Joaquin Phoenix's cringe-worthy interview on Letterman last year aimed for the dizzy heights of Andy Kaufman at his peak, but either out of bad execution, a more media savvy era or just plain bad acting from Phoenix - it was too see through and obvious to really compare. I really don't think Phoenix fooled anyone by his self-indulgent 'artist retires in crisis' act, and as soon as we heard his brother-in-law
Casey Affleck was shooting a documentary on Phoenix's transition from acting to music - well the gig was up. As hard as it was to believe that just a few years after winning an Oscar for his painstakingly grafted portrayal of Johnny Cash (including the songs) for '
Walk the Line' that he would give up on acting, it was surely harder to believe that he did so to become an untalented, and bemused rapper. Surely, someone whose track record for method acting and taking his craft so incredibly seriously, would be a stunning musician if that's where he wanted his career to go?
For the past year, Phoenix has kept his head down and has lived up to his promise to stay away from acting. To be honest I think we had all forgotten about him (yes as quickly as that)
until late last week when we heard Affleck's mockumentary was about to film for potential buyers. Despite those in attendance being sworn to secrecy, an audience member has spilled to
The L.A. Times all the details of the screening which contains all the kinds of debauchery we expected. The film is said to include Phoenix 'snorting cocaine, ordering call girls, having oral sex with a publicist, treating his assistants abusively and rapping badly'. There's also 'more male full frontal nudity than a gay porn movie' and even a scene when a rival musician defecates on him whilst he is asleep, a scene described as 'stomach-churning'. Phoenix is said to 'show very little talent for music' (which again as we have seen from his acting, is untrue in reality) and comes off unsympathetically. Cameo's include Phoenix trying to convince
P. Diddy to produce his rap album, and
Ben Stiller offering him a supporting part in '
Greenberg'. Presumably both were in on the act. Titled
Im Still Here: The Lost Year of Joaquin Phoenix - the documentary is said to tread a fine line of real and fake, leaving film buyers unsure of its genuineness, which to me is a huge compliment to Affleck & Phoenix. If they can at least keep the Hollywood industry scratching their heads, it boads well for the elaborate prank/performance art to actually come off when it hits wide. Though I am left wondering... who is dumb enough to still be confused by what Phoenix/Affleck are up to, and can we really trust them as a source for their stupidity?