Hoax or not consider this...

Of course it's all acted. It's so obvious. It's a funny film, and to say nobody cared about his "downfall" is bs. The media couldn't get enough of it, which was one of the points.

On another note, he's a lead in Paul Thomas Anderson's upcoming film, so yeah, I think his acting career is fine.

My girlfriend and I have different opinions about this. I think it was a hoax and she says it was real.

My argument is that JP used to sing as a young child and began acting at a young age. And before this film came out he did another a little film called "Walk the Line" in which he played singer Johnny Cash. JP's voice was used on the soundtrack and it sold fairly well. So lets assume that he knows what a good musical voice is. While rapping he is completely out of breath and not on cue, even in the recordings. You think he all of a sudden forgot what is an acceptable voice for singing or rapping? Not likely. Did you hear his songs that he played for P Diddy? Obviously it was a piss take meant to be laughable.

Someone had said before "NOBODY is that good an actor". Well folks, he was acting. Give the man some credit. He's been doing it for a long time.

as far as I can see there's only one big problem with the whole thing namely that absolutely nobodoy CARED about his stupid publicity stunt (or call it performance art if that makes you feel better). ultimately, it's doubly embarassing. first embarrassment, Phoenix made a sad little movie that nobody wanted to see and nobody wanted to pay any money for. second embarrassment, he took himself out of the Hollywood game and purposefully diminished his marketing value as a movie star. that would have been okay but only if he'd stopped acting for good, because then he'd have made a point by sacrificing something real, by leaving the system he so despises. But he didn't quit, in fact he's now kissing ass and sucking his way back to the top. so yeah, the joke's on entirely him and on him alone. he's dropped his pants and everyone is laughing at his tiny dick. it's like the kid playing hide and seek, only he hides himself so well that his friends eventually give up and just walk away, what should he do? how can he save face? he was either too intelligent or too stupid to play the game...we'll never know and we'll never care.
this whole mockumentary thing was doomed from the star. it could not have worked either way. even if it was hugely successful and made tons of money, then its whole method and message would turn into a dishonest lie. he wanted to prove that you can fart the audience right into the face and they will still pay you for it. turns out that he's not even very good at farting, at least he's not subtle enough to deceive the stupid masses. fact is, today's audiences have become are very good at deciphering different layers of meta and intertextuality. they were born into and shaped by the age of information. they have a highly developed sense for complex codes and structures folding back in on themselves. that's what keeps them interested, that what keeps them engaged with the system. childish, profane criticism of this and that (for example celebrity cult) will be dropped as fast as it gets picked up. this might have worked 25 years ago, today the hoax has to be a lot more sophisticated.
or let's try another angle: since the project relied on Joaquin's former status as a super celibrity maybe he just wasn't as popular as he initially thought (and boom, there goes the vanity trap). it was simply a very ill-advised project and I don't blame him for trying to make it go away as soon as possible.

considering he was just nominated for another oscar for his tremendous performance in 'the Master'...the joke appears to be on you!

yes it is a hoax, he confirms it on Letterman 2010, watch the interview.