'I'M STILL HERE': Four and a Half Stars (Out of Five)

(This review may contain spoilers)

My feelings and opinions on this film have jumped around quite a bit in the week since I initially saw it, which they often do (which is why I tend to wait at least a little while before writing a review) but not quite to the extent of this film. Upon first viewing I hadn't read up on the film at all and only knew the core information I read about it when it was initially being released in theaters. So I wasn't sure how much of it was a true documentary and how much of it was in fact a staged 'mockumentary'. So my initial reaction and outlook of the film has changed quite a bit after reading up on all the info I could find about it on IMDb and other internet resources.

For those that don't know the movie is a 'documentary' on actor Joaquin Phoenix set and filmed during the time (2008, 2009) he announced to the world he was quitting acting and deciding to take up a hip hop career. It's directed by Phoenix's brother-in-law (and best friend) Casey Affleck and co-written by the two. Most of the movie is a film crew following Joaquin, Casey and Joaquin's entourage around as Joaquin appears to drift further and further into depression, self loathing and drugged out insanity. We watch as he tries to set up a rap record deal with Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs and makes several other failed and pathetic attempts at a rapping career. As the film goes on he becomes more and more a joke to the public and succumbs to apparent madness.

Upon first viewing I found the film oddly humorous and somewhat painful to watch at times. I couldn't decide whether what I was watching was real or all staged, or maybe something in between. My initial reaction was to give the movie a 3 or a 3.5 rating (still unsure of how much of it was reality and how much of it was an intentional joke). Then after doing a great deal of reading up on the film online I of course found out that the entire film was staged and this was actually announced to the press by Affleck shortly before it was released. If you read reviews on the film though, many critics were as unaware of this as I was upon first viewing and rated the movie under the same guessing game qualifications I originally did (Roger Ebert believed it all to be real in his review and said he'd be 'pissed' if it was in fact a hoax). Phoenix has been quoted as saying he came up with the idea for the film after learning many believe reality TV to be 'unscripted'. He and Casey intended to use their film as an analysis of celebrity and the relationship between the media, the public and celebrities themselves.

After learning that the film was completely an elaborate hoax I've had plenty of time to soak it all in and re-digest it and I've decided it's one of the most humorous and original films I've seen all year. I can't wait to see it again (especially with the commentary track where Phoenix and Affleck clue the viewer in on a lot of the behind the scene details, I've read). I'm glad I didn't know what I now know upon first viewing though and was able to consume it that way as well. It is one of the best movies of the year and Phoenix's performance is probably one of the best and most interestingly inspired acting jobs as well. To present himself as such an out of control ass was a pretty bold move for a celebrity. The film has been compared to other prank documentary films like the 'JACKASS' movies and 'BORAT' but this film definitely takes things a step further. For that it deserves a lot of credit and despite it's criticizers it is undeniably brilliant. This is a film that will long be remembered, looked back on and imitated. Truly great in the long run.

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Just two years after receiving an Oscar nomination for his powerhouse performance as Johnny Cash in 'Walk the Line,' actor Joaquin Phoenix shocked show business by announcing his retirement from acting to pursue a career as a hip hop musician. 'I'm Still Here,' directed by Phoenix's brother-in-law and fellow actor Casey Affleck, tells the story of the star's life change. Supposedly.

After Joaquin Phoenix's apparent mental breakdown which came in the form of a legendary David Letterman appearance and a beard to rival that of Zack Galifianakis, many people in & out of the film industry fought to uncover the validity of Joaquin's retirement. Shortly after the release of the 'I'm Still Here,' questions were answered when Phoenix & Affleck admitted their worldwide prank saying that, from the beginning, it was all a hoax. If this admission is true, this film will become one of the most believable & ridiculous hoaxes in a long, long time.

Regardless of whether 'I'm Still Here' is actually a hoax (or if the hoax is a hoax, attempting to cover up the breakdown of Phoenix),it is still quite an entertaining film. However, due to the seemingly obscene subject matter throughout the film, it's hard to truly believe that any famous person would allow it to be shown publicly, risking a hugely negative backlash. We see Joaquin snorting coke (off hookers' breasts at one point),spanking naked men with towels, ordering female escorts, and other low-grade behaviour. If all of this actually DID happen without elaborate staging, then I send full respect to Mr. Phoenix for having the courage to allow it to be shown on screen like this.

One issue that the film does have comes from the overall style. While the story, content, etc., are all exceedingly engaging, the actual visuals of the film were almost unbearable. In a low-budget documentary like, say, the recent 'Catfish,' amateurish cinematography & direction are almost expected. However, when a documentary is being produced by two successful actors and is directed by someone who has been working on film sets for twenty years, this bottom-level style just does not work when the validity of the film's content are already in question.

Overall, however, the film does work well as a whole. Joaquin Phoenix, whether he's playing himself or the insane version of himself, is impossible to not watch, even with his constant arrogant and selfish behaviour throughout. If you watch along believing it just might be real, it will be an emotional roller coaster ride. Even if it is all a hoax, though, it's still one hell of a crazy ride.

Final Verdict: 7.5/10.

-AP3-

In one way, "I'm Still Here" is an amazing film. After all, Joaquin Phoenix and director Casey Afleck really pulled off a huge hoax here...one that took years in the making. Just after Phoenix received the Oscar, he publicly announced on various television shows that he's walking away from acting....all to set the stage for this mockumentary. This is very reminiscent of the things Andy Kaufman did late in life...when he became a pro wrestler who only wrestled women as well as his abrasive alter ego (Tony Clifton)....which seemed less like acting and more like performance art.

However, this mockumentary is not like most others I've seen in that it is VERY rough and looks like a home movie filmed on iPhones or a home video camera. It lacks any sort of polish or editing and is really tough to watch because of this. In other words, to make this joke of a film, they seemed to try very hard to make it unwatchable or at least very tough to watch in order to make it look as if Phoenix REALLY was trying to become a rap star and had given up Hollywood and had lost his mind. All the cursing, coarse language and gratuitous frontal nudity seemed to heighten this effect.

To me, this is a film whose concept is much better than its execution. Watching it is tough, as the movie is really and long and rough....with many portions looking more like stuff that normally would fall on the cutting room floor. A big joke...but one that really isn't very funny after a while....just tedious. It was made worse because the character Phoenix played (an odd version of himself) was really, really annoying....and after a while, I just found myself giving up on the movie. In hindsight, this would have made an excellent short film...but 108 minutes of it felt like an endurance contest.

I only gave this a 3 because the idea of the film was great. But watching it is horrid...and I cannot imagine anyone enjoying it or saying they'd be willing to watch it twice!