I'M STILL HERE (Roger Ebert reviews the Joaquin Phoenix trainwreck documentary)

rogerebert.com ^ | 10 Sep 10 | Roger Ebert

[Drew68]

Just wow. Sounds like Phoenix has regressed to a state of complete psychological meltdown, on his way to becoming the Syd Barrett of the acting world.

[workerbee]

A shame and a waste. He was a very talented actor.

[Grunthor]

“After Phoenix imploded during a famous appearance on Letterman, we see him leaving a limousine in Central Park, crawling up an embankment into some shrubbery, and screaming that he has destroyed his life, his music sucks, he will never be able to act again, and “I’m totally f**cked!”

His “music” had no shot anyway, it was rap. Rap sucks. Never act again? He couldn’t act before and he couldn’t be totally f**ked with a thousand dollar bill at the Bunny Ranch. He’s a teenage drama queen in a grown man’s body and he needs to shut up and grow up, in that order.

[Jolla]

I doubt it is a hoax, those Lala landers that do make a financial success of things are so messed up after a couple of years, too much money, too much time. In this case too bad, Joaquin can act.

[x]

It’s an act. I’d still rather put up with Joaquin or Leaf or whatever he calls himself than Roger.

[Drew68]

He couldn’t act before and he couldn’t be totally f**ked with a thousand dollar bill at the Bunny Ranch.

I don't know. I thought he was brilliant in Gladiator, one of my favorite films. Maybe he played that role too well!

[brytlea]

I think acting IS a mental illness.

[Darkwolf377]

I was astonished by his performance as Johnny Cash in "Walk the Line" (2005).

I was astonished at Ebert's astonishment. He actually wrote that while watching a certain scene, he couldn't tell if we were hearing Phoenix or Cash sing, and bragged that he would know, because he was a big fan for years. In fact, Phoenix was completely miscast and sounded nothing like Cash.

He was so good in other films, including the superb "Reservation Road" (2007),

Unwatchable Crash-level crap.

"Two Lovers" (2008)

Astonishingly good, low-key movie, even more astonishing because the other lead is Gweneth Paltrow, who I haven't liked in anything since Seven.

"Gladiator" (2000), although I was unenthusiastic about the film.

I was just the opposite--I really liked the film, but Phoenix was a joke--gee, I wonder who's gonna win, this little wuss or Russell Crowe, hmmmm....?

[Cyber Liberty]

Local film reviewer gave it 1/2 out of 5 stars. “For God’s sake, save yourselves and don’t waste the time!”

[SERKIT]

Same plot-line when Barry leaves office.....

[dawn53]

This is from 2009, but he was obviously impaired by something back then.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuO75_hJgCQ

[Moonman62]

[Liberty Valance]

[Albion Wilde]

Not a well man.

[dfwgator]

I don’t think anybody in that family played with a full deck.

[RedStateNotShirt]

I’m still not convinced that the whole thing is not a hoax.

[Drew68]

I don’t think anybody in that family played with a full deck.

I think you're right about that.

[Drew68]

I’m still not convinced that the whole thing is not a hoax.

Maybe when his LA home get foreclosed and the guy truly becomes the homeless bum he looks like.

Then again, Andy Kaufmann kept the prank going quite a while.

[dfwgator]

Maybe the prank is still going on with Andy, and we just think he’s dead.

[Krankor]

He was very good in Gladiator and even better in To Die For