Breaking: Guess they couldn’t stand keeping a “secret” any longer. Casey Affleck has admitted to the New York Times today that the recently released “I’m Still Here” documentary and Joaquin Phoenix’s two-year-long terrorist-look/hip-hop career attempt was all a put on.
“It’s a terrific performance, it’s the performance of his career,” Affleck said of Phoenix’s gonzo-esque, bearded and tattered appearance and drug-addled mien that has garnered headlines for almost 24 months, including a mumbly, incoherent appearance on Late Show With David Letterman in 2008.
“The reviews were so angry,” Affleck said. While some of us — including The Playlist — assumed that (at least) some of the documentary and Phoenix’s mental breakdown depicted therein was the real deal, the director/actor fully admitted virtually every moment of the doc was a fabrication.
Even the opening shot that purports to be Phoenix as a child in Panama was seemingly just actors that Affleck hired. Yet still he curiously says, “I never intended to trick anybody. The idea of a quote, hoax, unquote, never entered my mind.” And yet, apparently Letterman wasn’t in on the joke and we imagine he’s not going to be too pleased when Phoenix is back on the show next week to ostensibly bare his soul and/or confess to it all himself. We’re sure his publicist’s phone is ringing off the hook right now.
We were personally had. We didn’t think Phoenix would be the type, but we’re not angry and agree, it’s a brilliant stunt to partake in for 24 months. That’s immersion into character, goddammit. “I’m Still Here” opened in New York last week and will begin expanding into further markets this Friday. The film was also part of the currently ongoing Toronto International Film Festival. Why would anyone, including ourselves, buy this act at all you ask? Well, parts of it did seem too outlandish to be fake. “There were multiple takes, these are performances,” Affleck said, noting that convincing Phoenix’s agent was tough. “You would think he would have me killed immediately.”
It is a brilliant stunt to be sure, but oof, there won’t be a lot of goodwill from paying audiences for either of these two for some time. But, in a way, it’s good to know Phoenix is back. He is still kooky (who would actually commit to this kind of thing??), no doubt, but the man can act, perhaps best evinced in the outrageous, “I’m Still Here,” which had many of us fooled. Nothing to see here, please disperse.
"has garnered headlines for almost 24 months"
Really? I think most people saw through this and forgot about it a long long time ago.
but maybe that interview is fake, part of a meta performance art piece, shit, maybe your report is fake…maybe this comment is fake…who fucking cares. t
*I'm Still Here
It's called "I'm Still Here".
Utter shock. Never even considered that. Especially after his Letterman appearance last year. Two geniuses among us in Hollywood. Utter shock.
it was all an act???
no fucking shit
it was a riff on the title, you choads. make sense considering what letterman said to him on his appearance.
The Playlist: We Think You're Choads
I think it being fake is, as Affleck says, quite clear when you see the film and the credits. I think it works better as fiction, too. It's wildly unfocused in regards to it's message on celebrity, but fuck if it's not compelling or horrifying and funny and weird. I say bravo. But what do I know, I'm a choad.
Funny title, but if any blog would be sharp enough to call them out on this a long time ago, I'd think it'd be the one and only Playlist. Affleck/Phoenix get a big F for trying too hard to be culturally relevant.
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"'I never intended to trick anybody,' says Affleck, who had more than bad reviews to worry about when the film came out. 'The idea of a quote, hoax, unquote, never entered my mind.'
That's cool. A trip to the theater hadn't really entered our minds, either."
i've noticed a lot of the people who comment on this blog don't think any film you write about or any article you write is good enough for their culture.
i'm thinking maybe a lot of people who comment on this blog should go fuck themselves.
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ boring.
I don't understand why he'd let the cat out of the bag prior to the film's release, if at all. Seems like you would want to build up some intrigue with audiences. I suspect that casual filmgoers will shun it once the hear that it's 'fake'.
Oh Playlist, what a douche move. You initially called it "I'm Not Here" all throughout the post and you know it. Now you've edited the post and you're calling out those who commented on the the mistake? How lame.
While I was indeed duped (I thought at least parts of it had to be real) knowing that it's not made it so much more interesting.
To tell this story, and try to make it as real possible (the goal of 90% of filmmakers) they went so far as to create a character that exists not only within the context of the project, but also our 'reality' which I think is really exciting. Sure, they messed with us a little, but the story was so much more interesting because of that. It's easy to dismiss it as a "hoax", but I think the art and thought process that went into the concept is fascinating, and really harkens back to playful spirit of movements like the Nouvelle Vague.