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The Fortune
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Betrayal
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Play It As It Lays
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The Outfit
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Alex in Wonderland
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The Legend of Lylah Clare
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In The Cool of the Day
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That Cold Day in the Park
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Thumb Trippin'
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Midas Run
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At Long Last Love
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Outcast of the Islands
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Run of the Arrow
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House of Secrets
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Saint Joan
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Upcoming

January 8

Bitch Slap

Waiting for Armageddon

Wonderful World

Youth in Revolt

January 15

January 22

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Extraordinary Measures

The Girl on the Train

Why Did He Come On?

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Cronenberg + Ludlum?<< previous | next >>Two Lovers Redux

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on February 11, 2009 at 10:44 PM

comment #1

D.Z. says ...

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/confessions_of_a_shopaholic/news/1796277/five_favorite_films_with_jerry_bruckheimer

Posted by D.Z. at February 11, 2009 11:15 PM

comment #2

eoguy says ...

This will be fantastic footage for his documentary.

Posted by eoguy at February 11, 2009 11:46 PM

comment #3

CMAC says ...

I just finished watching it live and I came up to the computer to see what the buzz was. Obviously it's all over the net.

What I saw or guess; was a case of someone seriously on the verge of a breakdown possibly from too many drugs? Or deeply mentally ill? Or simply exhausted?
At any rate he was probably contractually obligated to appear on Letterman to promote the film. He was clearly uncomfortable and disoriented. I think someone should have stopped him from going out there. It will just turn him into comic fodder for weeks. The person who "handles" him really screwed the pooch on this one. Regardless of what he looks like now, this man is a serious talent and I fear he's going down a dark path (not unlike Britney) and the press will have a field day at his expense until...what? He dies? And then fall over each other to Saint him posthumously?

I'm sorely crabbed about this. Where are his "friends"?

Posted by CMAC at February 12, 2009 12:05 AM

comment #4

irvingberlinalexanderputz says ...

Are you kidding? He looked like he was totally messing with Letterman! Even if he wasn't, those uncomfortable silences were hilarious!

Posted by irvingberlinalexanderputz at February 12, 2009 12:12 AM

comment #5

lazespud says ...

ummm... it's clearly a goof for that mock documentary he's shooting that he's trying not to have anyone know about. And unlike when Andy Kaufman and Jerry Lawler were on Letterman in the 80s, Letterman seems in on it here.

Posted by lazespud at February 12, 2009 12:45 AM

comment #6

scooterzz says ...

he's nuts...he's dissappeared from junkets...he's walked out five minutes into a round table by saying,'i gotta go...i can't do this'....he's excused himself from tv interviews, only to be mia for the day...he's a freaking loon......btw--i have tape to supportn everyting i just said...jeeze, i really dislike this little psycho....

Posted by scooterzz at February 12, 2009 1:05 AM

comment #7

D.Z. says ...

Is he trying out for the hipster answer to Steven Wright?

Posted by D.Z. at February 12, 2009 1:19 AM

comment #8

Renfield says ...

Come on, guys. I just watched this and he's CLEARLY acting. He's not that good. He's, like most actors today: mediocre. He kiiiindd of gets the job done but without a full sense of sincerity.

Frankly, I find all of this "I'm a eccentric actor" bit annoying. It's been done before. He's trying to pull a Kaufman without the Kaufman.

Lame.

You want pure insane? Give me Crispin Glover any day over this.

Clowney Clown.

Classic.

Posted by Renfield at February 12, 2009 1:25 AM

comment #9

lazespud says ...

Here's an LA Times story about it where the director of Two Lovers says that basically, all things considered, Phoenix's put-ons are helping the film more than hurting it.

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-word12-2009feb12,0,6618091.story

Anyone who thinks this is anything more than a goof, stop it. Stop it right now. Follow Renfield's example above and critique the quality of the goof, but for your own sake, don't be a moron and think it's anything other than a put on.

Posted by lazespud at February 12, 2009 1:45 AM

comment #10

Carl Kolchak says ...

I know someone pretty close to him, and I can tell you that this is indeed a put on. Well, maybe put on is not quite the right word. I think he's gotten bored and this is kind of a way to remain engaged with the acting thing. I'm not sure if the documentary is for real, but if it is I believe that it is kind of a cross between Borat and Andy Kaufman. I also think that everyone's reaction to this is really the point.

Posted by Carl Kolchak at February 12, 2009 3:01 AM

comment #11

Circumvrent says ...

I don't mind that it's a put-on, but I do mind that he didn't commit to it.

