MovieChat Forums > I'm Still Here (2010) Discussion > Hoax or not consider this...

Hoax or not consider this...

posted 14 years ago by Angel_Fairy
51 replies | jump to latest

I saw the film yesterday night and I heard a lot about single scenes and that it was a hoax and I read many or the review so I thought I was prepared for what I got to see. Stupid me! After 10 minutes watching with my mouth open and not being able to turn my eyes away from the TV, I stopped the film and got a big sip out of the Ouzo bottle in my fridge and thought ‘Hell, there is not alcohol on this planet for sitting through this. Well, I needed a few more sips and I managed to finish it. What stayed was a feeling of shock and deep sadness.

In my opinion, even if I had another one before, this film was not meant to be a hoax from the beginning but got to be one after a special happening and that was when somebody, in the film JP is blaming Anton for this, talked to the media about it. None of the people in this film is such a good actor, some of the people are no actors at all and acted very convincing in their ‘roles’. I’m now pretty sure that it was meant to be maybe some sort of ‘an actors way up to be a rapper’ thing or whatever and then changed into the thing we saw now with faked scene put in later to sell this whole thing as a worthwhile idea. But that are only my 2ct. Besides does anybody notice that it looks like JP never changed his trousers in the whole timeframe? I mean this beige/brown thing hanging down at the back of his knees.

However, hoax or not, what I would like to know is: What mentally sane director/producer/studio will ever work with him again? Considering that almost the whole world has heard about him retiring and about this hoax but never watched the movie (hopefully). Whoever will work with him again must be very brave because who says that JP is not doing something like that again?

Or is he about to release his rap album this summer and this was only for promotion?

What I do not understand at all is: Why, if this was really a hoax, is there no new film in pre-production or announced for him after 2008? And why are his agent and publicist are not responding to any messages regarding his person and/or planned movies or alike? (Heard that from some media people).

I really liked him as an actor especially in ‘We Own The Night’ and ‘Ladder 49’ but now I am not able to enjoy this movies anymore because of this… don’t know what to call it.

[–] DonAndino 14 years ago

The film was a hoax and it was planned to be a hoax from the very beginning. The scenes were scripted, staged, and they even did multiple takes on them. The whole point of this movie is that they used the media to perpetuate this story that JP was retiring from acting to pursue a hip hop career. Even in his return interview with David Letterman in 2010, JP said that he thought people would see the humor in a 35 year old successful actor deciding that he's all of a sudden going to retire to do something ridiculous. And say what you will about him, but props to JP for being able to stay completely in character for all his public appearances for nearly 2 years. JP and Affleck said that they had been watching reality shows and were amazed how people think they are real and not staged. So they decided to do this whole thing as an experiment. In an interview JP said that people will believe anything is real as long as you use the person's real name, so that's what they did. They created an alternate Joaquin Phoenix that made all these media appearances, the media picked it up, and the people ate it all up. It's kind of ironic, all the videos on youtube making fun of JP, and it turned out that's exactly what the filmmakers were wanting.

--------------------------
Welcome to You're "DOOM!"'

[–] jonndough0 14 years ago

@ DonAndino - I totally agree with you, kudos to the whole gang for pulling off this hoax in a day & age when we have the 24/7 social network & media. Imagine the difficulty KISS would have keeping their unpainted faces hidden if they came out now as opposed to the 70s.

cheers,
J

[–] katiewon 11 years ago

Bullsh*t - this is no hoax. He is obviously an emotional wreck and full of himself. He is the perfect Hollywood cliche - talented, successful, full of insecurity and self loathing. Casey Affleck is not so talented and decided to reinvent himself as a Director, just as JP tried (in vain) to reinvent himself as a "rapper." Just very, very sad. But in true Hollywood fashion, they both still get work in movies because they make money for the studios.

That is the reality.

[–] Ithilfaen 11 years ago

lol I like how people who really want this NOT to be a hoax are all shaking their heads at the "sad" turn of events for a celebrity. I guess that's the reason "reality" tv works: people want to make themselves feel better about their *beep* lives by looking down at others and feeling "bad" about (translate: condescending to) them. Bonus points if they are celebrities because they make millions and if you're better than a celebrity, it's awesome, right?

