Does Joaquin Phoenix Really Need Saving? Or a Shaving?

your right ipindc. hope he gets help before ge takes his life like a fool. Somebody pray for him. He was living every east village actors dream & now to be a circus clown with big shoes. wow

Let's remember how his brother Phoenix died. Perhaps he never addressed his brother's death in a "healthy" way, is self-medicating, and now it's become apparent to everyone. Except he's still not getting (or accepting?) the right help. The point is, serious trauma cannot be shoved aside - it must be addressed by people who are trained to help. I hope he gets it.

The whole thing should be covered up and forgotten as quickly as possible.

"If you notice he's not really concerned with the film he's supposed to plug, well, who cares, ask about his music which he's obviously 10x more enthused about."

Obviously? Why? Did you miss the part of the interview where Letterman did ask him about his music? Nothing about Phoenix's tone or demeanor changed, and his response was still to say as little as possible.

Yeah, it was unnerving. But it was also entertaining. And if Joaquin is in fact playing the whole role ala Borat, and using an act to exploit a certain people or idea (as the article suggests, celeb disasters), why is this so terrible? It's actually working if this is the goal. But something tells me it's not. In that case, who the hell cares. (Who the hell cares to begin with, but really, we're all interested). David Letterman is a host, and host's don't get impatient and make fun of guests so disdainfully. It's one thing to joke around, with Letterman, at least for me, I get an awful amount of a--hole vibes, very disdainful. Do your job, work an interview. If you notice he's not really concerned with the film he's supposed to plug, well, who cares, ask about his music which he's obviously 10x more enthused about. But to then mock him and joke of a unlikely performance, that's immature. Ha... whatever... though this lengthy comment will suggest I do care.

I liked the Letterman spot. What a relief from that chatty fake bullshit that usually transpires.

http://loveislikeaboxofchocolates.com/

second that. who cares?

maybe he's playing Tobey Maguire with a beard.

My guess: he's had some nasty disagreement with the producers of the film. So he's turned his contractually obliged publicity appearances into distractions from the film.

Hmmm. That's an interesting and plausible take.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

Who cares?

Hey! I love Space Camp!!!

I WENT to Space Camp!

Twice!

what. don't judge.

Release form: signature required because Mr. Phoenix and Mr. Affleck are jerking off onto both you and each other.

All in all, I thought Letterman did a pretty good job turning this situation into entertainment. His concluding remark, something like "I am sorry you couldn't be with us this evening" was right on.

Phoenix bordered on the vulgar and cruel in response to Paul Shaffer's guffaw. He deserved whatever he got from Letterman.

Letterman shoulda asked him what taking a speedball is like.

I think this is the first time Jen Carlson hasn't fallen for a media hoax or publicity stunt hook, line and sinker.

Nice work! :D

Honestly, who the f--k cares?

When will society stop caring about self-absorbed Hollyweirdos who are just looking for some attention?

There are so many more important and interesting things going on the world and all people want to talk about is some stupid celebrity acting out again.

YAWN.

HollyWEIRD! Did you make that up, that is priceless!! My sides!

http://www.google.com/search?q=hollyweird

http://www.google.com/search?q=hollyweirdo

Yeah I was being sarcastical.

There are two types of people in the world: those who are obsessed with celebrities, and those who are obsessed with complaining about people obsessed with celebrities.

No, now that I've seen your comment on the Gwyneth Paltrow post, I know that you're actually in the first group.

I make one comment and suddenly I'm "obssessed with complaining about people who are obssessed with celebrities"?

Right. Thanks for trying anyway.

The guy just has zero personality and hates doing TV interviews. I saw him interviewed when Gladiator came out and it was the same deal- it was just really obvious that he didn't want to be there, so he didn't play along. And most likely he's got a couple painkillers in his system as well.

It's a no-win. If he's not faking, he's just a douche. If it's a big act he's also a douche.

how do you seriously all comment on this, nobody knows him or what they're talking about.

This is just the kind of train wreck that makes tv interesting.

I think you're kind of missing the point of comments on a blog post. We're commenting on this BECAUSE we don't know him or know what we're talking about. They're called opinions. Get one.

how can you have an opinion on it, there is nothing to base your opinion on you scum loser

Hi Gwyneth Paltrow! I should've recognized the child-like writing from the start!

Gwyneth = sweetpanties

I see what you did there.

@6

Do u really think Letterman gives a damn??

He's an entertainer and stuff like this makes good TV.

yeah! Unibomber jokes are the bomb!!!! zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Affleck is NOT making a documentary, he is making a series of videos to send to Martin Mull at That's Not Fake, savvy?

"David Letterman: 1. Joaquin Phoenix: 0."?

Let's assume this whole "thing" happening to Mr. Phoenix is a documentary, one which maybe exposes how quickly public opinion and attitudes change when someone once in the limelight falls from grace.

If so, someone not in on the "self-indulgent" joke is then put into the spotlight - exposing their true selves in how they react to the situation presented.

What I saw the other night was Letterman trying his best to work the interview, but then kind of being a dick when the interview wasn't going his way - and this, to someone with great talent dealing with some apparent issues.

If this is a big socio-docu-experiment, and Letterman wasn't in on it and just being himself - to me Letterman came off a bit douchey. Why not reach out and try to help this guy?

Again, if this is a documentary/reality expirement, one which maybe exposes how quickly public opinion and attitudes change when someone once in the limelight falls from grace.

Joaquin Phoenix: 1 David Letterman: Douchebag

"What I saw the other night was Letterman trying his best to work the interview, but then kind of being a dick when the interview wasn't going his way"

I disagree. What I saw was Letterman trying to make the best of an interview that was going to be a disaster. He's there to keep the audience entertained, and unlike the rest of the late night interview set does make that a priority over pandering to celebrity guests. Had this happened with Leno, he'd have been pretending that Phoenix was being profound.

"Why not reach out and try to help this guy?"

Not his job at all, and certainly not while on the air. Maybe he recommended a therapist or rehab once shooting was over.

And there's also a possibility that it was an act, and while Letterman wasn't in on it from the beginning he recognized it as the interview commenced. Probably during that first long pause. Then he'd have a bit of justification for being irritated, because that shouldn't be done without cluing him in. So the best way to handle it is to try to make it funny.

What was it he said in response to Phoenix saying he'd like to perform on the show? Something like "I don't see that happening?" Makes sense if he thought he was being blindsided by a gag he should have been clued in on.

That's the difference between this (if it was a put-on) and Andy Kaufman. With Kaufman, everyone knew what they were getting.

jaycjay is right on. Letterman struck a good balance between not playing into what is likely a (not very clever) hoax while not calling out Phoenix on the off chance that he really is suffering from a mental breakdown.

People suffering from mental breakdowns (not evens Celebs) don't usually plan out their day to include national TV interviews and appearances at movie premiers.

While he's one of the better young actors, he's not a big enough star to pull off a stunt like this. Most people who are aware of the Letterman interview probably don't even know the name of his latest movie.

Am I going to have to be the first one to say it? Really? Ok...HARELIP. I'm usually not that cruel, but he is really quite a jackass.

Yeah it was pretty clear he was on some kind of opiate on Letterman. I was thinking heroin.

hopefully he'll take after his brother.

He FARTS on David Letterman. Look it up on youtube or google video: JOAQUIN PHOENIX FARTS ON DAVID LETTERMAN

or just watch it here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-CWMhXQiFQ

He's like the poster boy for prescription painkillers.

He FARTS on David Letterman. Look it up on youtube or google video: JOAQUIN PHOENIX FARTS ON DAVID LETTERMAN

or just watch it here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-CWMhXQiFQ