If this film represented the unaltered truth, it would be a cruel exercise indeed. But viewing it with the knowledge it's a cinematic fabrication/hoax/social experiment/etc., it's a more complicated, entertaining experience, not without flaws, but also not inhumane, undiluted torture. At the heart of the film is, of course, Joaquin Phoenix, delivering a performance destined to be a controversial, lambasted, and, in certain circles, beloved chapter in his career. Actor Phoenix vanishes into the role of "J.P.," former actor, aspiring hip hop artist, fractured/vicious human being. It's a hard-to-watch, but 100 percent engaging performance, and he remains one of the most gifted living American actors. As a film in general, Casey Affleck's I'm Still Here is decent. There are captivating sequences--Phoenix's two meetings with record producer Sean Combs, his poignant trip to Panama to see his "father" (played, per the end credits, by a man with the last name Affleck). It's also compelling, and a bit upsetting, to see Phoenix's infamous Letterman interview in context. Also, expect to see several famous faces; the cameos include Mos Def, Jack Nicholson, Bruce Willis and, best, Ben Stiller, hoping to cast Phoenix in the Greenberg role which went to Rhys Ifans.

B/B+

I will never see this shit.

And my positive reaction doesn't sway you?

Has anyone else here seen this since its DVD/Blu-ray release?

I still feel it's very entertaining (in its own perverse way) and interesting, yet it's obviously destined to be remembered more for the surrounding hoopla than the actual picture itself.

Very unpleasant.

D-