It's obviously a hoax and you all got punked. People who cite all the "others" as evidence this is not a hoax, what makes you think everybody was in on it? It could have just been Phoenix and the crew. Nobody says everyone else is an actor or in on it.

For every lie I unlearn I learn something new - Ani Difranco

[–] flyoverland 11 years ago

I understand your confusion, since the performances were amazingly realistic. But aside from the confessions of the filmmakers that this is a fictional mocks mentally, watch the credits: Anton is played by an actor, as are other characters like Larry, who was also a producer on the film. JP's father is played by Casey Affleck's father, and so on. Also, JP's supposed raps were written by someone else.

[–] flyoverland 11 years ago

I understand your confusion, since the performances were amazingly realistic. But aside from the confessions of the filmmakers that this is a fictional mockumentary, watch the credits: Anton is played by an actor, as are other characters like Larry, who was also a producer on the film. JP's father is played by Casey Affleck's father, and so on. Also, JP's supposed raps were written by someone else.

[–] Gdub33 14 years ago

It was a hoax from the beginning. You're wrong.

[–] backofthevan 14 years ago

I don't believe for a minute that it's a hoax! That's some *beep* they desperately came up with when they realized the film was a bust and people were absolutely disgusted with JP's self-indulgent, delusional whining.

As said before, NOBODY is that good an actor, especially not all the hangers-on who come and go throughout the film and "play" their parts perfectly. That's because they're NOT acting!

There was no mention of "hoax" until the bad reviews came flooding in and it tanked at the box office. What a pathetic piece of garbage this film is! And yes, it's true: people will believe anything, even the spin that this film is a hoax when it so obviously isn't!

[–] irishaspaddyspig 14 years ago

The makers of the film have NEVER called it a hoax.
It's a film, just like any other. It's the process of making it that is unusual.

"a malcontent who knows how to spell"

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] sandy-340 13 years ago

I don't believe it was a hoax either. How can you "fake act" throwing up?

[–] Ambrosia-I 13 years ago

Easily. Actors in films do it all the time. I've lost count of the amount of films and TV programmes I've seen people spewing up in and it always looks revoltingly real.

[–] MissKateRabbit 11 years ago

I believe Casey said that the drugs and sex was all simulated but the vomiting was all Joaquin (commentary I believe). Some people can just make themselves sick.

Lets build a snowman!

[–] Heyas87 12 years ago

'There was no mention of "hoax" until the bad reviews came flooding in and it tanked at the box office. '

Well you're wrong there. The distributors of the film made Casey Affleck come out the day before it was released and admit to the hoax. He admitted this in a Roger Ebert interview.

Say what u want about these 2 guys (Joaquin and Casey) but good on them for doing something different and taking that risk. And at the end of the day, all the debates, arguments and controversy that surrounds this film is exactly what they wanted to achieve with the film, a job well done u could say.

And to all those ppl who thought this would kill Joaquin's career, that he would be the laughing stock of Hollywood, it's
egg on ur face I guess. 2013 Oscar nomination anyone? Just goes to show how brilliant an actor he really is!!!!

[–] drbeckley 14 years ago

I agree, this was a sincere look into Joaquins' life and rapping ability. It's completed, it's 'out there' and Phoenix has been exposed...He is getting no 'new' offers and the buzz is that roles he had previously been offered are going to other actors. Clint Eastwood said it best when responding to the rumor that he was casting Joaquin in Hoover, "Isn't he a rapper, or something??" The horrible financial failure of I'm Still Here sheds TRUE light on how much draw Joaquin has on his own, which is far less than even some childrens' YouTube videos!! Pheonix bared his self, his abilities and his lifestyle to be publically judged, when people judged Joaquin a LOSER, then he says it was a hoax! Joaquin, the jokes on you but at least it is REAL!!

[–] lazur-2 14 years ago

If it were real, every person in the film would be playing themselves. Check the credits, some are not.

[–] PenelopeTree 14 years ago

Did Phoenix and Affleck take this film around to the festivals? Did they do interviews for it? What have they said--Do they want people to be confused?! I sure am?!

