I don’t really know much about Joaquin Phoenix. I’ve never been exactly sure how his name is pronounced, and although I thought he was AWESOME as Johnny Cash in Walk the Line (and did a fantastic job on the soundtrack), and in spite of his busy career, I can’t think of another film he’s been in except as narrator of EARTHLINGS, the documentary about animal abuse and factory farms. The first time I remember hearing of him was when I had a surreal experience a few nights after his brother died at the Viper Club. I was at a different club when the L.A. Style club hit James Brown Is Dead came on, and I leaned to a friend and said “River Phoenix. Is Dead”. A few minutes later the entire dance floor was screaming the same words as they danced. Over drinks later my friend said “thank God Joaquin wasn’t there tonight”. I had no idea who he was talking about. But in spite of (or maybe because of) my ignorance, and the fact that he gives the impression that he’s one big huge bowl of crazy, I must confess to kind of being a fan. Which is why I’m looking forward to seeing I’m Still Here: The Lost Year of Joaquin Phoenix, which is in limited release (“limited” apparently doesn’t include the cultural backwater in which I live) in the US as of yesterday. The film – shot by his brother in law – allegedly follows Phoenix’s career transition from actor to rapper over the past couple of years. Reviews are mixed, with many asserting that it’s probably a deadpan satirical mockumentary, which is my guess as well. And which is why I kind of admire the guy. In the tradition of Andy Kaufman, Crispin Glover, Pee Wee Herman, and frankly, a tradition stretching all the way back to the surrealists, Phoenix keeps you wondering with things like his perplexing appearance on David Letterman (clip below) and a quietly but insanely erratic personal life. I for one would LOVE to roll my car and have Wim Wenders come to the rescue. The DVD isn’t out until November, and if you’re not in a major city, who knows if the film will even come to your town. If you really want to see the film in the near future, you may be able to find I’m Still Here as a torrent. Personally I’ll wait. Seeing this in the theater would be a fun night with friends. Trailer and Letterman clips below.

The Trailer for I’m Still Here: The Lost Year of Joaquin Phoenix

His wacky appearance on Letterman

As peculiar as Phoenix’s appearance was, Letterman’s had a lot of experience with this: