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AFFLECK PULLS BACK THE CURTAIN ON I'M STILL HERE

post #1 of 43
9/16/10 at 8:30pm
Thread Starter 
Let the dogpile begin.


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post #2 of 43
9/16/10 at 8:35pm
Called it. But I still want to see the movie, now even more so.
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post #3 of 43
9/16/10 at 8:38pm
I don't get the "he wasted 2 years" angle some other critics are throwing. Perhaps he was bored with acting' or the material he was given and took a weird way to go away for a little.

BTW, EW called it last year, Billy.
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post #4 of 43
9/16/10 at 8:45pm
Yeah, I don't see this as a waste. Pretty damn impressive performance actually, even if it was obviously fake to some people. There's probably truth to him being sick of acting or Hollywood or whatever so in that sense there's also a core of reality to it even if the film and interviews and stuff were staged and he was playing a character. And I don't want to cast too wide a net but you have to wonder if some people saying that are just pissed that they were fooled, which is also a compliment to the performance.
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post #5 of 43
9/16/10 at 8:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Feral Akodon View Post
I don't get the "he wasted 2 years" angle some other critics are throwing. Perhaps he was bored with acting' or the material he was given and took a weird way to go away for a little.

BTW, EW called it last year, Billy.
To be honest I think most everybody called it around that time.
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post #6 of 43
9/16/10 at 8:55pm
Yeah, was there really a race to be the first to call the obvious?
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post #7 of 43
9/16/10 at 9:00pm
Everyone "called it." Virtually no one did so without some kind of caveat or ass-covering for the possibility of it being real.
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post #8 of 43
9/16/10 at 9:19pm
As far as I go, it doesn't detract from the film at all. I'm not upset, I'm intrigued. As far as it being a waste for Phoenix, how is this type of project different than Daniel Day Lewis going full method and never letting go of his rifle? Learning to skin elk?
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post #9 of 43
9/16/10 at 9:59pm
If anything, Afflecks admission actually makes me curious to check it out now, when I wasn't so interested before.
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post #10 of 43
9/16/10 at 10:08pm
The anger in the comments is hysterical. It's like they had something invested in the project. Can't wait to see this.
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post #11 of 43
9/16/10 at 10:10pm
It's also fitting that Letterman is involved, since he hosted those Andy Kaufman moments.
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post #12 of 43
9/16/10 at 10:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tony the V View Post
It's also fitting that Letterman is involved, since he hosted those Andy Kaufman moments.
"Affleck insists Letterman wasn’t in on"
I watched again the interview. It's even more awesome now. Joaquin's little smiles add a little heart to all this stuff.
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post #13 of 43
9/16/10 at 10:29pm
EDIT: Feral got it.
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post #14 of 43
9/16/10 at 10:39pm
I'm really glad it has been confirmed. I'm not sure I was going to go see a documentary of someone's breakdown. Pretty sure I will see it now, knowing that probably no hookers were hurt during the making of this film.
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post #15 of 43
9/16/10 at 10:40pm
I'm wondering why he even admitted it was put on, especially now.
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post #16 of 43
9/16/10 at 10:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nexus-7 View Post
I'm wondering why he even admitted it was put on, especially now.
Because:

Quote:
Originally Posted by The Rain Dog View Post
If anything, Afflecks admission actually makes me curious to check it out now, when I wasn't so interested before.
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post #17 of 43
9/16/10 at 10:54pm
But they could have fueled the mystery for years. At least months, or weeks. Until people saw it.
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post #18 of 43
9/16/10 at 10:57pm
The writing was probably on the wall that no one was going to see it. Look at this thread. Now people want to see it.
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post #19 of 43
9/16/10 at 11:01pm
I'm not shocked at all, and I still have no desire to see it.
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post #20 of 43
9/16/10 at 11:11pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by E.T.C. View Post
I'm not shocked at all, and I still have no desire to see it.
Plenty of desire to keep letting us know how little you care though.
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post #21 of 43
9/16/10 at 11:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Phil View Post
The writing was probably on the wall that no one was going to see it. Look at this thread. Now people want to see it.
If anything, I'm less likely to see it. But then again this hasn't been a project I've been in a big rush to see anyway.

