There is no other actor on the planet quite like Joaquin Phoenix. Immensely talented, it is clear that Phoenix sees his craft as an art and he is not interested in the fame and fortune. This could be due to the strained relationship that he has had with the press, all of which stemmed from the tragic death of his brother, the hugely talented River Phoenix, as Joaquin’s 911 call was repeatedly played in the media. He has turned in some stunning performances and garnered plenty of critical acclaim, for both larger pictures as well as independent films.
10. I’m Still Here
The end product may not have been incredible, but you cannot talk about Joaquin Phoenix without mentioning I’m Still Here. In what could be described as performance art, Phoenix made a stunning announcement to the world where he stated that he was retiring from acting to pursue a rap career. This, along with an incredibly odd interview on Late Show with David Letterman and growing a huge beard, made it seem that he had gone off the deep end and his reputation was tarnished for the following year. As it turned out, this was all an act and his strange behavior that year was for a mockumentary that he and Casey Affleck were filming—I’m Still Here. He stayed in character throughout the entire process even though he was ridiculed, but ultimately Phoenix was making a powerful statement about celebrity culture and his dedication to his craft must be applauded.
http://www.indiewire.com/article/joaquin-phoenix-in-2013-the-immigrant-her-the-bizarre Source: Indiewire.com