There were some brief moments - putting the gum under the desk, briefly starting up with Paul - that would've made for some good, fun TV/material for the 'doc,' but instead he just sat there and mumbled. Which makes me wonder what the point is? I hope it's not weird for weirdness sake, but that in his own bizarre way, he's trying to say something about celebrity and acting through doing this. But it feels like he (and by extension, Affleck) have no real mission statement, and are just doing anything to see what sticks, which makes this whole thing lame.

Posted by Circumvrent at February 12, 2009 6:24 AM

comment #12

Ray says ...

Letterman has has some very awkward, unrehearsed moments in his show's history, and his reaction to them is nothing like this. He's clearly in on the joke; he'd never let something so uncomfortable play for so long.

You can tell Joaquin is trying to stifle his laugh a couple of times as well. I mean, drugs or no drugs, Joaquin wasn't this dour and unhappy before ... so clearly he is just acting this way.

The reaction he's causing is interesting, though.

Posted by Ray at February 12, 2009 6:32 AM

comment #13

heybub1 says ...

Staged or not, only Letterman could have made this segment funny. (Maybe Conan. Maybe) Can you imagine Leno letting the awkward silences go on and on -- even if he was in on the joke? Letterman's deadpan is genius which is why a 5 minute segment of absolutely nothing said is funnier than any interview Leno has done.

Posted by heybub1 at February 12, 2009 6:43 AM

comment #14

actionman says ...

He's a great actor. Hope he gets back to business soon. Anyone know if Two Lovers will be available ON DEMAND this weekend?

Posted by actionman at February 12, 2009 6:43 AM

comment #15

Krazy Eyes says ...

Someone needs to figure out a way to get him and Vincent Gallo in a film together immediately. Maybe Brown Bunny 2?

Posted by Krazy Eyes at February 12, 2009 6:55 AM

comment #16

hawthorne says ...

So this is all a joke on us? he is just putting together a mockumentary? I guess that is fine if it was funny or interesting in some way but it is frankly really boring. And I guess we can assume at some point he shaves off his " last days of Jim Morrison" type beard and looks like his old self again? and then what.. he goes back on talk shows in a few years and acts like he cares about his acting career? I don't know. I look at the careers of people who really almost flamed out for real.. like Robert Downey or Mickey Rourke. These guys really appreciate the fact that they are alive now and have actual careers. There is something here about this stunt that just seems stupid and arrogant. And really not funny either if that is what he is aiming for. Hopefully at some point he will grow up and realize he should be thankful for the opportunities he had.

Posted by hawthorne at February 12, 2009 7:02 AM

comment #17

BurmaShave says ...

The best way for this hoax to end would be for his brother to emerge suddenly still alive after 16 years. Now THAT would be something. Call me a callous motherfucker, but I am currently entranced by the idea. Deliriously, or maybe just delirious. No coffee yet.

Posted by BurmaShave at February 12, 2009 7:37 AM

comment #18

buckzollo says ...

TWO LOVERS is really good. Very solid and enjoyable. He and the other actors do a solid job. James Gray is skilled.

Posted by buckzollo at February 12, 2009 7:39 AM

comment #19

DeafBrownTrashPunk says ...

It's a JOKE, people.

Posted by DeafBrownTrashPunk at February 12, 2009 8:09 AM

comment #20

Chicago48 says ...

I don't know him but I'm with CMAC: He's bored with acting and/or not getting the roles he feels he should be getting. Actors get a little crazy when they see the Brads and Toms getting all the juicy parts and/or they're still not in the high salary figure yet....I don't believe it's a joke. If it is, he's getting way more attention than he needs.

The only pic I've seen him in was Hotel Rwanda and I thought he played a heck of a part in a small role.

Posted by Chicago48 at February 12, 2009 8:46 AM

comment #21

Kristopher Tapley says ...

This is the most obvious put-on of all time.

Posted by Kristopher Tapley at February 12, 2009 10:50 AM

comment #22

VoiceOfReason says ...

The truth is a Walk the Line sequel is in the works and Joaquin will be playing the roles of Johnny Cash AND Rick Rubin. The Rubin material will be shooting first. Todd Haynes is directing.

Posted by VoiceOfReason at February 12, 2009 11:19 AM

comment #23

warmsounds says ...

I blogged about this earlier today, but I'll be the first to raise my hand and say I was had if this turns out to be all a hoax. IMO, this is very real. What is so hard to believe about it? The man's brother died from an OD, he himself has a past with alcohol and drugs. I think this is all very real and it's a shame that people are waving it off and saying it's all fake. I hope it turns out to all be an act, but I seriously doubt it is.

Posted by warmsounds at February 12, 2009 1:28 PM

comment #24