Joaquin Phoenix: Is he joking or is he for real?

[Mike 03]

If any of you are following his "transformation" from actor to gangsta rapper, do you think this is for real or some kind of fantastic prank?

The one thing that makes me suspicious is the fact that he has a filmmaker following him around.

Were it not for that, I would be one hundred percent of the opinion that he was serious about quitting acting and turning to this new way of life.

If he is acting, this is best performance of all.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

1. I think he is joking

for real.

[no name no slogan]

4. Me three.

He's too intelligent for it to be "real". He's probably making a movie about the whole thing, which will be coming to a theater near you in the spring of 2011.

[Goblinmonger]

5. One of the head writers for Letterman was on Bob and Tom

and said the drunk bit was all clearly an act as he saw him nearly break character a couple times and that the rap thing was just more of the same.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

8. Yes, I saw him break character. If not for the beard and the glasses

it would have been even more obvious...

http://www.youtube.com/v/HXpYk7WGN5Y&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&border=1

[blueraven95]

29. I would agree with that.

I clearly saw at least two minor slips - but they would probably pass by most people.

[targetpractice]

2. I wonder if he's making a point (and documenting it)...

He appears to be self-destructing in front of everyone. Maybe he's seeing if someone will intervene... No one did for his brother, River.

[Goblinmonger]

3. He is trying to be the Andy Kauffman of the 2000s.

He might make a good run at it but will certainly pale to the original.

[Mollis]

6. I'm pretty sure he is acting

and probably going to turn it into a movie.

[bif]

7. Fuck him

It's a PR stunt either way. Just like most Hollywood types. Who really gives a shit, seriously? He wants you to talk about him.

[jobycom]

16. I don't think it's a PR stunt, I think there's some other purpose.

He's filming it for some reason. Maybe it's a Borat type project, or maybe he's trying to get into some other role. As PR it's just too weak for anyone at that level to think it would do much. He's too smart to pull something that lame.

[mitchum]

9. It's real...tired shtick

[greenbriar]

10. Was he related to River?

?

[mitchum]

11. A brother from that same crazyass Children of God hippie cult family

[Lavender Brown]

12. I don't think Casey Affleck would be filming him if he were really losing it.

He's his brother-in-law, and a director, so I'm pretty convinced it's all for a movie.

[MajorChode]

13. Either way he's a schmuck

[applegrove]

14. Wasn't he in love with Reese Witherspoon while making "Walk the Line"? Then

she separated from her husband and started dating somebody else. Maybe he's having a love induced meltdown or something?

Just a guess.

[MajorChode]

18. If he flipped out over Reese Witherspoon, he's even a bigger schmuck than I thought

Assuming that's possible.

I seriously doubt he needed much of a reason anyway. Unfortunately he will wind up just like his brother soon enough.

[jobycom]

15. It's fake, but it's not really a joke.

It's some performance art thing to prove something or help someone or something like that.

If he were really as far gone as he's acting, Letterman wouldn't have him on, his agent would have him in a hospital, and Affleck sure wouldn't be seen anywhere near him.

[Kat45]

17. imdb says "Untitled Joaquin Phoenix Documentary" in productipm

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1356864/

[Lex]

20. It's going to suck, suck, suck.

How can it not?

[Iggo]

19. It's as real as Beyonce's husband's "retirement".

Which is to say, not at all and it doesn't even barely pass the smell test.

Ah! Jay Z! That's his name!

[GOPisEvil]

21. Shades of Andy Kaufman?

Maybe?

[Lex]

22. a paper-thin shade

maybe

[MilesColtrane]

23. He's acting like a narcissistic, douchebag celebrity to make a point about them.

I mean he's acting like more of one than he usually does.

[leftofthedial]

24. Yes. He is a real joke.

[Shell Beau]

25. I hope he is joking! I love him as an actor.

But he is just quirky enough to be serious. :shrug:

He is hot.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

26. Probably. Although it's a weird choice.

He was a great actor. "Gladitor", "Walk the Line", and probably the best thing about "Signs".

Still if it is real, I don't know why he is wasting his time like this. I'd much rather see him in an actual role.

[redqueen]

27. Yes, it's acting. It's for a mockumentary. (nt)

[Hell Hath No Fury]

28. It is called "perfomance art"....

And he is doing it quite well. : ) Can't wait to see Affleck's end product.