Wednesday, September 28, 2011
I'M STILL HERE....SORT OF.
Nothing like a good documentary I say.
Casey Afflecks directorial debut "Im still here" is no exception.
I must admit that I had been deliberately avoiding this one on the shelf. I knew little of its content; merely that it was a parody on the life of Joaquin Phoenix (formally known as Leaf Phoenix)
I've long held a crush for this unique,dark creature. I feared this would be overturned by watching this obvious attempt at mock humor.
Lucky for me, I was curiously engaged for the entire feature.
The beginning of the film showed real life footage of a much younger Joaquin tentatively jumping off a cliff. This all under the watchful eye of his father. Its sigificance hazy but touching all the while.
I loved this original move to use real life footage within the framework of a mockumentary.
Then the fun really began.
Joaquin, the real life actor has never really dabbled in the comedy arena. This seems a shame.
From his first outcry of self obsessed,beaten up bloated actor;I knew I was in for a good time.
The plot for "Im not here" revolves around the announcement that Joaquin is retiring from the world of movies to concentrate on his career change into the world of Hip Hop music.
Joaquin typifies the "I cant get no satisfaction" performer to a tea.
It soon becomes obvious that this is not a true interpretation of the life of Joaquin Phoenix himself. Rather a conglomerate of actors and their oversized egos everywhere.
The film devised by Casey Affleck (Ben's brother) and Phoenix came about through their amazement that alot of people believed Reality TV shows were unscripted.
This insight into the Entertaiment industry is by no means exaggerated. All this air kissing,froth n bubble, defecating on Managers heads truly exists.
As we follow this highly volatile hedonist around we cant help but feel his pain. His inability to be truly "heard" on the Letterman show and his desire to break the mould of actor to musician being painfully denied again and again.
One of my favourite parts is Puff Daddy's foul derision to Phoenix's demo tape.
P Daddy calmly asking the actor "Why do you want to do this?" Phoenix looking perplexed. Classic.
The end of the film comes full circle with Phoenix revisiting his roots and sharing a beer with his father but no conversation.
The final scene is symbolic. Symbolic of what Im not sure. It doesn't matter.
What matters here is the underlying message. Despite its comic prowess,"I'm still here" holds a strong message about the myth that fame carries.
You have to be very very careful with fame.
Growing up around fame, I witnessed its turbulant nature. Its ability to take and give in the same instance.When your hot,your on top of the world when your too high and addicted to drugs there's no safety net..The real Joaquin witnessed the destruction fame had on his equally talented brother River (may he rest in peace)
I urge you all (especially parents and their teenage children who LOVE "Keeping up with the Kadarshians")to look at this real depiction of Celebrity. KIds,its a long painful road if you wanna Rock n' roll (even harder on the way down)
JAX
Casey Afflecks directorial debut "Im still here" is no exception.
I must admit that I had been deliberately avoiding this one on the shelf. I knew little of its content; merely that it was a parody on the life of Joaquin Phoenix (formally known as Leaf Phoenix)
I've long held a crush for this unique,dark creature. I feared this would be overturned by watching this obvious attempt at mock humor.
Lucky for me, I was curiously engaged for the entire feature.
The beginning of the film showed real life footage of a much younger Joaquin tentatively jumping off a cliff. This all under the watchful eye of his father. Its sigificance hazy but touching all the while.
I loved this original move to use real life footage within the framework of a mockumentary.
Then the fun really began.
Joaquin, the real life actor has never really dabbled in the comedy arena. This seems a shame.
From his first outcry of self obsessed,beaten up bloated actor;I knew I was in for a good time.
The plot for "Im not here" revolves around the announcement that Joaquin is retiring from the world of movies to concentrate on his career change into the world of Hip Hop music.
Joaquin typifies the "I cant get no satisfaction" performer to a tea.
It soon becomes obvious that this is not a true interpretation of the life of Joaquin Phoenix himself. Rather a conglomerate of actors and their oversized egos everywhere.
The film devised by Casey Affleck (Ben's brother) and Phoenix came about through their amazement that alot of people believed Reality TV shows were unscripted.
This insight into the Entertaiment industry is by no means exaggerated. All this air kissing,froth n bubble, defecating on Managers heads truly exists.
As we follow this highly volatile hedonist around we cant help but feel his pain. His inability to be truly "heard" on the Letterman show and his desire to break the mould of actor to musician being painfully denied again and again.
One of my favourite parts is Puff Daddy's foul derision to Phoenix's demo tape.
P Daddy calmly asking the actor "Why do you want to do this?" Phoenix looking perplexed. Classic.
The end of the film comes full circle with Phoenix revisiting his roots and sharing a beer with his father but no conversation.
The final scene is symbolic. Symbolic of what Im not sure. It doesn't matter.
What matters here is the underlying message. Despite its comic prowess,"I'm still here" holds a strong message about the myth that fame carries.
You have to be very very careful with fame.
Growing up around fame, I witnessed its turbulant nature. Its ability to take and give in the same instance.When your hot,your on top of the world when your too high and addicted to drugs there's no safety net..The real Joaquin witnessed the destruction fame had on his equally talented brother River (may he rest in peace)
I urge you all (especially parents and their teenage children who LOVE "Keeping up with the Kadarshians")to look at this real depiction of Celebrity. KIds,its a long painful road if you wanna Rock n' roll (even harder on the way down)
JAX
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
JACK NICHOLSON-CARNAL KNOWLEDGE-Domestic fight
I LOVE this honest bit of film making. The writing and performances makes it so real.
THIS is how couples communicate not the schmaltzy shit you see in "The Note Book"
JAX
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