Bringing an end to the Ouroboros arguments as to I’m Still Here’s veracity, director and co-writer Casey Affleck confessed to the NY Times, “Virtually none of it was real.”
I was perplexed about the timing of this announcement, especially because Affleck pleads, “I never intended to trick anybody…The idea of a quote, hoax, unquote, never entered my mind.”
Really?
Either Affleck‘s scrambling or he’s the only one who hasn’t been watching the press coverage of the supposed downward spiral of his brother-in-law, Joaquin Phoenix, over the past two years. Since he made a mockumentary about the events – faking everything down to the opening shots of the Phoenix children at play – I think he’s trying to save his own reputation as many critics, believing it was real, condemned Affleck as horrid human being who could sit back and document the descent of a loved one into madness.
Personally, this is one of the reasons I doubted the film’s credibility, because despite recent sexual harassment charges, I didn’t think Affleck was that much of an asshole. But back to the point, a film where Phoenix snorts coke off hookers, acts like a douche, and literally gets shit on – and Affleck looks bad. So he spoke up, “The reviews were so angry.”
Yep.
Roger Ebert called the film:
“a sad and painful documentary that serves little useful purpose other than to pound another nail into the coffin.”
Alison Gang of The San Diego Tribune said:
“I’m Still Here is a film that gets in your face and under your skin. Kind of like a portrait wiped with the artist’s excrement. It’s disgusting, but it’s still art. The question is, at what cost?”
Christy Lemire of the Associated Press argues:
“If we’re truly witnessing the unraveling of a talented man in his prime, it’s just sad. If it’s all performance art, though, it’s just pointless.”
Michael Phillips of The Chicago Tribune sighed:
“Rarely has the question of a documentary’s artifice mattered less. I genuinely hated this picture, almost as much as I’ve admired Phoenix’s work.”
Joshua Tyler at CinemaBlend may be my favorite:
“Increasingly annoying, deluded, mumbling narcissism. Joaquin Phoenix may still be here, somewhere, but I no longer care.”
So, when Affleck explains nope – not everyone was in on the joke – like David Letterman for example, I’m not amused. Because if the film was a doc – then Affleck is an uncaring and opportunistic asshole; if it’s a hoax or a mockumentary masquerading as real for marketing purposes – then he’s playing all of us who paid attention or for tickets for chumps. If you cared about Phoenix or were intrigued/curious/shocked/amused – the jokes on you. Ha ha. Or something.
The interview on NY Times is interesting, though Affleck is sparse with explanations or apologies. But he does have one last plea: “It’s a terrific performance, it’s the performance of his career.” He insists they risked their careers for some “gonzo filmmaking.”
If the risk will pay off remains to be seen, but me, I’m out.
Did you think I’m Still Here was a straight up doc? Do you care that it’s not?