My guess is that it being real would be bad for Phoenix's acting career.
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post #22 of 43
9/16/10 at 11:29pm
Although it's not quite on that level of depravity, this is sort of like if Glenn Beck came out and said he's been bullshitting us all along. Not all that surprising, but even so... isn't that admission by itself pretty damn crazy?
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post #23 of 43
9/16/10 at 11:32pm
From deadline (the Borat article made me check the recent items)

Quote:
More interesting: the Times unearths an interview done that Late Show with David Letterman writer Bill Scheft in Nuvo.com, where he admits that the fix was in on Letterman's famed interview of Phoenix--with Letterman in on the ruse. "That was all an act...Think Andy Kaufman without shaving," Scheft said. "That’s what he was doing. And Dave knew about it and Dave loved it because he could play along. He could do whatever he wanted with it. And he did, and it was great television. But I will take credit for the line, 'I think I owe Farrah Fawcett an apology.' That line was mine. I gave that to him during the break. Dave loves that. He had a ball. He likes anything that’s good television, and he knew that’s good television. I’ve told people that (everyone was in on the joke), and not only don’t people believe me, they tell me that I’m wrong and that (Phoenix) is a schizophrenic and he needs help and he’s going to end up like his brother. I said no. I saw the segment notes. It’s an act. I saw Ben Affleck’s brother taping the whole thing from offstage."
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post #24 of 43
9/17/10 at 2:40am
It's a bummer that Affleck didn't have the stones to hold out longer. I was convinced from the first moment I heard of it (and even more convinced after the Letterman appearance) that it was a stunt but I it was more interesting to me when it wasn't confirmed. As with Exit Through The Gift Shop there was going to be fun in wondering if it was a performance, but moreso in seeing if there was truth in the tale regardless of the veracity of it.
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post #25 of 43
9/17/10 at 4:11am
Least surprising thing that happened since I saw the sun rise today. Also completely not worthy of anger.
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post #26 of 43
9/17/10 at 4:44am
I don't think it was Casey that didn't want to hold out longer. This is poison for Joaquin.

I think this whole stunt was a huge mistake. I don't know anyone that thought it was funny or entertaining and for Phoenix to put off working until this films release will be thought of in hindsight as blunder.

I am curious to see it but I think this will be bad for Joaquin especially.
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post #27 of 43
9/17/10 at 5:50am
I don't understand how this will be bad for Phoenix's career.
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post #28 of 43
9/17/10 at 6:12am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Andrew Merriweather View Post
I don't understand how this will be bad for Phoenix's career.
In the way that the general public always hates being fucked with or made to feel like the butt of the joke. Also, I doubt this 'it was all a stunt' angle will get nearly as much play as his initial Letterman appearance. Unless they figure a real good way to spin this, I can't imagine it not hurting his career.

The most interesting thing about this to me is the way the project must have changed when virtually everyone figured out it was a stunt, early on. They can't have predicted that.
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post #29 of 43
9/17/10 at 6:20am
But Phoenix was never a movie headliner. Worst case scenario he goes back to doing his usual mix of interesting character parts and middling James Gray movies. Best case scenario, some directors/producers realise what an astonishingly ballsy performance this was and take a chance on him. Plus, he's never going to be a darling of the general public. And even if he was they're more likely to tut over this and forget about it in six months' time.
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post #30 of 43
9/17/10 at 6:53am
The best actors find a way to keep those character parts going. I don't think Affleck or Joaquin understood how big this was gonna get or how the general public was gonna swallow it let alone Hollywood.

It was a gamble and maybe a commendable or ballsy one but the ripples are already in effect. I think who Joaquin is (stay with me) a young white actor saying he was gonna rap and looking like a hobo playing some sort of Borat schtick just wasn't appealing to most audiences.

Sure I might watch this as well as other more daring and intelligent viewers and we might all laugh and enjoy it but like I said before this could be an epic blunder and i'd say it already is by letting the cat out of the bag this early.

Not to mention Joaquin going back on Letterman and saying its all a joke.

Also its interesting looking at his filmography so far he has rarely had anything really stick with him as a success. Gladiator and Walk The Line being exceptions as well as Signs.

It will be interesting to see how his career plays out from here.
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post #31 of 43
9/17/10 at 7:45am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Andrew Merriweather View Post
I don't understand how this will be bad for Phoenix's career.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Andrew Merriweather View Post
Worst case scenario he goes back to doing his usual mix of interesting character parts and middling James Gray movies.
Kinda burned that bridge at the very least, no?
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post #32 of 43
9/17/10 at 7:54am
Maybe if Joaquin saw himself as a walking brand rather than an artist/actor then sure, he may be worried about how he's hurt his own self marketing opportunities.

