”I’m Still Here” could be a lie. It is really a hoax. The “documentary” about the downward spiral of actor Joaquin Phoenix was an elaborate overall performance. There was so much talk by film critics regarding the film. Really soon, though, director of “I’m Still Here,” Casey Affleck, couldn’t keep it in anymore. The movie had everything in it staged. Even the appearance on Letterman and the rap performances Phoenix gave on drugs were staged. Phoenix is bound to do well in her career now. Affleck states “I’m Still Here” was an outstanding performance. Phoenix and Affleck may have very harmed professions now.
Calling it the Joaquin Phoenix mockumentary
Casey Affleck admitted that “I’m Still Here” was contrived in an interview with Michael Cieply of the New York Times published Thursday. After playing Johnny Cash in “I Walk the Line” and getting an Academy Award for it, Phoenix supposedly had a deterioration of the mind, body and spirit, as shown within the film. Phoenix committed himself to the performance for two years. His beard was the first thing to change. He grew the beard. Next was his body. He gained some weight. There was an appearance on the Letterman show in 2009. The host was completely fooled by this. There was only one reason Affleck decided to tell the Times the fact. It was since the public and critics reacted so harshly. Phoenix will return to Letterman’s show — as Phoenix — on Sept. 22.
Media hyping it up
An option motive may be in Affleck’s mind as he admit that Phoenix was in “I’m Still Here” as a mockumentary. He may just be trying to get more viewers. More people may be interested in seeing the film and may be able to view what was being accomplished as a result of what Affleck said, states bloggers Jen Chaney and Liz Kelly for the Washington Post. They also said that whether or not the movie succeeds, Phoenix and Affleck proved society will believe that even a respected Academy Award nominee can self-destruct painfully in public.
Hollywood ends up hurt by the Deception
There aren’t that numerous people interested within the objectives of the filmmaker. Patrick Goldstein, a Hollywood reporter for the Los Angeles Times, said the “I’m Still Here” ruse will backfire on Affleck and Phoenix. Goldstein shows the opinion of show-biz insiders. They think the movie is “self-important, exercise in foolishness, concocted by two knuckleheads who seemed peeved either because they did not have successful A-list careers or because they thought the industry was too dull and mindless to allow them to take the kind of bold risks that real artists take.” Goldstein had a source say in response to Phoenix’s appearance on Letterman here soon, “Boy, if Letterman wasn’t in on the joke, he is really going to take that poor guy to the cleaners.”
Additional reading
New York Times
nytimes.com/2010/09/17/movies/17affleck.html?_r=2
Washington Post
voices.washingtonpost.com/celebritology/2010/09/joaquin_phoenix_yes_it_was_a_h.html
Los Angeles times
latimesblogs.latimes.com/the_big_picture/2010/09/will-casey-affleck-end-up-in-movie-jail-after-admitting-im-not-here-was-a-hoax.html
