As Joaquin Phoenix announced to the world he was retiring from acting to become a hip hop star, rumors about all of it being an elaborate hoax spread like wildfire, and we find those flames being stoked as I'm Still Here debuts at the Venice Film Festival and theaters around the country this weekend. It better be a hoax, because, if it is not, Phoenix needs serious mental and emotional therapy and, possibly, rehab as the audience is given a front row seat to the biggest meltdown in Hollywood history, or the greatest Andy Kaufman-esque stunt since Kaufman and wrestler Jerry Lawler caused a riot on Letterman.
In I'm Still Here, director Casey Affleck, who also is Phoenix's brother-in-law, follows the actor as he leaves behind the movie business out of frustration. According to Phoenix, he wants to create and express himself, rather than interpreting someone else's script or following some other director's orders.
The problem? His music stinks.
Worst of all, Phoenix seems to be in some sort of mental breakdown as we watch him berate staff members, fight with people in the audience at shows, snort what appears to be cocaine on camera and show up in public like a hobo who hasn't shaved since Dawson's Creek went off the air (maybe he is sad he doesn't get to spend each week with Joey anymore?).
The amazing part of I'm Still Here isn't whether or not you believe what is happening. It's not even trying to examine it as some sort of commentary on celebrity. I was amazed that I was so enthralled with the action on screen that I couldn't look away, even though we don't seem to have any sort of formal story to tell or structure to hold it together.
I'm Still Here almost is like a stream of consciousness movie as the cameras follow Phoenix rambling without direction through an entire year of his life. Affleck shows us how he doesn't really have a plan to become a recording artist, but Phoenix's rants and passion are mega-compelling, especially one moment where reality smacks him across the face and his reaction elicits compassion and sadness from the audience for the amount of pain the guy feels, or his brilliant, Oscar-nominated talent fooling us into believing it all.
If it wasn't a documentary, I'm Still Here would be a perfect slacker comedy about a guy who has no clue or sense of responsibility, and the reactions of people like Ben Stiller, Sean P. Diddy Combs and others who encounter Phoenix on this journey are classic.
Are they in on the joke?
Are they just as shocked as we are?
Is this the greatest hoax in Hollywood history?
You have to see it to believe it. Or not.
4 Waffles (Out of 4)
I'm Still Here is not rated by the MPAA, but would be rated R if it was (nudity, language)
The problem? His music stinks.
Worst of all, Phoenix seems to be in some sort of mental breakdown as we watch him berate staff members, fight with people in the audience at shows, snort what appears to be cocaine on camera and show up in public like a hobo who hasn't shaved since Dawson's Creek went off the air (maybe he is sad he doesn't get to spend each week with Joey anymore?).
The amazing part of I'm Still Here isn't whether or not you believe what is happening. It's not even trying to examine it as some sort of commentary on celebrity. I was amazed that I was so enthralled with the action on screen that I couldn't look away, even though we don't seem to have any sort of formal story to tell or structure to hold it together.
I'm Still Here almost is like a stream of consciousness movie as the cameras follow Phoenix rambling without direction through an entire year of his life. Affleck shows us how he doesn't really have a plan to become a recording artist, but Phoenix's rants and passion are mega-compelling, especially one moment where reality smacks him across the face and his reaction elicits compassion and sadness from the audience for the amount of pain the guy feels, or his brilliant, Oscar-nominated talent fooling us into believing it all.
If it wasn't a documentary, I'm Still Here would be a perfect slacker comedy about a guy who has no clue or sense of responsibility, and the reactions of people like Ben Stiller, Sean P. Diddy Combs and others who encounter Phoenix on this journey are classic.
Are they in on the joke?
Are they just as shocked as we are?
Is this the greatest hoax in Hollywood history?
You have to see it to believe it. Or not.
4 Waffles (Out of 4)
I'm Still Here is not rated by the MPAA, but would be rated R if it was (nudity, language)