Obviously he doesn't see it that way and even tho I'm not the hugest fan of the guys work personally, I certainly respect him a lot more after this frankly.

Seriously fucking with your own celebrity persona and making comment on that in such a dedicated way takes balls in modern Hollywood, I don't care what anyone says
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post #33 of 43
9/17/10 at 8:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Phil View Post
Kinda burned that bridge at the very least, no?
Having just Googled Phoenix and Gray I now realise that yes, he will have to find another okayish filmmaker to forge a bond with. Still, I don't see this affecting him. Marvel were after him for Bruce Banner, and that was when the world still kinda thought he was insane.

Having said that, from Gray talking to the Times:

Quote:
In the meantime, after everything that’s happened with Two Lovers, if the whole Joaquin Phoenix circus is revealed to be a hoax, how will he feel? “If it is shown to be a hoax, then that’s great, because Joaquin will come back to acting. And he is something special. But if it isn’t, ye know, I think he needs, well, help."
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post #34 of 43
9/17/10 at 9:38am
But I can't wait for the South Park episode.
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post #35 of 43
9/17/10 at 9:48am
I think more people are angry that their over-the-Internet armchair psychiatry about his mental state being proved to be completely and utterly wrong. If there's one thing today's gossip and paparazzi fueled internet stalkers hate more, it's being made a fool of.

I always leaned towards this being a hoax, and think it's all the more awesome for it being one.
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post #36 of 43
9/17/10 at 10:06am
Definitely a film for the computer age. It seems the boys got stoned and took the meta idea as far as they could go. I think this forum shows it's possible that they tried to make a meta-meta film. The joke is on us.
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post #37 of 43
9/17/10 at 10:12am
I'm more interested now than I was when it might have been a hoax. Watching the Letterman appearance again, armed with the aforementioned knowledge of who was involved, raises this to a higher level for me.
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post #38 of 43
9/17/10 at 10:21am
It was a hoax without a writer, though. They seemed to be making it up as they went along so it always felt "off." And whether you think it was okay to do because Two Lovers wasnt good or whatever, he torpedoed another movie's publicity to set the stage for this thing. Gray is a more forgiving cat than a lot of folks.
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post #39 of 43
9/17/10 at 10:31am
Oh, I agree that turning the TWO LOVERS publicity trail into a prepping ground for this was a dick move. That Letterman appearnace probably got TWO LOVERS more coverage than a regular Letterman chat would, though.

I just don't think this is going to affect Phoenix's career - he'll carry on exactly as he was before all this.
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post #40 of 43
9/17/10 at 1:50pm
I will just have to take Mr Affleck's word for it that his version of events is a truthful representation of the facts. Some people might say* though that this "reveal" is merely career damage control, like Chris Klein's attempt to pass his MAMA MIA! audition off as a gag

*mwa haha, the shady FOX NEWS "some people say" technique
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post #41 of 43
9/17/10 at 3:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg Clark View Post
I think more people are angry that their over-the-Internet armchair psychiatry about his mental state being proved to be completely and utterly wrong. If there's one thing today's gossip and paparazzi fueled internet stalkers hate more, it's being made a fool of.
But no one was wrong about it!
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post #42 of 43
9/17/10 at 11:55pm
I think the rap thing made it impossible to believe in. Imagine he'd quit acting to do blues or jazz. Not even the most awesome actor could make you believe in him trying to be a serious rapper.
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post #43 of 43
9/18/10 at 3:03am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Myers View Post
I think the rap thing made it impossible to believe in. Imagine he'd quit acting to do blues or jazz. Not even the most awesome actor could make you believe in him trying to be a serious rapper.
That's exactly what it was that had me unbelieving from the get-go. Then as it went on and seeing things like the Letterman appearance, where it felt, as Phil said, "off", I kept being surprised that there were people who didn't think it was a stunt.

And yet it was still an interesting project to me because even though it seemed silly I liked that Phoenix and Affleck were continuing with their roles. I liked knowing it was a ruse but watching Phoenix and Affleck pretend it wasn't. It was a fun tension and I wish I'd got to see the film before Affleck folded.
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