I think Joaquin Phoenix is funny…
Joaquin Phoenix, who is almost always a jerk in interviews, set a new standard for surliness with Time Out New York’s Laura Leu this week. When Leu asked by phone how he prepared for his role as a drug-addicted nightclub manager in “We Own the Night”, Phoenix responded, “I never prepare. I think that’s completely overrated. It’s a very simple job. All you have to do is…stand in the right spot and say the line. So I don’t believe in preparation.” When Leu pressed, “But you prepared for Ladder 49 by training with a fire academy,” testy Phoenix replied, “I just said that because I thought it would sound good to the press. I don’t know why it seems to be of note that actors do any kind of preparation. It’s just what you’re supposed to do in your [bleep]ing job. Do you think that because you did some research you deserve some special credit?” Then he hung up on her. Leu’s editor said of the call, “Laura was really excited to interview him, but when he hung up on her out of the blue, she was disappointed. She was supposed to speak with him for half an hour, but was only given 10 minutes.”
This is so funny… I love him. I don’t know why, but I do. Wait…didn’t he do guitar and singing lessons for “Walk the Line”? Isn’t that preparation and not just standing in the right spot spitting out some lines? I could be wrong.
October 11th, 2007 at 9:19 am
I’m pretty sure that was his point. He does prepare as most good actors do and I think he is just tired of the same interview questions. He’s purposefully being a jerk.
October 11th, 2007 at 9:24 am
i love him too but i think he can be a jerk when he has to deal in the ‘hollywood world’. he seems to be really uncomfortable in the role of Serious Actor and i guess that brings out the jerkiness. i agree with anonymous that he was probably making the point that he always prepares (duh)…
October 11th, 2007 at 9:36 am
He should just do the movies and shut the f*** up!
October 11th, 2007 at 9:37 am
I think that Joaquin is a GOOD actor…I really enjoyed seeing him in WALK THE LINE!
October 11th, 2007 at 10:05 am
He sounds like a jerk, but I still love him!
October 11th, 2007 at 10:25 am
I like him too, but the question wasn’t “Did you prepare” but rather “HOW did you prepare?” I think that’s a valid question. I’d hate being asked the same questions a hundred times a day, and it’s funny when he does something “out there” but I think it comes with the territory and he doesn’t need to be so much of a jerk as to hang up on her for a reasonable question.
October 11th, 2007 at 12:17 pm
yeah he’s a pretty weird guy when it comes to interviews and such..but i loooove him anyway.