Open Forum Friday: So Is This Joaquin Phoenix Thing Real or Not?
By now, most people have seen the YouTube clips and read the news stories about Joaquin Phoenix supposedly retiring from acting in order to pursue a musical career. The whole thing shifted gears this week with Phoenix doing press junkets and appearing on Letterman in order to promote his new film Two Lovers, co-starring Gwyneth Paltrow. Of course, it was easy to miss the fact that he was actually promoting a movie, because his whole appearance was so bizarre and awkward that it ranks up there with Crispin Glover and Farrah Fawcett’s legendary interviews. But is this for real, or is it just a joke?
Most people seem to think that it is a part of some elaborate Andy Kaufman-esque hoax, and in this day and age of viral marketing and internet tomfoolery, who can blame them? It certainly seemed like Letterman could have been in on the joke this week, and Casey Affleck is reportedly making a documentary on Phoenix’s first foray into hip-hop, which makes it sound like we have another Borat on our hands. But if you ask me, the truth is still fascinatingly unclear. Phoenix is a pretty weird dude who has been in rehab for alcohol abuse before, and it remains to be seen what exactly he has to gain from this charade. It’s certainly not helping his new movie. On the other hand, as time goes on, it seems more and more like it must be an act, because why else wouldn’t someone have stopped him by now? What do you guys think? What is the end goal here? Has Joaquin Phoenix really lost his marbles, or is he just an amazing actor? Give us your thoughts here on Open Forum Friday.
Comments (23)
I think you make a lot of good points for both sides of the argument here. It’s definitely possible that this is all an elaborate scheme, but Joaquin Phoenix has never struck me a big “schemer.” I’m gonna have to say that I think this whole retiring thing is real, but that it will still be short lived. Afterall, Kevin Spacey said he was retiring from acting too… and we all see how long that lasted.
Posted by Ivy on February 13th, 2009either way…it’s hilarious.
Posted by Bob The Slob on February 13th, 2009I’ve always maintained the whole thing was a hoax. The Letterman bit has me doubting that now. Now I’m thinking that Phoenix just needs help for substance abuse.
Posted by Andrew James on February 13th, 2009bump for Parenthood alum …
This is a the climax to a scheme that started when he changed his name from Leaf to Joaquin.
Posted by dirrrtyfrank on February 13th, 2009Personally, I don’t really care. If I did care, I think that it was supposed to be a joke with the “bye! good” scribbling on his knuckles and his Grizzly Adams beard. I think that Joaquin is committed to his “hip hop career.”
I think it’s a hoax for sure.
Joaquin needs help.
Posted by Branden on February 13th, 2009It doesn’t really matter and in Showbiz does it really matter? Paltrow was on Oprah (talking about being fat or something) so I’m sure that’ll sell plenty of tickets to this movie. I just find it agrivating because a documentary about somebody sincerly trying to pursue a creative endeavour is usually more insightful and worthwhile then some pseudo-mockumentary. But people love a good train wreck and if it’s fake or they think it’s faken then they feel less guilty about their bloodlust.
Posted by Ian on February 13th, 2009Two words, one name…. Andy Kaufman.
Posted by Derek on February 13th, 2009I say 50/50. If its a hoax then he’s acting like a drugged out dope for the purpose of a Mocumentary which will not be very popular. Would you act like this considering your brother died of a drug over dose 20 years ago. I have seen him interviewed before and he was never like this. Bottom line it was bizarre indeed, although Crispin Glovers appearence on Letterman was legendary. That DUDE is just weird.
chuck
Posted by entertainmenttodayandbeyond on February 13th, 2009I can’t really decide either way. That’s a good point about the way River died, too.
Extra points for your usage of the word “tomfoolery.”
Posted by Less Lee Moore on February 13th, 2009Watch this movie – This is the place where narcissistic bs like this ends up: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZQhDirf3xw
Posted by kurt on February 13th, 2009I wonder if people had the same discussions when Andy Kaufman was up to his hijinks.
I personally believed all this to be an elaborate hoax when Phoneix showed up to a premiere with “Bye Good” written on his knuckles.
Posted by RJ on February 13th, 2009Kurt, are you aware that Offscreen is a fictionfilm?
Posted by Henrik on February 13th, 2009Don’t care. Didn’t care about Andy Kaufman either. Can’t we have more stories about Reed? The only thing I could stand Joaquin in was “Signs.” Other than that, he could go to work at HMV, and I wouldn’t miss him.
Posted by paulm on February 14th, 2009I wanna go on Letterman and give one word answers, too. I think Letterman is a pr*ck. I would have knocked him down a peg, or nicked one of his notches, or however the saying goes.
Talk show hosts always dread interviews where the interviewee gives short answers. But when a talk show host doesn’t take you seriously or go along with the gag, then he deserves to squirm.
BTW, I’m retiring from acting, too. I’m going to be a teen pop idol. Hippity-Hop is dead.
Posted by Reed Farrington on February 14th, 2009hahaha i think reed has lost his marbles, and its NOT an act..as for phoenix i would definitely by the album and blast it in my chevy suburban in orange county
Posted by fizzle on February 14th, 2009Joaquin likes to take roles as the odd man out, but that works for him as an actor so this interview with Letterman might complement his career
Posted by Joe on February 15th, 2009“Kurt, are you aware that Offscreen is a fictionfilm?” Yes, that is the Joke of the piece. I believe Nicholas Bro and Christopher Boe both intended this sort of comment. They intimated this when I met them briefly in Montreal during a screening of that film.
Posted by kurt on February 15th, 2009Right.
Posted by Henrik on February 15th, 2009Nicholas Bro is a great dude. A huge comic book geek as well.
As for Phoenix, this is very obviously a hoax, as evident with Affleck making the documentary and that Phoenix was struggling to keep a straight face in that Letterman interview. You can also see that when they cut to commercials in the end Phoenix takes of his shades and talks to Letterman, most likely explaining the whole situation, if Letterman wasn’t in on it already.
Posted by swarez on February 15th, 2009And Letterman is not a prick Reed, he’s the best thing in talk show TV.
yes. reed farrington is much more interesting than jaoquin phoenix pretending to be andy kaufman. it’s not funny. the dude has neither lost his marbles nor has he displayed his genius comic and acting prowess. boring.
Posted by Joel on February 16th, 2009This is not so much a hoax as it is Genius marketing to generate interest in this mock-umentary they are doing on this supposed breakdown. You can see Joaquin take off his glasses and whisper something to Letterman who was Andy Kaufman’s co-conspirator in 1980 when Andy pulled thee original stunt. Real or not, either way this is classic and funny! I read a good article about this, here’s the link…
http://brooklyninvegas.com/?p=187
Posted by Jimmy on February 27th, 2009Finally someone else noticed Phoenix stand up SMILING and take off his glasses and talk to lettermen. i can’t wait for this documentary.
Posted by Ryan on April 10th, 2009Phoenix is Clearly Severely Depressed. I don’t believe there is a hoax here. I fear for his life at this point. He only showed up on Letterman to fulfill contractual obligations to promote the movie. He has long had depression; he has talked around it while promoting Gladiator, and especially after Walk The Line, which he found terribly painful.
Posted by Leigh on April 14th, 2009Leave a Reply