”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. Film critics just hated the film last week when it came out, although Casey Affleck, director of “I’m Still Here,” talked. The movie had everything in it staged. Even the appearance on Letterman and also the rap performances Phoenix gave on drugs were staged. Phoenix is bound to do well in her career now. Affleck says “I’m Still Here” was an outstanding performance. Phoenix may just have ruined his career though. Affleck can jump on that bandwagon too.
Calling it the Joaquin Phoenix mockumentary
The New York Times showed an interview with Casey Affleck and Michael Cieply Thursday talking concerning the contrived “I’m Still Here”. The Film was meant to portray what happened to Phoenix after his Academy Award from his acting in “I Walk the Line” as Johnny Cash. Supposedly, he had a breakdown of his spirit, body and mind. Phoenix performed for two years for this. He grew a scraggly beard. Gaining some weight was next. There was an appearance on the David Letterman show in 2009. The host was completely fooled by this. After the critics and public disliked the film so much, Affleck decided it was time to tell the fact. The Letterman Show has invited Phoenix back to talk to. This will be happening September 22.
Media working on getting the fact out
Affleck may just be trying to get more individuals to view “I’m Still Here” by saying Joaquin Phoenix was in a mockumentary. More people may be interested in seeing the film and may be able to determine what was being accomplished as a result of what Affleck said, claims bloggers Jen Chaney and Liz Kelly for the Washington Post. Phoenix and Affleck did show society that any actor, even Academy Award nominee, can self destruct, whether or not the movie does well.
Deception triggers Hollywood backlash
The Filmmaker did not get that good of a response from everyone. The aim is not essential too many. Affleck and Phoenix will feel the backfire from “I’m Still Here” says a Hollywood reporter for the Los Angeles Times, Patrick Goldstein. Show-biz insiders think, based on Goldstein, the film is, “self-important, exercise in foolishness, concocted by two knuckleheads who seemed peeved either because they didn’t 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 give an opinion on what will happen on the Letterman appearance. He said, “Boy, if Letterman was not in on the joke, he is really going to take that poor guy to the cleaners.”
Further 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
