The Corner Penthouse

The Criterion Collection is set to release the Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling (1986) 4K UHD on January 14, 2025. Let's take a look at it...

[ SYNOPSIS ]

Richard Pryor gets raw and real in this brutally funny and lacerating self-portrait. Following the notorious incident in which he caught on fire while high on cocaine, nearly losing his life, Pryor exorcised his inner demons by writing, producing, directing, and starring in this dizzying hall-of-mirrors biopic and backstage drama, which traces young comedian Jo Jo Dancer's rise to fame, from his childhood growing up in a brothel to the colorful experiences that shaped his edgy comic voice to the addiction struggles that brought him to the brink of death.

[ SPECIFICATIONS ]

The movie is presented in a 2.39:1 aspect ratio with a runtime of 1:37:28. The movie has been rated R. Audio languages include English. Subtitle languages English SDH.

[ SPECIAL FEATURES ]

All of the content listed below can be found on the Blu-ray disc. The 4K UHD disc only contains the movie.

• Robert Townsend on Richard Pryor (17:45) - In this interview, produced by the Criterion Collection in 2024, comedian and filmmaker Robert Townsend discusses Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling and how actor-director Richard Pryor influenced his life and career.
• The Dick Cavett Show (47:32) - Richard Pryor sat down for this interview with Dick Cavett on October 14, 1985 - after wrapping production on Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling but before its release - to discuss his career and his experiences as a director.

[ ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ]

Included inside the thick Digipack case is a fold-out booklet containing the essay "Songs of Innocence and Experience" by critic Hilton Als (along with credits and transfer information).

[ NOTES ]

Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling (1986) is available on 4K UHD + Blu-ray and individual Blu-ray. Quite an enjoyable semi-biographical film that would pair well with the recently released Richard Pryor Live on the Sunset Strip (1982) 4K UHD (reviewed here).

This item has been provided by the Criterion Collection for review on this site.