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Title: I'm Still Here
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| CONSUMER ADVICE |
Parents, the only reason this is not rated is because the film makers didn't want an NC-17. I'd list off all the bad things in this but I lost track. Recommended for ages 17 and up. |
Last year when Joaquin Phoenix was on the David Letterman Show he had a big beard, mumbled his words, and seemed incoherent. Watching it was truly funny. When he said he was going to retire from acting to become a rapper I thought he was nuts. I thought it was a joke. As time went on I wasn’t so sure anymore. Now we have the documentary “I’m Still Here,” which was directed by Phoenix’s brother-in-law Casey Affleck. After watching the movie I’m still not sure if this is all a joke or not. What I can say is that if this IS a joke it’s not a very funny! I’ll give you it’s kind of clever, but it’s not funny. I’m not going to pretend that I knew much about Phoenix’s life before he retired from acting. All I knew is that he was a good actor even in lesser films (A.K.A.: “Gladiator”).
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Because of this I can’t honestly claim if the Phoenix in this film is any different from the Phoenix he was while he was acting. From what I can see though this is a shining (I guess) example of how egotistical and self-righteous a man can be. Everyone in this movie knows that Phoenix wanting to have a rapping career is a big mistake. I’m no fan of rap but I can tell you right now that his music is utter nonsense. There is nothing redeeming about it. Then again, there seems to be nothing redeeming about Phoenix. See, the reason I question whether or not this is all an act is because we see Phoenix do things that are downright antisocial. He has a couple of friends named Larry and Antoine. I don’t know what they do for him, but he treats them like agents.
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Actually, I think he treats his real agents better. He snorts cocain on screen. He invites prostitutes over so they can make fun of Antoine’s limp penis. He beats one of his friends. When Ben Stiller comes over to personally ask him to be in a film he’s passionate about Phoenix has the courtesy to meet with him, but he makes fun of Stiller’s choice in movies and calls it stupid. The irony in this scene is that the project Stiller is passionate about is “Greenberg,” which IS a good movie and something that probably was worth fighting for (Stiller would have the last laugh at the Academy Awards)! More so then a rap career that wouldn’t make him much money anyway. The more he puts into his music career the more money he loses. He is surprised when he gets kicked out of his expensive home after he stops paying bills.
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He wants Sean “Diddy” Combs to produce the album. Diddy meets with him a couple times and listens to the music, but feels his time is not worth spending on Phoenix. I never liked the guy much, but in this film Diddy actually strikes me as a smart businessman who knows what he’s doing. Maybe the persona he portrays on stage is also an act? Never mind. Rounding all this out is Phoenix swearing up a storm. I’ve never heard such free use of the ‘f word’ in a movie in all my life and I’ve seen “South Park: Bigger, Longer, & Uncut.” Watching this movie is like watching a man fall apart in front of us. I thought my depression could be bad, but I’m starting to feel better about myself after watching this. And yet...there’s a part of me that questions how authentic this is.
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It looks believable. Very believable. It even feels real. But why film it? Why openly let the world see you this way? If it’s an act then I guess that’s part of the joke. Not to mention why would director Casey Affleck - who is married to Phoenix’s sister Summer - even release this in the first place? If this is an act then Phoenix is indeed a very good actor. A fearless one to boot. But what if this isn’t an act? What if this is real? Well then someone needs to stop him and pull him out of the hole he’s digging for himself. Because at this rate he’ll wind up with the same fate as his brother River. Whether it’s real or fake though this movie is also reprehensible and there’s little to like about it. Phoenix comes off so unlikable and unsympathetic that you stop caring early on. And even looking at this as an elaborate joke...it’s still not funny.
Note: “I’m Still Here” is being released in theaters unrated. Chances are this is because the studio’s knew that if they submitted this to the MPAA they would get an NC-17 before the halfway point. I bring this up because I was taken completely off guard with how filthy this movie was. I know content isn’t on everyone’s mind, but in this case I think this warning is more then justified.
Update: Since writing this review the MPAA officially gave this an R rating for " sexual material, graphic nudity, pervasive language, some drug use and crude content." I want to officially take this moment to say publically that I'm more convinced then ever the MPAA is not seriously going to use the NC-17 rating anymore for anything other then graphic sex.
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