JoaquinPhoenix Tagged Articles at Cinematical
Cinematical Seven: Famous Hollywood Hoaxes
Filed under: RumorMonger », Fandom », Cinematical Seven »
If you are the type of person who believes what you are told, then the release of James Gray's Two Lovers is probably your last chance to see Joaquin Phoenix 'the actor' before he takes the hip-hop world by storm -- but that's only if you believe what you've been told. For every person who is convinced that Mr. Phoenix has gone around the bend (and you can't blame them with footage like this floating around), you will find another person who thinks that the whole thing is a big hoax...and it wouldn't be the first time we've been taken for a ride by a celebrity. But until Casey Affleck releases that 'documentary' of his, we won't know for sure, and I decided it might be worthwhile to look at other Tinseltown hoaxes to remind us that you can't always believe what you read -- especially in Hollywood.
1. Stanley Kubrick Fakes the Moon Landing
It's been a popular conspiracy theory that the director provided most of the footage for the Apollo 11 and 12 Moon landings; and as the story goes, Kubrick was right in the middle of post-production on 2001: A Space Odyssey, when he was approached by NASA to create footage of a moon landing since his was so realistic. Over the years, most of these theories have been debunked, but defenders of the 'Kubrick connection' love to remind us that Kubrick later used lenses for Barry Lyndon that were developed by NASA -- which they say is the proof of payment for faking the lunar adventure.
After the jump: the birth of 'Bigfoot' and hoaxes that ended with hard time...
What I Learned: Joaquin Phoenix's Pickup Technique, Museum Dangers
Filed under: Drama », Thrillers », New Releases », Magnolia », Sony », Movie Marketing »
Movies can be very educational, especially if you look beyond the obvious marketing messages that are used to sell them. This past Friday, for example, James Gray's romantic drama Two Lovers was sold as "the movie where you can see what Joaquin Phoenix looks like without a bushy beard and a Grizzly Adams haircut" -- that's why he appeared on David Letterman, right? Tom Tykwer's The International was advertised as a "the movie where you can learn what the banks are really doing with your money." But both of these advertising campaigns obscured the educational possibilities of the films.
Two Lovers. This quiet character study follows the emotionally-wounded Joaquin Phoenix and his relationships with the beautiful Gwyneth Paltrow and the beautiful Vinessa Shaw. Single folks might be surprised at Phoenix's incredibly successful pickup technique. What I learned: He does nothing. Abso-frickin'-lutely nothing. His parents invite Shaw and her parents to dinner, and then she confesses to an interest in him. (Bear in mind that he attempted suicide, like, an hour before.) Shortly thereafter, he meets Paltrow, a new neighbor, in the hallway outside his parents' apartment. Whammo! He's juggling two relationships.
The International. The intended lesson to be learned from Tom Tykwer's tepid thriller is that bank debt is evil and makes CEOs do wicked things. (And here I thought it was simple greed and ignorance.) What I learned: Museums are dangerous. Stay out of the Guggenheim! That place is a shooting gallery. If you carry that thought through to its logical conclusion, then what the movie is really saying is that art and culture aren't good for you. Which ties in to its theme that corporations have taken over the world and there's nothing you can do about it. Unless you're Clive Owen with a three-day beard.
Insert Caption: Two Lovers
Filed under: Fandom », Contests », Insert Caption »
1. "You wanna know why he's not that into you? Because you spell your name Ginnifer. Not Jennifer, like us." -- Timmy B.2. "No, really. Then they rip the wax off, and the hair comes with it." -- Charles P.
3. "After a few years of subpar movie paydays, this was the moment Jennifer Aniston realized that maybe a "Friends" reunion movie wouldn't be that bad." -- Eric W.
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This week, in honor of Valentine's Day (which is tomorrow!), we're celebrating the much buzzed-about (for several different reasons) Two Lovers, starring actor-turned-rapper Joaquin Phoenix, Gwyneth Paltrow and Vinessa Shaw. While we prepare for the onslaught of Joaquin-related jokes, let me tell you what's at stake: One Grand Prize winner will slide away with two Two Lovers American Express gift certificates for a romantic dinner, ten Two Lovers Landmark ticket comps and three Magnolia produced DVDs, while two runner-ups will each receive six Two Lovers Landmark ticket comps and three Magnolia produced DVDs. This is a good one, folks, so give us all you've got in the comments section below ...
Read the official rules for this contest
Review: Two Lovers
Filed under: Drama », New Releases », Theatrical Reviews »
(We're reposting our Two Lovers review from the Cannes Film Festival to coincide with the film's theatrical and VOD release.)
