaining his usual ability as a comic actor but infusing the character with a certain severity and vulnerability that makes his performance much more meaningful. The film also sports a daring score by Herbie Hancock, which helps to elevate the film throughout but makes one montage at the end of the film especially powerful thanks to Hancock's unique style.
When thought of alongside the slew of Hollywood friendly biopics being released today, Jo Jo Dancer stands out clearly as one of the best biopics in America's cinema history. It is a lacerating self-portrait, one full of tenderness and warmth pitted against self-loathing and harsh self-reflection matched with strong formal work and an unforgettable leading performance. As odd as it sounds, Pryor's comedy is absolutely haunting, his insistence on looking down at his own terribly burnt, bandage-covered body tough to stomach.
4K UHD + BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
New 4K digital restoration, with 2.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
One 4K UHD disc of the film presented in Dolby Vision HDR and one Blu-ray with the film and special features
New interview on the film with filmmaker Robert Townsend
Interview with director Richard Pryor from a 1985 episode of The Dick Cavett Show
English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
PLUS: An appreciation by critic Hilton Als
New cover by Matt Small
Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life is Calling releases on Blu-Ray and 4K UHD by the Criterion Collection on January 27th.