‘Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life is Calling’ Set Biopic Bar Sky High

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Richard Pryor’s 1986 film ‘Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life is Calling‘ is a raw, unusual, and captivating drama, crafted by the film’s producer, co-writer, director, and lead actor Richard Pryor, detailing his life events up until that time.

From my perspective as a movie enthusiast, ‘The Richard Pryor Story’ might seem a bit skewed, focusing more on his personal struggles rather than his stand-up routines or film career. Instead, it delves deeply into his self-destructive habits and battles with drug addiction, offering just a glimpse of his silver screen triumphs.

In 1986, when this movie was released, people knew well that Pryor, the renowned stand-up comedian turned film star, had been hospitalized due to severe burns on most of his body, which occurred from freebasing cocaine. Post his rehab, Pryor made a comeback, appearing in concert films, portraying a quasi-villain in “Superman III” (1983), leading several box office hits that turned out to be duds (such as the critically panned but commercially successful “The Toy”), and even attempting a children’s program akin to “Sesame Street,” named “Pryor’s Place” (1984).

If Pryor aimed to win over his old fans and appeal to a fresh, younger demographic, it would have been counterproductive for him to produce a film like “Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life is Calling.

In this movie, Pryor showcases some of the most challenging periods of his personal life, reenacting scenes that were probably as difficult for him to perform as they are uncomfortable for us to witness. Instead of creating a film that might appear self-congratulatory or excessively empathetic, Pryor intentionally takes a different route.

His film admirably never plays like a self-righteous plea for forgiveness.

Pryor steers clear of making apologies or adjusting himself to cater to mainstream tastes. This bold approach certainly makes for compelling viewing. After being out of print for some time, “Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life is Calling” has made a comeback, courtesy of a fantastic new edition from The Criterion Collection.

The character’s name might be Jo Jo Dancer, but it’s Richard Pryor who crafted the story. From what we learned about him through his biography and stand-up performances, Jo Jo was a child brought up in a brothel. Early successes and setbacks in comedy led Dancer to delve into more risqué material on stage, which honed his comedic skills but also ignited his struggle with temptations and substance abuse.

As a devoted cinephile, I’d put it this way: In an unusual narrative twist, the tale unfolds with me, the character Dancer, lying in a hospital bed, swathed in bandages. In this moment, my spirit, or so it seems, departs from my physical form. Here, the role is played by Pryor, a spectral figure devoid of clothes, who offers biting observations (without any hint of self-deprecation or justification) on the unfolding incident.

The recollections unfold sequentially as usual, but Pryor frequently returns to the hospital scene where it seems the burnt Dancer is close to death. Meanwhile, Dancer’s spirit revisits significant moments in his past that had a profound impact on his life.

It’s quite refreshing and surprisingly bold to witness the unique way Pryor portrays these figures, as opposed to the more mainstream, safe, and celebratory approaches seen in recent films about artists like Freddie Mercury, Bob Marley, Elton John, and Tupac Shakur.

Richard Pryor’s film “Jo Jo Dancer” showcases an artist with remarkable talent and a survivor who is deeply grateful, but it doesn’t imply that he’s being lenient or absolving himself or the character from any issues. Instead, it seems like Pryor created this work as a warning, not just for his audience, but also as a personal reminder.

The emotional theme of “Dancer’s Soul” breaking free and reflecting upon its past might have appeared overly sappy or excessively sentimental, but Pryor largely manages to pull it off effectively.

The strength lies in this (thing/piece) because of how outstanding Pryor’s acting is. Instead of faltering during his first directorial attempt, which also included producing, writing, and playing the lead role, it’s astonishing that Pryor was able to manage such a challenging creative balancing act.

Given the challenging aspects of the Jo Jo Dancer role, such as the intense freebase scene, a cabaret act, and a public nudity scene, Richard Pryor’s exceptional and largely dramatic portrayal is particularly impressive, suggesting immense courage he had to summon for the performance.

The movie “Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life is Calling” may not be comprehensive due to its narrow scope in terms of timeframe and duration, and it might prove more challenging than anticipated for viewers. Yet, along with his live performances in “Richard Pryor: Live in Concert” (1979) and “Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip” (1982), as well as his stellar performance in “Blue Collar” (1978), this film is a must-see.

In simpler terms, Robert Townsend’s analysis in the Criterion release offers an engaging take on Pryor’s impact; however, a more comprehensive perspective on Richard Pryor’s life might be provided by his “Harlem Nights” co-star, Eddie Murphy, who I admire greatly (his work in “Hollywood Shuffle” is exceptional).

On the CD, you’ll find an intriguing 1986 conversation between Pryor and Cavett that starts off well but soon derails, recovers to become captivating, then gets awkward before culminating in a thought-provoking dialogue.

Cavett persistently poses penetrating questions while unintentionally undermining himself, and Pryor effortlessly maintains a balance between vulnerability and humor. This conversation with Pryor is one of the most intriguing discussions I’ve ever witnessed.

For quite some time, various news sources have shared updates about the endeavor to create a film based on Pryor’s life. Following his passing in 2005, several actors such as Marlon Wayans and Mike Epps were linked with projects regarding Pryor, but unfortunately, none of these movies came to fruition.

In this era where biographical films in the movie industry have become commonplace and often overly reverent, it’s important to acknowledge that a film about Pryor could span a broad range of topics…and quite possibly fall short when compared to the raw, unfiltered reality depicted in Pryor’s self-portrayed cinematic journey.

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2025-04-18 02:03