I'm Still Here

Stars: Joaquin Phoenix, Antony Langdon, Ben Stiller, Sean Combs, Natalie Portman, Casey Affleck, David Letterman, Sean Penn, Bruce Willis, Danny DeVito, Robin Wright Penn

Director: Casey Affleck

It's difficult to tell what's real and what's faked in this mockumentary about Phoenix giving up acting to become a rapper. However you interpret it, as sickening reality or gleeful hoax, the star comes across as a real flake who is probably his own worst enemy.

Meanwhile, both he and director Affleck seem to think we'll enjoy having penises waved at us, watching people being sick and defecating on each other, not to mention many shots of an overweight, heavily-bearded and generally dishevelled Phoenix just shambling around, not seeming to have any grip on reality.

Is this all a huge fabrication to give Joaquin a year-long break from acting? He certainly seems to have no future as a rapper, so maybe the jokin' is on us. Occasionally, Affleck's film soars - and the interview with Letterman is an entertainment in itself - but mostly it dives into a cesspool of its own making. (The film bas subsequently been revealed as a complete fake).

David Quinlan

USA 2010. UK Distributor: Momentum. Colour by FotoKem.
108 minutes. Not widescreen. UK certificate: 18.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 2, Violence/Horror 0, Drugs 2, Swearing 3.

Review date: 14 Sep 2010