Joaquin Phoenix film confirmed as a hoax
September 17th 2010 01:11
Confirming what most people who have seen I'm Still Here had already suspected, filmmaker Casey Affleck has publicly admitted that Joaquin Phoenix's apparent craziness in the 'documentary' has all been a hoax. Affleck, who is Phoenix's brother-in-law, told The New York Times that Joaquin had given "the performance of his life" after more than eighteen months of pretending to have gone off the rails after an ill-fated transition from actor to rapper.
Despite his admission, Affleck claims that he "never intended to trick anybody" and was just trying to create a film that provided audiences with a unique perspective on a supposed celebrity meltdown.
“The idea of a quote, hoax, unquote, never entered my mind," said Affleck. “We wanted to create a space. You believe what’s happening is real.”
Problem is that very few people ever thought that it was real in the first place. Affleck and Phoenix appear to be giving audiences very little credit: it would be fair to say that in a post-Borat world, most film-goers are aware of this mode of trickery and aren't as easily conned as they would have been a decade ago.
Affleck told the paper that the scenes showing Phoenix snorting cocaine and gallivanting with prostitutes were totally fabricated, and, like any other film, required multiple takes to get just right. The biggest challenge, in fact, was convincing Phoenix's agent to play along.
"[To allow me to make people think Phoenix] has lost his mind and make him as unattractive as possible, you would think he would have me killed immediately,” Affleck said.
To read more on this story, check out the New York Times article here.
A 'terrific performance': Joaquin Phoenix
Despite his admission, Affleck claims that he "never intended to trick anybody" and was just trying to create a film that provided audiences with a unique perspective on a supposed celebrity meltdown.
“The idea of a quote, hoax, unquote, never entered my mind," said Affleck. “We wanted to create a space. You believe what’s happening is real.”
Problem is that very few people ever thought that it was real in the first place. Affleck and Phoenix appear to be giving audiences very little credit: it would be fair to say that in a post-Borat world, most film-goers are aware of this mode of trickery and aren't as easily conned as they would have been a decade ago.
Affleck told the paper that the scenes showing Phoenix snorting cocaine and gallivanting with prostitutes were totally fabricated, and, like any other film, required multiple takes to get just right. The biggest challenge, in fact, was convincing Phoenix's agent to play along.
"[To allow me to make people think Phoenix] has lost his mind and make him as unattractive as possible, you would think he would have me killed immediately,” Affleck said.
To read more on this story, check out the New York Times article here.
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Comment by ShaunK
Screen Adventure
I'm sure actors/celebrities get bored alot - at least he's been amusing himself
Let him have his fun
Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
Screen Trek
QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
he fooled me... when he appeared on Letterman, whom he also fooled, and when Phoenix asked whether he could come back with his band, Letterman said "That's not going to happen" or words to that effect.
Phoenix looked very much like someone going through the mental rigours of a drug induced paranoid breakdown!
interesting post journeywoman...
one thing though, this doco will actually show up people's prejudices against the mentally ill!
cheers,
fog