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Joaquin Phoenix has never really been known to be a particularly stable celebrity—especially not after the red carpet interview when he asked a reporter if he had a large frog crawling out of his scalp. So when, in late 2008, the critically acclaimed actor announced that he was going to retire from acting and become a hip-hop artist, people didn’t know what to think. Was he serious? Had he completely lost his mind? Or was it all just a grand hoax?
Having seen brother-in-law Casey Affleck’s documentary, I’m Still Here, I still can’t tell you whether it’s real or a hoax. But I sincerely hope that, sometime in the near future, Phoenix will return to Letterman’s couch (preferably well groomed and clean shaven) to announce that it was all just a big joke—because, if it’s not, then I’m Still Here is a real-life tragedy. And, if it’s real, then Casey Affleck is a heartless jerk for making a spectacle of his friend’s behavior instead of stepping in and getting him the help that he so obviously needs.
The film documents Phoenix’s downward spiral, starting in October of 2008, when he announced his retirement on the red carpet. From there, Affleck’s cameras follow along on an increasingly bizarre journey, as Phoenix scores coke in New York, searches for hookers online, and travels around the country in an attempt to convince hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs to produce his first album. In the process, the film also captures his violent outbursts and intense mood swings, his perplexing live performances, his now legendary TV appearances, and his private breakdowns.
Most of the time, Phoenix is babbling, incoherent, and clearly under the influence of some kind of illegal substance. He’s megalomaniacal, narcissistic, and paranoid—and he’s generally either spouting some kind of quasi-philosophical ramblings or he’s in hysterics about the idiots who post YouTube videos. For the first hour or so, the result is a mesmerizing train wreck of a film. It’s filled with such outright insanity that you can’t help but laugh out loud—until you realize that it could be real. Phoenix could actually be abusing his assistants and berating Ben Stiller and trying to put out a hip-hop album. And, if that’s the case, it’s not really funny; it’s just plain sad.
On the other hand, if it’s all just an elaborate hoax, it’s definitely a well-crafted one, with a star who’s fully committed to his role. The film is loaded with gratuitous nudity, drug use, and some other scenes that I don’t even dare to mention—to the point that it feels like it’s trying a bit too hard to be sensational. Yet it still seems strangely authentic.
I’m Still Here is either a cruel joke or a heartbreaking look at the ugly side of stardom. Whatever the case, though, after a while, it’s simply exhausting to watch, and you’ll just want it to end—or you’ll want Phoenix to turn to the camera and say, “Just kidding!” Unfortunately, neither happens, and it gets harder and harder to stomach as the situation spins wildly out of control. Granted, I’m Still Here definitely has its entertaining moments, but, in the end, it’s just a perplexing mess of a mocku/documentary.
Note: When I originally wrote this review, the film was still a mystery. Since then, it’s been revealed to be an elaborate hoax—a daring experiment by Affleck and Phoenix. As such, Phoenix’s performance is truly award-worthy. The film, however, is still a bit of a mess.
