So this clip of Joaquin Phoenix on David Letterman is all the rage today. The only question is whether Phoenix is actively participating in the joke with Letterman — who is never better than when he has a hostile guest.
But that’s the thing. Phoenix is not "hostile." He’s inert. And that’s even funnier.
So what’s the deal here? Casey Affleck is working on a documentary about Phoenix — which makes my wife very suspicious that this is all a put-on. Maybe Affleck’s (and Phoenix’s) idea is to do a documentary about the maddening absurdity of Hollywood and the promotion machine that drives it. One must consider the fact that Phoenix is notoriously uncomfortable with promoting his projects because he has utter contempt for The Machine. See his (hopefully) purposeful bizarre interview on the Red Carpet from 2005.
"Do I have a large frog in my hair? . . . Something’s crawling out of my scalp." Despite reassurances from the reporter, the actor replied, "No, but I feel it. I’m not worried about the looks. I’m worried about the sensation of my brain being eaten . . . What did you ask me?"
The alternative — that a very talented but shy man has gone full Andy Kaufman on us — is too depressing to contemplate. I noticed that Phoenix could not help but betray at least one grin for the camera, and played the straight man to Letterman’s shtick perfectly. Phoenix is a great actor, and it’s certainly within his range to play with the audience, and fans of his, for an extended period of time. And I’ll believe Phoenix’s hip-hop career when I see something more imepessive than this absurdity in Las Vegas.
The bonus for Phoenix, if this is all an act, is that he’s saving tons of money on grooming products.
I think it’s much more likely to be a put-on. It certainly seems so after a second and third viewing — and it’s still funny every time I see it.
Trouble is, Joaquin Phoenix is a very strange cat. Kaufman started doing his “Tony Clifton” gag and everyone seemed to enjoy the joke … until it didn’t stop. Same thing with Kaufman’s wrestling stage.
The genius of all this is how it’s got people guessing. Phoenix has left open at least a tiny possibility that he’s really losing it. And to retain that “magic” — that air of mystery — is a rare thing these days, and golden for a performer.
I’m greatly enjoying the show either way.
I actually think this could go either way, and we may never know. My initial reaction: http://thecultureproject.org/the-culture-project-blog?mode=PostView&bmi=112791.
But even as I was thinking the guy is an actor over the edge, the thought keep coming back to, this has to be a put on. But it wouldn’t surprise me if it wasn’t.
It certainly looks like a put-on to me, Jim, just as you say. Letterman seemed to be in on the gag, despite any comments made afterward, which can be taken as just more of the game.
My guess is that Phoenix told Letterman that he was going to spring something during the interview and Dave should just feel free to roll with it. And Letterman did so quite well, if that’s the case.
That video of Phoenix “rapping” in Vegas is hysterical. The huge talentlessness he displays in that performance looks no different from the real thing, which would seem to be the point.
If Phoenix is not deliberately making fun of the entire U.S. entertainment complex, his mental breakdown is doing us all a service by pointing out the utter crassness of so much of the industry.
But I believe it’s probably all a big satire.