It’s a story not even Hollywood would dare dream up- a talented, award winning, celebrated young movie star quits acting, grows a big beard, starts rapping and appears on television behaving, shall we say, unusually. This was the real story of Joaquin Phoenix, whose move into the ‘rap game’ shocked many, but cause others to believe not all was as it seems. Well, luckily it was all caught on tape and the result is ‘I’m Still Here.’
Starting two years ago, Casey Affleck (the actor’s brother-in-law) follows Phoenix as he announces his retirement from acting. Disillusioned with his craft, he instead tries to pursue a career in hip-hop, constantly courting music mogul Sean Combs (aka P. Diddy). ‘Diddy’ proves elusive, and then quite cautious of the actor, who gradually spirals out of control. Both Affleck and his crew’s presence also leads to rumours that this whole persona may be an elaborate hoax, and this combined with a disastrous publicity tour for his film ‘Two Lovers’ (culminating in the famous David Letterman interview) mean Phoenix’s dream to be taken seriously as a rapper may never come true.
Phoenix, or ‘J.P.’ as he is often referred to in the film, is shown as erratic, hugely insecure, and on the verge (or perhaps in the middle of) a complete breakdown. Convinced his music will fulfil him, he abrasively stumbles around America attempting to get his music heard, but shooting himself in the foot throughout. If we are to believe that this is the real him, it’s a worrying decline- turning on anyone who ever helped him, humoured by his representation, and eventually mocked by the entire world. If (and that’s a big if) this is to be seen as reality, then this is much less a documentary about his music, but about how the actor’s state of mind has eroded. By the final third of the film even Phoenix seems to be aware that this exercise (real or not) may have backfired in the worst kind of way.
Cynical as it may sound, there is a stronger case for the theory that this is a ‘mockumentary’ rather than the real Phoenix. It starts with small doubts (why would he make a film about quitting films?) then the real cracks start to appear. Affleck turns the controversy up to 11, showing Phoenix in all manner of illegal and genuinely shocking scenarios, which only serves to make you think this is contrived. Why, for instance, is his drug taking not focused on, or even viewed in a bad light, particularly given the film is directed by someone close to him? There just isn’t enough that adds up, and so very early on whatever he does is tainted by two questions in your head- is this just all a joke? And if it is, what are they trying to say? For all it’s nakedness and racial stereotyping, at least ‘Borat’ had a vague moral about American attitudes towards anything outside its borders. In that sense it’s more like an episode of ‘Jackass’, just some guy making a fool of himself.
Ultimately you should decide for yourself, but this much is certain- it’s either for real, capturing a troubled mind as it slowly crumbles; or a staged cinematic ‘experiment’. If the former is true, then it’s one of the greatest documentaries ever made and a tragic portrait of a star’s descent. If it’s all for the cameras, which seems the more likely prospect, then not only is Phoenix’s great career over (whether he likes it or not) but you have to ask one more question- what was the point?
I'm Still Here is released on September 17.
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