Illusion is the first of all pleasures
-Oscar Wilde-

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] Angel_Fairy 14 years ago

And I always thought that he like acting. It can't be that he really suddenly got the idea of stopping acting. Maybe something happened during filming?

[–] irishaspaddyspig 14 years ago

He has a history of going a couple of years and then doing 1-3 films.

He said that he expected ISH to take a few months. As it stretched on, he wanted to quit and Casey had to talk him into seeing it through. He really wanted to be rid of that beard.

"a malcontent who knows how to spell"

[–] aRealCoolGuy 14 years ago

Honestly, I think he was serious about hating acting part.. regardless if it was a hoax or not..

Forget new films; my question is, where's the album??

[–] irishaspaddyspig 14 years ago

He loves acting.
It's the promotion of the films that he hates.

"a malcontent who knows how to spell"

[–] Angel_Fairy 14 years ago

If he really hated acting so much, why did he started acting?

Regarding the new album: he didn't find anybody to produce it.

[–] aRealCoolGuy 14 years ago

haha... a lot of people hate their jobs; why did they start careers??

[–] Angel_Fairy 14 years ago

Sure ;) but I guess this is different. You maybe get to do an office job or a job at wallmart because you have to but you don't become an actor because you have no other choices, right?

[–] roofall 11 years ago

Blah, again I'm responding to an old thread (like I can't see the dates). Acting can be revolting to any intelligent actor, guess that's part of what they were exploring (and that one scene in the movie). Every minute of on-screen time you're being a LIAR. The more convincing liar, the better the actor. Well, in society - liars can't be the pillars - err, of society, or "upstanding citizens", whatever you wanna call it (never mind the politicians, that's why they're garbage; I mean *regular* people) & so, supposedly - Joaquin's "dilemma".

[–] irishaspaddyspig 14 years ago

I've heard his REAL compositions.
They are NOT rap or hip hop.
They're deep and soulful.

"a malcontent who knows how to spell"

[–] Angel_Fairy 14 years ago

Really? Where did you hear it?

[–] irishaspaddyspig 14 years ago

One song, I downloaded. It's called "Cracked".
Julian Shah-Tayler had it on his site. Joaquin wrote it and Antony Langdon performed.
This is Julian's cover on his album "Fill Your Joys With Love".

He deleted it from his site by request of Joaquin and Casey. It conflicted with the image they were trying to portray during filming.

"a malcontent who knows how to spell"

[–] Angel_Fairy 14 years ago

If that is true and JP is such a "brilliant" songwriter/producer than this whole doc makes even less sense.

[–] irishaspaddyspig 14 years ago

It was work of fiction, not a "doc".
It really had nothing to do with music. That was a device.

"a malcontent who knows how to spell"

[–] Angel_Fairy 14 years ago

It had nothing to do with music??? It is about a man trying to break into the Hip Hop/Rap music world.

[–] irishaspaddyspig 14 years ago

Not Really.

"a malcontent who knows how to spell"

[–] tmvgabel 14 years ago

I salute you for doing something I couldn't....sitting through this waste of time,money and patience. I kinda knew it was a hoax since he appeared on Letterman "all wasted-up" what I get from all this is that Mr.Phoenix was hoping people would care about his "downfall" ("we" love to build people up and watching them fall like Lohan or Spears) all te way to the big reveal...yet people stopped caring after a few weeks or so...This whole "hoax" was to make a mockumentary about the self indulgence and the celebcraziness of hollywood which is not to bad of an idea and could raise some intresting points of view...Yet this "movie" in itself has become the pinnacle of self indulgence and I'm glad he gets to pay the price for it, the movie bombed together with his career...

"You are worthress, Arec Barrwin!"

[–] Angel_Fairy 14 years ago

Do you think it has ruined his career to be?

On the one hand I think it hasn't helped his career but on the other hand I can't really believe that they were so stupid. I mean... the shi* on Hollywood and Hollywood doesn't like to be shi* on. Anybody working there knows that.

[–] irishaspaddyspig 14 years ago

Joaquin is cast to star with Phillip Seymour Hoffman in The Master.
There's Oscar buzz and they haven't shot a frame.