By: Kim Voynar
In James Gray's Two Lovers, Leonard (Joaquin Phoenix) is torn between two women, each of whom is right for him, and wrong for him, in different ways. When we meet Leonard, he's jumping into the river in a suicide attempt; he changes his mind at the last minute, struggling to the surface and gasping for air.
It's a scene that tells us much of what we need to know about Leonard: This is a man torn between the desire to end the pain in his life, and the equally strong desire to fight against it. Leonard, we come to learn, was engaged to be married, but when he and his fiancee both tested positive for the gene that carries Tay-Sachs syndrome, her family called off the engagement and she disappeared. Leonard's mother, Ruth (Isabella Rossellini), hovers protectively over her only child, trying to help him move on, while at the same time clinging to him with a fierceness that may not be in his best interest.
Greatness in the Making: Director James Gray
Filed under: Drama », New Releases »
It's so exciting -- literally exciting; pulse-quickening -- to watch a monumental new talent emerge and begin to edge toward what will eventually be his rightful place among the filmmaking greats. After watching his fourth film, Two Lovers (which opens this weekend and which I'll just comment on obliquely here) I'm ready to call it: James Gray is the next... well, the next something. I'm tempted to say Scorcese, which seems absurdly hyperbolic, but I'm kind of serious. He's that good: that ambitious, that interesting, that attuned to the details of human behavior. Watch this guy. He's gonna be important.
Almost no one saw The Yards (though you should), even I haven't seen his debut feature Little Odessa, and Two Lovers hasn't seen release yet, so I'll talk about We Own the Night: plot-wise a fairly ordinary cops-and-mobsters drama, but one that's pitched at the emotional wavelength of an epic Greek tragedy and as finely observed as any work of arthouse "naturalism" you can think of (Chop Shop? Flight of the Red Balloon?). Scene after scene, the film teeters on the edge of becoming corny and laughable, but it never quite tips over. Part of it is Gray's total conviction, completely committed to an almost absurdly grandiose screenplay. Even more important is how real the movie feels, how almost tactile: 1988 Brooklyn comes alive in front of you; the club scenes seem populated with hundreds of real human beings, not just extras; there's an important scene in a cavernous church that just deposits you in that church in an extraordinary way I can't quite articulate. It's the attention to detail, the rich sound design, the sense of geography and space -- in other words, skilled filmmaking. And then there's that justly renowned car chase in the pouring rain. Wowza.
Watch This: Joaquin Phoenix is a Complete Mess
Filed under: Celebrities and Controversy », Trailers and Clips »
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So what's up with Joaquin Phoenix? It started when he announced that he was quitting acting to pursue a music career, then got stranger when said music career became a rap album. After we began to prepare ourselves for the new hip-hopped Phoenix, along came word that he and Casey Affleck would be shooting an "art project" (aka documentary) about Phoenix's journey from acting to music ... and then a little while after that we got word that the whole thing could, in fact, be one big joke, a la some Borat-style shenanigans.
However, while out doing press for his new film Two Lovers, I've heard from several different journalists that Affleck has joined Phoenix at each stop -- going so far as to interview each person who interviews Phoenix, claiming it's for an "art project" and it's not a joke. Finally we get Phoenix's appearance on the David Letterman Show, where the dude is a complete mess. Not only does he wear dark sunglasses and chew gum, but it's pretty obvious he couldn't give two sh*ts about being there as he barely answers Letterman's questions and doesn't even know which clip they brought. Letterman, mind you, is either pissed or going along with the act, and Phoenix just sits there looking like the Unibomber's twin brother. Yeah, you're getting some great publicity out of this guy.
So what do you think is going on here? Is Phoenix just playing some big practical joke? Does he want people to hate him (though I kinda think he's a riot)? Does he want to ruin his career on purpose just to see how long it will take to build back up? Is that the "art project"? Thoughts?
UPDATED to add full interview
[Thanks Dennis P. for passing this along]
Have We Been Punk'd by Joaquin Phoenix and Casey Affleck?
