I'm Still Here (film)
Encyclopedia
I'm Still Here is a 2010 mockumentary
film directed by Casey Affleck
, and written by Affleck and Joaquin Phoenix
. The film purports to follow the life of Phoenix, from the announcement of his retirement from acting, through his transition into a career as a hip hop
artist. Filming officially began on January 16, 2009 at a Las Vegas nightclub. Throughout the filming period, Phoenix remained in character for public appearances, giving many the impression that he was genuinely pursuing a new career.
The film premiered at the 67th Venice International Film Festival
on September 6, 2010. It had a limited release
in the United States on September 10, 2010 before being expanded to a wide release a week later on September 17. Although widely suspected to be a "mockumentary", the fact that the events of the film had been deliberately staged was not disclosed until after the film had been released.
shows' claims of being unscripted. By claiming to retire from acting, he and his friend and brother-in-law Casey Affleck planned to make a film that "explored celebrity, and explored the relationship between the media and the consumers and the celebrities themselves" through their film.
After surprising Hollywood by abruptly announcing his retirement in late 2008—allegedly in order to focus on his music—Phoenix and Affleck began filming the documentary, which followed Phoenix as he began a career making hip-hop music while allegedly managed by rap icon Sean "Diddy" Combs
.
to promote what he claimed was his last film, Two Lovers
. During the show, a bearded, unkempt, sunglasses-wearing Phoenix seemed incoherent and was largely unresponsive towards David Letterman
's questions about the film and his acting career. When the audience laughed at his hip-hop aspirations, Phoenix complained to Letterman that he was being serious.
In an interview given earlier the same day for CinemaBlend.com, Phoenix seemed completely coherent. Many rumors circulated that his Late Show appearance had been a hoax, to which Phoenix stated "This is not a joke. Might I be ridiculous? Might my career in music be laughable? Yeah, that's possible, but that's certainly not my intention." Ben Stiller
, who appears in the movie pitching Greenberg
, parodied Phoenix's appearance, posture and performance as an awards co-presenter at the 81st Academy Awards
ceremony. One of Letterman's writers, Bill Scheft
, later stated that Letterman was in on the joke during the interview.
After Affleck stated in September 2010 that I'm Still Here was a hoax, a clean-shaven, well-dressed, and lucid Phoenix returned to Late Show to promote the film. Both he and Letterman denied that the host had any foreknowledge of the mockumentary or that the previous interview was scripted. Phoenix said that he expected people would realize that a "35 year-old that says he's retiring from acting" was making "a joke", and that he did not expect the amount of attention his announcement and his Letterman interview would receive. Letterman replayed the end of the previous interview, during which Phoenix removed his sunglasses and spoke to him as the screen faded to a title card. The host stated that the actor had at that moment "broke the character
...and everything was fine."
guitarist Antony Langdon, who was one of Phoenix's assistants as well as a musical partner, staged a falling-out with the actor during the documentary's filming and is shown defecating on the troubled actor in retaliation for an earlier argument. In actual fact, the "feces" was a combination of hummus and coffee grounds. The mixture was inserted into a tube that was taped onto Antony Langdon's back that went down to his backside. In an earlier part of the film, there is a similarly shocking scene involving Langdon getting out of the shower. Langdon's time in Spacehog is not mentioned in the film, but a clip of the band performing on television is shown. Singer and bassist Royston Langdon is also credited for one of the film's songs.
reported that the film featured "more male frontal nudity than you’d find in some gay porn films and a stomach-turning sequence in which someone feuding with Phoenix defecates on the actor while he’s asleep". Also, the film is said to depict Phoenix "snorting cocaine, ordering call girls, having oral sex with a publicist, treating his assistants abusively and rapping badly." Reportedly film buyers, after seeing it, were still uncertain whether it was a serious documentary or a mockumentary.
Upon its release I'm Still Here had a 54% rating on Rotten Tomatoes
. Critics were divided on whether to interpret the film as documentary or performance art. Roger Ebert
, who gave the film three out of four stars, wrote the following:
Box Office Mojo
reported a worldwide gross of $568,963 as of June 2011.
Mockumentary
A mockumentary , is a type of film or television show in which fictitious events are presented in documentary format. These productions are often used to analyze or comment on current events and issues by using a fictitious setting, or to parody the documentary form itself...
film directed by Casey Affleck
Casey Affleck
Caleb Casey McGuire Affleck-Boldt , better known as Casey Affleck, is an American actor and film director. Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, he played supporting roles in mainstream hits like Good Will Hunting and Ocean's Eleven as well as in critically acclaimed independent films such as...