"a malcontent who knows how to spell"

[–] rosehoney 14 years ago

Well for some time many people thought his career was over. I was worried too. Personally I am relieved I was wrong re: his career being over. In fact I am ecstatic he is in a film with such a great director , P.T. Anderson and such another fine actor, PSH. I write another since JP is certainly a fine actor too.
BTW An unimportant but hopefully interesting tidbit. The first time it was mentioned Phoenix was being considered for the part of Freddie Sutton was 4/12. That's my birthday. What a terrific birthday present!!! Synchornicity? but I'm afrued I'm too jung to know?
I would think with those credentials Oscar buzz isn't surprising.

As Mr and Mrs Potato Head says "I'm far as I'm concerned you're all just common
tators!!!

[–] toph1980 14 years ago

Well, I just watched I'm Still Here and it stroke me as a hoax, or possibly a documentary gone hoax early on.

Why? While I'm Still Here is supposed to be a documentary shot on-the-spot there are several scenes where you can tell an entire crew is working behind the camera. Reversed POV shots, multiple angle shots, you name it. Also, some of the performances seemed fake, like Diddy being a total douchebag the first time he appears on screen and Anton taking a dump on JP, how convenient of him to turn on the camera and record everything for Casey and JP to put in the documentary and us to see. JP's reaction when Diddy didn't want to produce his album also seem forced etc.

Anyway, I've read there are multiple takes of miscellaneous scenes, an easy way to settle if it was a hoax or not is to make those takes available to the public. DVD anyone?

--
A picture with a smile -- and perhaps, a tear.

[–] irishaspaddyspig 14 years ago

Fennel...I used your, "I'm afreude I'm too jung", line on my husband. He loved it.

He's a "SHRINKOLOGIST" by training.

Thanks for the laugh.

"a malcontent who knows how to spell"

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] metalblaster 14 years ago

The film was a film... its as most people said, j.p and crew used the media and used a very simple concept to pull off the creation of this movie. It wouldn't be very hard to plan and make a scenario that would allow for almost any actor make it fairly believable. J.P is an exceptional actor in almost every thing he has been in, keeping that in mind, I think he basically sells the idea of this film convincingly to the audience. The some of the actors around him obviously knew he wasn't doing it for real and even despite that it pulled it off with out a flaw because of the way they did it.

A example of a scenario used to create such a film would be to take some one with a large sum of money and fame, take away most of their luxuries by intentionally taking budgeting their cash, telling them to no shave or have a hair cut, shower every other day and wear oldish clothing for a year and most importantly have them change their job to something still in the public lime light. As the year goes on each item will incrementally get more strict. The other people in the film will also have to indirectly follow these rules, example, have a man working for the individual (cash flow restricted).

After the initial set up all you would really have to do is have a couple camera guys following him constantly as well as have him act in a very stereotypical or almost insanely maniacal way(the farther they act from the norm in the beginning the less believable it becomes). As the film continues you make sure the person fails by basically sabotaging him self in public.

After a few years or even just one I guarantee the emotions from the individual would be heightened to the point where they would be able to act very similar to the real way they would act in the given situation because they are living a milder version of it. So in a way, yes its real (at least all of the public scenes would have to be "realish"). Just because it feels "real" doesn't make it real.

People change their personality's, perceptions, views etc, all the time and if they do it during a very extremely difficult or even a good part of their life they can identify with these more complex emotions. You take an actor like J.P. and do this to him, You get this film because in reality he did sort of make that journey. He did put his career on the line to do this film/experiment so in that sense it was real, but that doesn't make the film any less fake as a film and it doesn't mean he wasn't acting a persona and that things didnt go as they initially intended them to.

Honestly, I like this film, the reason why so many people take offense to it is because they can't believe that something that extreme could be faked like that, when in reality (even tv and films), people do it all the time. normal people;(yes you as well), everyone hides, under a persona, everyone goes through a personal hell when they are having a difficult time, the fact that this film basically outlines that apparently offends people. There are a lot of people in love with reality television, but when they see the truth about what they have been watching (how most of it is staged) they feel cheated because that is the natural human response to that. All this film does is admit that fact.