It's a Film

Well, I have finally seen ‘I’m Still Here’ and thought it was a great film – it’s a film not a documentary. It is by far a carefully edited and well-acted film much more than it is a documentary. I hear that a lot of people are bored now guessing whether it is a hoax or not (and I think I heard someone mention that Affleck has admitted that it is a hoax…) but either way its defiantley not a documentary.

What I found most interesting was the very beginning of the film, as it presents a montage of clips which show Phoenix receiving awards for his acting (most notably his portrayal of Jonny Cash in ‘Walk the Line’). On the surface, this presents to the viewer that Phoenix is a great actor enjoying the high life and that perhaps a drink and drugs downward spiral is inevitable. However beneath this, it also implies, to me, that the film is telling people that Phoenix is a great actor who could probably fool loads of people into believing that he is someone who he isn’t, especially since he’s done it once before via his portrayal of Jonny Cash…Phoenix is on top form throughout it has to be said. I really enjoyed his performance and it will keep everyone guessing as to whether it is a real or fake part of his life.

Interestingly, it doesn’t really feel like a documentary either more of a compelling, well made movie, and a very enjoyable one. I wonder if a sequel is on the cards? maybe the second ‘documentary’ could present Phoenix as being normal and doing his daily routine – which would be real and by no means a hoax…