, and written by Affleck and Joaquin Phoenix
Joaquin Phoenix
Joaquin Rafael Phoenix , formerly credited as Leaf Phoenix, is an American film actor. He was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and his family returned to the continental United States four years later...
. The film purports to follow the life of Phoenix, from the announcement of his retirement from acting, through his transition into a career as a hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
artist. Filming officially began on January 16, 2009 at a Las Vegas nightclub. Throughout the filming period, Phoenix remained in character for public appearances, giving many the impression that he was genuinely pursuing a new career.
The film premiered at the 67th Venice International Film Festival
67th Venice International Film Festival
The 67th annual Venice Film Festival held in Venice, Italy, took place from September 1 to September 11, 2010. American film director and screenwriter Quentin Tarantino was head of the Jury. John Woo was awarded the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement prior to the start of the Festival...
on September 6, 2010. It had a limited release
Limited release
Limited release is a term in the American motion picture industry for a motion picture that is playing in a select few theaters across the country ....
in the United States on September 10, 2010 before being expanded to a wide release a week later on September 17. Although widely suspected to be a "mockumentary", the fact that the events of the film had been deliberately staged was not disclosed until after the film had been released.
Development
According to Phoenix, the film arose from his amazement that people believed reality televisionReality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
shows' claims of being unscripted. By claiming to retire from acting, he and his friend and brother-in-law Casey Affleck planned to make a film that "explored celebrity, and explored the relationship between the media and the consumers and the celebrities themselves" through their film.
After surprising Hollywood by abruptly announcing his retirement in late 2008—allegedly in order to focus on his music—Phoenix and Affleck began filming the documentary, which followed Phoenix as he began a career making hip-hop music while allegedly managed by rap icon Sean "Diddy" Combs
Sean Combs
Sean John Combs , also known by his stage names Diddy and P. Diddy, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. He has won three Grammy Awards and two MTV Video Music Awards, and his clothing line earned a Council of Fashion Designers of America award. He was originally...
.
David Letterman
Shortly after making his rap debut in mid-January 2009, Phoenix appeared on the Late Show with David LettermanLate Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman is a U.S. late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and is produced by Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated. The show's music director and band-leader of the house band, the CBS Orchestra, is...
to promote what he claimed was his last film, Two Lovers
Two Lovers (film)
Two Lovers is a 2008 American romantic drama film, taking its inspiration from Fyodor Dostoyevsky's short story "White Nights". which was already turned into a film by Luchino Visconti: Le Notti Bianche. The movie is directed by James Gray and stars Joaquin Phoenix, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Vinessa...
. During the show, a bearded, unkempt, sunglasses-wearing Phoenix seemed incoherent and was largely unresponsive towards David Letterman
David Letterman
David Michael Letterman is an American television host and comedian. He hosts the late night television talk show, Late Show with David Letterman, broadcast on CBS. Letterman has been a fixture on late night television since the 1982 debut of Late Night with David Letterman on NBC...
's questions about the film and his acting career. When the audience laughed at his hip-hop aspirations, Phoenix complained to Letterman that he was being serious.
In an interview given earlier the same day for CinemaBlend.com, Phoenix seemed completely coherent. Many rumors circulated that his Late Show appearance had been a hoax, to which Phoenix stated "This is not a joke. Might I be ridiculous? Might my career in music be laughable? Yeah, that's possible, but that's certainly not my intention." Ben Stiller
Ben Stiller
Benjamin Edward "Ben" Stiller is an American comedian, actor, writer, film director, and producer. He is the son of veteran comedians and actors Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara....
, who appears in the movie pitching Greenberg
Greenberg (film)
Greenberg is a 2010 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Noah Baumbach. The film stars Ben Stiller, Greta Gerwig, Rhys Ifans and Jennifer Jason Leigh...
, parodied Phoenix's appearance, posture and performance as an awards co-presenter at the 81st Academy Awards
81st Academy Awards
The 81st Academy Awards ceremony, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences , honored the best films of 2008 and took place February 22, 2009, at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles beginning at 5:30 p.m. PST / 8:30 p.m. EST...
ceremony. One of Letterman's writers, Bill Scheft
Bill Scheft
Bill Scheft is an American comedy writer and novelist. He is best known for being a staff writer for David Letterman since 1991, during which time he has been nominated for 15 Emmy awards. He ran a weekly humor column "The Show" in Sports Illustrated from 2002 to 2005...
, later stated that Letterman was in on the joke during the interview.
