Joaquin Phoenix: Train Wreck or Farce?

Celebrity retirement is one of those concepts that never seem to pan out in reality. Very few actually give up stardom, but rather fade from the spotlight after a fall from grace. The smart ones leverage their fame into a new career, while the others tirelessly try to stay relevant appearing on talk shows and game shows.

Last fall, Joaquin Phoenix announced his retirement from acting and his transition into a rap music career. His recent appearance on the David Letterman Show highlighted the fact that some actors are willing to do anything for attention. Is faking your retirement for a project worth the bad publicity?

Joaquin’s spiral into D-list celebrity has rife with various journalist crying “bullshit” after spotting Casey Affleck in tow with camera, taping for a documentary of Phoenix’s transition from actor to rapper. The big rumor is that this is his attempt to capitalize on the absurd ‘mockumentry’ film made Sasha Cohen’s “Borat” a hit. Unlike Borat, Phoenix’s new project has been in the spotlight from day one. His shtick in the media has been to try to pull off this burnt out artist. I’m not sure if this is a high concept or some over-the-top character, but the actual act is wearing thin.

Phoenix isn’t alone. Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan and the casts of Celebrity Rehab have shown us that when the might fall, they have no problem ignoring the core issue and returning to bad habits — over and over. While there is speculation that Joaquin’s act isn’t an act, the Phoenix family’s history of depression and drug use could make the story plausible.

If you haven’t seen it — check out the David Letterman clip. The sunglasses seem to be a giveaway that this all might be an act. Letterman won this round.

Photo: Access Hollywood

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