Joaquin Phoenix documentary fake as a $3 bill

I hate to pull the gloat card, but I told ya so! In an odd bit of timing, Casey Affleck has confirmed that his "documentary" on Joaquin Phoenix, I'm Still Here, was all a total work. It was a complete fake. I had speculated in my review that the duo were pulling an elaborate Borat, showing real reactions and emotions to obviously staged events.

In his interview with the NYTimes, Affleck admits the ruse, but says that none of it was intentional.

Affleck:  “I never intended to trick anybody…The idea of a quote, hoax, unquote, never entered my mind."

Well that's a complete lie. Affleck went on to state that he wanted people to view the film without preconceived notions, which is why they were deliberately vague about the true nature of the project. 

Hey, I can support that idea, but claiming you never wanted to trick people is b.s.  From the moment Phoenix "retired", this has all been one giant prank and no attempt to clue anybody in was ever made. In the time that the film was being shot, Phoenix legitimately sabotaged a couple of real projects. His final film, Two Lovers, is the prime example. He wouldn't do press, and when he did he acted like a forest dwelling hermit with no social skillset.

With that said, Phoenix's performance is haunting. Clearly one of the best we've seen all year. I'm actually relieved that it was all an act, because now he can actually receive full credit for what he managed to accomplish. I can't remember the last time we've seen a crumbling of celebrity ego and excess captured on screen in such a way. Here's hoping that he didn't burn too many bridges along the way, and that he'll gain some end of the year recognition.