I’m Still Here

Jeri Jacquin, Movie Maven

Opening in theatres across the country this Friday is a documentary from director Casey Affleck and They Are Going to Kill Us Productions with “I’m Still Here”.

This film tells the story of Joaquin Phoenix who, at the height of his career with successes such as “Gladiator”, “Walk the Line”, “We Own the Night” and “Reservation Road”, makes an announcement that he is retiring from acting.

What’s an actor to do with his time? Well, according to Phoenix, he is going to become a rapper. He goes on a journey to meet with the ever-elusive Sean “P. Diddy” Combs. In between trying to find a mentor for his rap, Phoenix goes on one tirade after another about nothing in particular going off on friends and assistants.

He does manage to alienate friends, amuse the media and get people talking. About what? Well, about whether Phoenix has smoked one bong load to many and has become the next Howard Hughes or this is all an elaborate hoax, which gave Phoenix and Affleck a chance to do something ‘different’.

On this yearlong journey, Affleck is there with his camera as Phoenix fights his demons – whether real or imaginary is for the daring viewer to decide.

FINAL WORD: I want to be positive here but I find myself totally unconcerned with this “film”. If it is a stunt then it’s an unfunny one and if it’s not then I’ve lost all sympathy for Phoenix and his problems.

As a person who is watching people truly struggle all around me I find it hard to empathize with Phoenix. His binge drugging, spending money he says he doesn’t have on prostitutes, having to witness his toilet hugging yack vomiting session (of which I can only assume is where is career is going) to end up after this or his friends bowel movements on Phoenix’s face – oh wait, that one might at least make sense.

I was also curious to know why Affleck, Phoenix’s brother-in-law would film him doing cocaine on the edge of a bowey knife and get in a car to drive? Seriously – this is art?

Well, as in the film, I’m sure Phoenix will be blue eyed deep in reading reviews online of this piece of work and mine won’t matter one bit.

TUBS OF POPCORN: I give “I’m Still Here” two tubs of popcorn out of five. But its in good company, as I believe that’s the same score I gave “Paranormal Activity”, and “The Last Exorcism” – I sense a trend here.

Sorry Affleck, sorry Phoenix, I actually love you guys - but with ticket prices being what they are I could not in good conscious recommend that anyone spend their hard earned cash on this. Films are for many reasons – escape, informative, fun – none of which I found in this film. I did love the name of your production company though.

I’m sure this piece will be touted as brilliantly done, irreverent and mind boggling and I can see how it could. Surely this was made for a certain group of people and not for the masses that won’t be able to grasp a celebrity’s pain (real or not) under these circumstances.

In the end – yep, he’s still here but does anyone really care?