Filed under: Documentary », RumorMonger », Celebrities and Controversy »
I'm all for people looking to expand their creative horizons, but I know -- like most of you -- that when news first hit that Joaquin Phoenix was retiring from acting to focus on a hip-hop career, my first reaction was: Are you kidding me? Well, it looks like there's a very good possibility that's exactly what the celebrated actor is trying to do. Over at EW, a source is reporting that Casey Affleck and Phoenix are the orchestrators of a massive hoax. According to EW, Phoenix told the unnamed source, "It's a put-on. I'm going to pretend to have a meltdown and change careers, and Casey is going to film it."EW wasn't the first to cry 'bull' at Phoenix's antics; Defamer had gotten in early on the act, and when video footage surfaced of Phoenix falling off stage and slurring his way through a rap tune in Vegas, it convinced a lot of people that his new "career change" was nothing but a big joke or gimmick ... or next year's most talked-about secret Sundance film. To be fair, it's not like this was the first time Phoenix had behaved a little strangely, so once The Hollywood Reporter announced that Affleck would be making a documentary chronicling his brother in law's music career, it gave the news a bit more weight. Meanwhile, reps for both Phoenix and Sean 'Diddy' Combs (who was apparently going to produce Phoenix's album) have declined to comment on EW's story.
Affleck Making Joaquin Phoenix Rapper Documentary?
Filed under: Documentary », Music & Musicals », Deals »
I think most of us were a little shocked when Joaquin Phoenix made the announcement that he was going to quit acting and focus on his music career -- and luckily for us, now we're going to get to follow the long strange journey of Phoenix's crack at the Billboard 100. The Hollywood Reporter announced that Casey Affleck will be directing a documentary about the former actor's stab at a music career. Affleck is married to Joaquin's sister Summer, so it makes sense that if Phoenix was going to agree to a documentary, it would be with someone close to him behind the camera.Now here's the really weird part: when I heard Phoenix was going to move into the music business, I just assumed that it would be in some kind of rock or country style (I mean, the guy did play Johnny Cash). But, it turns out I couldn't have been more wrong, because according to THR, Phoenix is trying to be a rapper -- and yes, you just read that: Phoenix will be making an album with Sean 'Diddy' Combs (maybe he's bartering acting tips for producing services) and will be making his first public appearance at a Las Vegas club this weekend, which will be the kick-off for Affleck's shoot.
So while there is a big part of me that wants to see Phoenix succeed in his new career, I can't help but wonder if this will be The Return of Bruno all over again, but with a hip-hop beat. I guess if nothing else we are going to get one heck of an interesting documentary out of the deal.
Do you think Phoenix has what it takes to become a successful hip-hop artist? Or, is this a sign that the notoriously eccentric actor has good and truly gone around the bend. Sound off below....
Exclusive: 'Two Lovers' Poster Premiere
Filed under: Drama », Romance », Fandom », Movie Marketing », Images », Posters »
Cinematical has received this exclusive poster for Two Lovers, starring Joaquin Phoenix (in his final movie role?), Gwyneth Paltrow and Vinessa Shaw. Directed by James Gray (We Own the Night), Two Lovers is a Brooklyn-set romantic drama that follows a troubled man who returns to his childhood home and falls for two very different women: the lovely and caring family friend (Shaw) and the mysterious, volatile neighbor (Paltrow). Which woman will he choose, and will she set him on a course for happiness or turn him in the complete opposite direction? Two Lovers also stars Isabella Rossellini and Moni Moshonov, and it will arrive in theaters on February 13, 2009.
Click below to view entire poster.
Gallery: Two Lovers Poster
Discuss: With Phoenix Gone, Who Else Should Retire from Acting?
Filed under: Celebrities and Controversy », Fandom », Newsstand »
But to make (somewhat) light of an awkward situation, we here at Cinematical thought we'd put this question to you -- who you like to see retire from acting altogether? This summer, I hinted I was rather disappointed in Brendan Fraser, who's semi-retired a few times now. A glance at his IMDB page shows it to be scarce. Maybe he should follow Phoenix's example before there's a Mummy 4 or 5, thereby ruining all my fond memories of his performance in Gods and Monsters.
What about Nicolas Cage? Would you rather he go before he makes Bangkok Dangerous 2? Spends the last bit of his Coen Bros cred in endless National Treasure sequels? What about popular whipping boy, Tom Cruise, who's couch-jumping antics have caused him some box-office pain and negative publicity? Maybe golden boy Shia LeBeouf, who was landing so many roles a t-shirt protest began. Maybe you just can't take another magazine cover with Brad Pitt or Angelina Jolie.
Then again, everyone on this list has some incredibly solid roles under their belt -- it's easy to pick on a guy like Cage for some of his choices, until you remember Adaptation. Perhaps you just wish the C-List would go away ... no more movies from Vin Diesel or Paul Walker, not another role from Paris Hilton or Lindsay Lohan. Take it away, Cinematical readers. And remember, this is in good fun, and we mean no disrespect to any of the names above.
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