Ben Stiller’s impersonation of Joaquin Phoenix at the Oscars was a last minute addition to the show – because the Tropic Thunder star refused to stick to official script.

Stiller appeared alongside Natalie Portman to introduce the nominees for the Best Cinematography award at Sunday’s (22Feb09) Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles.

And Stiller shocked the star-studded crowd by wearing a scruffy fake beard and wandering aimlessly around the stage, mocking Phoenix’ recent string of bizarre public appearances since the Gladiator star ‘quit acting’ to focus on his rap career.

But the gag only made the cut because Stiller had “a meltdown” at rehearsals on Saturday, “because he was unhappy with the script and decided he could do better,” according to New York Post gossip column PageSix.

A source tells the publication, “Ben refused to tell them what he planned until he arrived at the Kodak Theatre, and then he did that Joaquin Phoenix bit.”

Source

This video is CRAZY!

Joaquin Phoenix’s bizarre antics continued on Wednesday’s Late Show With David Letterman (watch video, above).

While promoting his new movie Two Lovers, the star, 34, hiding his face in sunglasses and a heavy beard, spoke in monosyllables, didn’t smile and mumbled his way through the interview.

At one point, Letterman joked: “What can you tell us about your days with the Unabomber?”

When Letterman asked about Phoenix’s new rap career, the star said, “I’d love to be on the show and perform.”

Letterman shot back, “You know, that seems unlikely.”

Toward the end of the interview, Letterman heckled Phoenix about chewing gum while chatting. Phoenix then put his gum under Letterman’s desk.

“Joaquin, I’m sorry you couldn’t be here tonight,” Letterman said as the interview came to an end.

Phoenix announced last year that he was retiring from acting to pursue a hip hop career. Some have speculated that Phoenix’s recent wacky antics are part of an elaborate hoax.

Source

Actor Casey Affleck checks into Los Angeles International Airport with some camera equipment as he prepares to direct a documentary about his brother-in-law, and “retired” actor, Joaquin Phoenix and his transition from acting to the music world. A disheveled Joaquin Phoenix arrives separately and looks a bit worn for wear.

Bauer Griffin

Joaquin Phoenix’s rep is denying reports that his rap career is a hoax.

See the videos of Joaquin rapping here.

“The transition from one career to another is never seamless. It should come as no surprise to anyone that Joaquin came from a musical family, in addition to winning a Golden Globe for his portrayal of Johnny Cash,” his rep tells MTV News. “He intends on exploring his musical interests despite speculative, negative or positive reactions.”

Entertainment Weekly had previously reported that Phoenix — along with brother-in-law Casey Affleck — was playing an elaborate, Andy Kaufman-esque prank on the media (and that his publicists were a part of it).

Phoenix — who’s been sporting a heavy beard lately and announced he was retiring from acting three months ago — shocked fans when he hopped on stage Jan. 16 at Las Vegas club LAVO and rapped.

The act was filmed by Affleck for a documentary about Phoenix’s transition to music.

“It seemed like the rapping was part of playing to the camera,” a witness told Us of Phoenix’s performance.

Source

I sure think there is.

Here are the videos of Joaquin Phoenix “rapping” at the Las Vegas club LAVO  last night.  (He falls of the stage in the second video) I don’t know about you – but it sure seems like Joaquin is really into some trouble.  Whether it be alcohol, or drugs – nothing seems right about him lately.  In case you missed it, check out the pictures from this night here.  I don’t think he’s in a good place right now.

What do you think?

After announcing his retirement from acting in October, Joaquin Phoenix made his first public foray into the music world Friday, saying he was ready to put his real self out there and not hide behind movie characters.

“This is me saying this is who I am. This is my story,” the actor-turned-aspiring rapper told PEOPLE before taking the stage at Las Vegas club LAVO.

For the skeptics, Phoenix says he’s serious about his new line of work. Music, he told PEOPLE, is his real love.

“After all the years of reading scripts and reading lines, this is my chance to do something straight from the heart and put it out there,” he said. And why hip-hop? “When I was young I liked punk rock music but then I discovered rap. I love the storytelling aspect of hip-hop.”

With brother-in-law Casey Affleck (who’s married to Phoenix’s sister Summer) capturing the action for a documentary about his journey into the music world, Phoenix took to the stage and performed three songs from his upcoming yet-to-be-titled album.

Fluttering around the club’s catwalk, Phoenix, 34, rapped to the sounds of a drum beat and encouraged the crowd to dance. Though dancing was at a minimum, the crowd watched intently as a scraggly Phoenix – who donned a scraggly beard, long, unkempt hair and a ripped gray hat – hopped up and down and pumped his fist in the air during certain lyrics.

“You hold a very special place in my heart,” the Oscar-nominated actor told the crowd near the end of the performance.

While the crowd cheered for the songs, Phoenix said he was prepared for mixed feedback before taking the stage. “Are there people out there who think I’m a joke? I’m sure there will be,” he told PEOPLE. “Are there people who think it’s going to suck? Probably, but I can’t worry about that.”

Following the performance, a happy-looking Phoenix spent the rest of the night hugging friends and taking pictures with fans before leaving the club around 1:30 a.m.

Source, Splash

The words “Good Bye” were penned on the actor’s knuckles at a premiere Saturday night for his latest film, “Two Lovers,” and Phoenix confirmed a surprise announcement he made last week: He’s giving up movies.

“I think it’s just moving on. It’s rediscovering something else,” said Phoenix, 34, said in an interview with Associated Press Television News before Saturday’s American Film Institute festival, which also premiered “Che,” starring Benicio Del Toro.

“Two Lovers” is his last film, he said. His publicist had disclosed Friday that the actor intended to focus on music.

Phoenix first mentioned his decision to “Extra” early last week at a fundraiser in San Francisco. He abruptly ended that interview after the reporter wondered whether he was joking about giving up acting for music.

Phoenix learned to play guitar and did his own singing to play country legend Johnny Cash in “Walk the Line,” which earned him an Academy Award nomination. His publicist also said Phoenix has been directing music videos in recent years.

“It’s like greener pastures, you know what I mean?” Phoenix said Saturday. “And so, I’m just going to try and like, I’ll just be doing the other thing. … Hopefully, I will emotionally impact you with that, as well.”

“Two Lovers” stars Phoenix as a heartbroken man torn between a needy, neurotic neighbor (Gwyneth Paltrow) and the sensible woman (Vinessa Shaw) his parents want him to marry. The film, due in theaters early next year, was directed by James Gray, with whom Phoenix also worked on “We Own the Night” and “The Yards.”

Source