After Affleck stated in September 2010 that I'm Still Here was a hoax, a clean-shaven, well-dressed, and lucid Phoenix returned to Late Show to promote the film. Both he and Letterman denied that the host had any foreknowledge of the mockumentary or that the previous interview was scripted. Phoenix said that he expected people would realize that a "35 year-old that says he's retiring from acting" was making "a joke", and that he did not expect the amount of attention his announcement and his Letterman interview would receive. Letterman replayed the end of the previous interview, during which Phoenix removed his sunglasses and spoke to him as the screen faded to a title card. The host stated that the actor had at that moment "broke the character
Breaking character
Breaking character, "to break character", is a theatrical term used to describe when an actor, while actively performing in character, slips out of character and behaves as his or her actual self...
...and everything was fine."
Tie to rock band Spacehog
In the film, SpacehogSpacehog
Spacehog is an English rock band formed in 1994. Their music is heavily influenced by David Bowie, Queen, and T.Rex.-Members:* Royston Langdon a.k.a. "Ray Sprinkles" – bass and vocals...
guitarist Antony Langdon, who was one of Phoenix's assistants as well as a musical partner, staged a falling-out with the actor during the documentary's filming and is shown defecating on the troubled actor in retaliation for an earlier argument. In actual fact, the "feces" was a combination of hummus and coffee grounds. The mixture was inserted into a tube that was taped onto Antony Langdon's back that went down to his backside. In an earlier part of the film, there is a similarly shocking scene involving Langdon getting out of the shower. Langdon's time in Spacehog is not mentioned in the film, but a clip of the band performing on television is shown. Singer and bassist Royston Langdon is also credited for one of the film's songs.
Cast
- Joaquin PhoenixJoaquin PhoenixJoaquin Rafael Phoenix , formerly credited as Leaf Phoenix, is an American film actor. He was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and his family returned to the continental United States four years later...
as Himself - Sean 'P. Diddy' CombsSean CombsSean John Combs , also known by his stage names Diddy and P. Diddy, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. He has won three Grammy Awards and two MTV Video Music Awards, and his clothing line earned a Council of Fashion Designers of America award. He was originally...
as Himself - Casey AffleckCasey AffleckCaleb Casey McGuire Affleck-Boldt , better known as Casey Affleck, is an American actor and film director. Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, he played supporting roles in mainstream hits like Good Will Hunting and Ocean's Eleven as well as in critically acclaimed independent films such as...
as Himself - Antony LangdonSpacehogSpacehog is an English rock band formed in 1994. Their music is heavily influenced by David Bowie, Queen, and T.Rex.-Members:* Royston Langdon a.k.a. "Ray Sprinkles" – bass and vocals...
as Himself - Mos DefMos DefDante Terrell Smith is an American actor and Emcee known by the stage names Mos Def and Yasiin Bey. He started his hip hop career in a group called Urban Thermo Dynamics, after which he appeared on albums by Da Bush Babees and De La Soul. With Talib Kweli, he formed the duo Black Star, which...
as Himself - Ben StillerBen StillerBenjamin Edward "Ben" Stiller is an American comedian, actor, writer, film director, and producer. He is the son of veteran comedians and actors Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara....
as Himself - Edward James OlmosEdward James OlmosEdward James Olmos is an American actor and director. Among his most memorable roles are William Adama in the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica, Lt...
as Himself - Jamie FoxxJamie FoxxEric Marlon Bishop , professionally known as Jamie Foxx, is an American actor, singer-songwriter, stand-up comedian, and talk radio host. As an actor, his work in the film Ray earned him the Academy Award and BAFTA Award for Best Actor as well as the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a...
as Himself
Reception
In May 2010, the film was shown to potential buyers. The Los Angeles TimesLos Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
reported that the film featured "more male frontal nudity than you’d find in some gay porn films and a stomach-turning sequence in which someone feuding with Phoenix defecates on the actor while he’s asleep". Also, the film is said to depict Phoenix "snorting cocaine, ordering call girls, having oral sex with a publicist, treating his assistants abusively and rapping badly." Reportedly film buyers, after seeing it, were still uncertain whether it was a serious documentary or a mockumentary.
Upon its release I'm Still Here had a 54% rating on Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
. Critics were divided on whether to interpret the film as documentary or performance art. Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Roger Joseph Ebert is an American film critic and screenwriter. He is the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize for Criticism.Ebert is known for his film review column and for the television programs Sneak Previews, At the Movies with Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, and Siskel and Ebert and The...
, who gave the film three out of four stars, wrote the following:
Box Office Mojo
Box Office Mojo
Box Office Mojo is a website that tracks box office revenue in a systematic, algorithmic way. Brandon Gray started the site in 1999. In 2002, Gray partnered with Sean Saulsbury and they grew the site to nearly two million readers when, in July 2008, the company was purchased by Amazon.com through...
reported a worldwide gross of $568,963 as of June 2011.
External links
- Critical essay on the film's blurred status as doc/mockumentary at Alternate Takes