A movie chronicling Joaquin Phoenix’s transition from an actor to a rapper is hitting the big screen. I’m Still Here – directed by Phoenix’s brother-in-law, actor Casey Affleck — opens Sept. 10.

Independent movie distributor Magnolia Pictures insists the flick is not a mockumentary.

Phoenix, 35, had fans scratching their heads two years ago when he began making a series of bizarre public appearances, including growing a scraggly beard and appearing spacey on The Late Show With David Letterman.

At the time, Affleck, 34, filmed all of Phoenix’s outbursts, claiming he was shooting a documentary. Many thought Phoenix’s antics were just part of an elaborate hoax.

Phoenix was nominated for an Oscar for playing Johnny Cash in 2005′s Walk the Line. His last screen role: The 2008 indie drama Two Lovers with Gwyneth Paltrow.

SOURCE

At least he doesn’t look crazy anymore!!

PCN

Joaquin Pheonix still sporting his fresh-faced look as he enjoys a night out at the Voyeur nightclub.

PCN

A well-groomed Joaquin Phoenix along with Liv Tyler and Miley Cyrus encourage you to help “To Write Love On Her Arms” win 1 million dollars for suicide prevention.

Last time we saw Joaquin, he looked like this! So I’m glad to see he’s well groomed and back to the way we know and love him! Maybe he’ll start acting again soon!

Two Lovers director James Gray has hit out at the film’s star Joaquin Phoenix – insisting the actor is “making a fool of himself” by launching a rap career.

Phoenix recently announced he has quit acting in order to become a hip-hop-star and has since made a string of bizarre public appearances.

Last month (Feb09) the actor sported a scraggly beard, hid behind sunglasses, chewed gum and gave brief answers as he promoted Two Lovers on Late Show With David Letterman.

And Gray is furious with Phoenix for failing to cooperate with the TV host – because his strange actions drew public attention away from the film.

He says, “It’s like, Letterman was trying to get the movie out there, but the only thing that’s out there now is a crazy person with a beard making a fool of himself!” Internet gossips have speculated that Phoenix’s turn as a rapper is a hoax, and the rumours were fuelled when it was revealed the star’s brother-in-law, Casey Affleck, is filming his musical efforts for a documentary.

But Gray fears the Oscar nominee is taking his new project seriously.

He adds, “I’ve seen him in his house, and he has his own recording studio that he built right there. So if this is a hoax, then it’s the most elaborate thing that I have ever seen.

“If it is shown to be a hoax, then that’s great, because Joaquin will come back to acting. And he is something special. But if it isn’t, you know, I think he needs, well, help.”

Source

UPDATE: HERE’S THE VIDEO!

Joaquin Phoenix’s bizarre antics continued Wednesday at a hip-hop show in Miami.

Sporting a disheveled dark suit and smoking a cigarette, the scraggly-bearded Phoenix, 34, got on stage around 1:50 a.m. at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach hotel’s nightclub.

Nodding to the music, he was barely audible as he began rapping to a beat played by the DJ.

Near the end of his first number, Phoenix walked to the edge of the right side of the stage and called out an audience member whom he thought was heckling him.

“Bitch,” Phoenix yelled. “This is a $3,000 f—–g suit!”

He then jumped into the crowd as security rushed after him.

It was unclear whether the two men scuffled, but security dragged Phoenix away as the crowd chanted “Joaquin! Joaquin! Joaquin!’”

His brother-in-law, Casey Affleck — who is making a documentary about Phoenix’s career leap from acting to rapping — filmed the entire incident.

Phoenix’s wacky antics — which include a bizarre Feb. 11 Late Show With David Letterman appearance — may be part of an elaborate hoax.

But Paul Dobransky — a relationships expert and author of The Secret Psychology of How We Fall in Love — recently told the Los Angeles Times that Phoenix could also be schizophrenic, pointing to his “socially inappropriate behavior”

His rep denied the claims: “How absolutely inappropriate for a doctor who has no personal interaction or relationship with someone to diagnose them.”

Still, fans can’t get over Phoenix’s unkempt appearance.

A club-goer Wednesday told Usmagazine.com, “He looks like he needs a shower. Is he doing a Geico commercial? He looks like a fancy caveman!”

Source

A rep for Joaquin Phoenix is slamming a Chicago-based psychiatrist for suggesting that the actor-turned-rapper, 34, is mentally ill.

Paul Dobransky — a relationships expert and author of The Secret Psychology of How We Fall in Love — told the Los Angeles Times that Phoenix may be schizophrenic, pointing to his “socially inappropriate behavior,” including a new rap career, bushy beard and a bizarre Late Show appearance.

But Phoenix’s rep tells MTV News: “How absolutely inappropriate for a doctor who has no personal interaction or relationship with someone to diagnose them.”

“And to do so in a public forum,” the rep adds. “Hope they spelled his name right. Another 15-minute ‘expert’ is born!”

But Dobransky came to Phoenix’s defense in the Times interview, even saying that he was “pretty offended” by Ben Stiller’s portrayal of Phoenix at the Oscars. He said it seemed as if Stiller was “potentially beating down on the mentally ill.”

“The jury is not exactly in on what is happening,” Dobransky said of Phoenix, whom many speculate is pulling an elaborate hoax. “Whatever it is, it’s not funny — whether it’s drug abuse, mental illness coming on or the clumsiest attempt ever at a career change.”

Source