Fan Fare

Joaquin Phoenix says “I’m Still Here”

But is he all there? Really all there.

He quit a golden Hollywood career because he was bored. He thought movies weren’t interesting anymore. He didn’t have anything else to learn. And today, Joaquin Phoenix has re-emerged in the trailer of a new “documentary” called “I’m Still Here” that is directed by his brother-in-law Casey Affleck. The documentary tells about Phoenix’s supposed attempts at a transition to a career in hip hop.  We wrote about it here and here. Surely, we think, it’s more mockumentary, something on the order of “This is Spinal Tap” that sends up the entertainment industry. Tellingly, it was “written and produced” by both Affleck and Phoenix. Then again, who are we to say he’s lying just because what he has done seems so odd. One never really knows, and “odd” is rather normal in Hollywood. You can watch the trailer — and judge it — for yourself below.

In interviews, despite a bizarre, mumbling shaggy-haired appearance on David Letterman that baffled many, Joaquin Phoenix coherently insisted to all in promoting his last film in 2008, “Two Lovers,” that he was indeed quitting acting (he still has no more movies announced). And yes, absolutely and convincingly, he said he was pursuing a career in hip hop.  And yes, there was Affleck right on hand to tape all media interviews with Phoenix. (Note: we politely said “no” to being taped for a possible spoof, much to Affleck’s annoyance.)

The slick new trailer for “I’m Still Here”, which seems to suggest the movie is no slouch in the usually low-budget “doc” arena, shows Phoenix the actor going from Hollywood photo shoots, red carpets, limos and jets to a pot-bellied (no 50 cent abs for him) singer backstage and hip hop wannabe onstage. The trailer is accompanied by a dramatic score and voiceover that compares him to “a mountain top water drop” who doesn’t “belong to this valley, this river”.

It gets funnier — or darker, depending on your point-of-view. Affleck is now facing claims of sexual harassment from two women, one from the cinematographer and one from a producer who worked on the film.

If a full-fledged “Spinal Tap”-like spoof is in the cards, it’s been a worthy performance by all, from some of America’s top actors — Affleck and Phoenix — right down to the distributor, Magnolia Pictures, whose spokesman told us “it is not a mockumentary by any means.”  The company called it “a portrait of an artist at a crossroads.” Soon all will be revealed. It is showing at the Venice film festival and opens in the United States on September 10.

O’Jays set to be honored at BET Awards in Los Angeles

The “Love Train” is chugging to the BET Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday, when legendary soul trio the O’Jays will receive a lifetime achievement honor during the ninth annual celebration of black musicians, actors and athletes. 

The trio, which rose to fame in the 1970s with such Gamble & Huff-produced tunes as “Back Stabbers,” “For the Love of Money” and the chart-topping “Love Train,” will perform at the Shrine Auditorium event. Their award will be presented by Tyrese, Trey Songz and Johnny Gill. 

The ceremony will air live for East Coast viewers of the BET cable network at 8 p.m. EDT, with a three-hour tape delay for those on the West Coast.

Jamie Foxx will both host and perform. Other artists scheduled to take the stage include Beyonce, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Keri Hilson, Keyshia Cole, Mary Mary, Maxwell, Ne-Yo, Queen Latifah, Soulja Boy, T-Pain, and Young Jeezy.

Foxx, Ne-Yo and T-Pain are among the nominees for best male R&B artist; the female category includes Beyonce, Hilson and Cole. The race for best male hip-hop artist includes West and Young Jeezy. While there are five nominees in each of those categories, just three made the cut for best female hip-hop artist: Lil Mama, M.I.A. and Trina.

Eminem’s wish comes true as Lindsay Lohan, galpal split

Lindsay Lohan’s breakup with celebrity DJ Samantha Ronson is good news for Eminem, who eloquently expresses his passion for the actress in his new video.       The reclusive rapper took a swipe at the couple in “We Made You,” which was released on Tuesday, days after the women broke up.      In one scene, Eminem is driving a big rig while Lohan and Ronson lookalikes are making out next to him.      “He does not mean to lesbian offend, but Lindsay please come back to seeing men,” Eminem intones in his rapid clipped style. “Samantha’s a two, you’re practically a 10. I know you want me, girl. In fact I see you grin.”      Declaring that he’s “looking for more women to torture,” Eminem also claims he would be a better lover for actress Portia de Rossi than her wife Ellen DeGeneres. He also fantasizes about Sarah Palin, while a scantily clad lookalike of the former vice-presidential candidate poses seductively on her desk.       Other targets of Eminem’s rapier wit include tabloid starlet Kim Kardashian, and singers Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson and Amy Winehouse.      “You think that’s bad. You should hear the rest of my album. Never has there been such finesse and nostalgia,” he promises in the video.      That album, “Relapse,” the follow-up to his 2004 release “Encore” is due in stores on May 19.

What’s the deal with Joaquin Phoenix?

Joaquin Phoenix’s flat-footed appearance on Wednesday night’s “Late Show with David Letterman” had the audience laughing as the actor let Letterman’s pointed, mocking questions go unanswered.

But maybe Phoenix is angling to have the last laugh with his professed retirement from acting to take up a career in hip-hop music?

Even though he has insisted in interviews with Reuters and others that he is not trying to fool anyone, some people are wondering if the whole thing is an elaborate  put-on. 

Wearing dark shades and a suit, Phoenix seemed unable to answer Letterman’s question about why his is quitting acting after ”Two Lovers,” which opens on Friday.

 ”It’s not really an easy thing to explain, it’s something that’s been a part of my life for a long time. It’s weird to like come out on stage in front of a bunch of other people and just talk about it,” Phoenix said.

At other times during the 10-minute interview, Phoenix stuck his gum under Letterman’s desk, swore at the show’s band leader Paul Shaffer, claimed ignorance that his latest movie is loosely based on a story by Fyodor Dostoevsky and changed the subject of his quitting acting to ask about Letterman’s cut thumb.

Oscar-nominated Phoenix’s new bearded appearance has taken fans by surprise. Remarking on the new look, Letterman asked him, “Can you tell us about your days with the Unabomber?,” a reference to a murderous and bearded U.S. radical who lived in the woods and grew a beard.