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I'm Still Here Review

Movies.com Critics

2.5

Dave White Profile

A new Leaf. Minus showers. Read full review

Other Critics provided by Metacritic.com

Critics scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 3.0
    48

    out of 100

    Metascore®
    Mixed or average reviews
    based on a weighted average of all
    critic review scores.

  • 0

    out of 100

    Chicago Tribune Michael Phillips

    Rarely has the question of a documentary's artifice mattered less. I genuinely hated this picture, almost as much as I've admired Phoenix's work in everything from "Gladiator" to "Walk the Line" and even the hackneyed but affecting "Two Lovers."

    Read Full Review

  • 25

    out of 100

    USA Today Claudia Puig

    It's really not much fun - in fact it's painful - to watch an actor on the verge of a nervous breakdown. It almost doesn't matter if the psyche in question is imploding artificially - as in staged - or organically.

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  • 30

    out of 100

    Los Angeles Times Kenneth Turan

    Fake or not, I'm Still Here is no fun to watch, and in fact Phoenix's situation comes off as so dire that it becomes a reason to doubt the film's authenticity. Filming someone having a mental breakdown is embarrassing and exploitative at best.

    Read Full Review

  • 50

    out of 100

    Village Voice

    At once deeply felt and devastatingly cynical, I'm Still Here's bone-dry satire couldn't exist without the celebrity media feedback loop. But its apparent attack on the Hollywood machine is so insidery, so vicious, that to us-the everyday consumer-it's just not clear why this stunt needed to exist at all.

    Read Full Review

  • 70

    out of 100

    Variety Leslie Felperin

    An utterly fascinating experiment that apparently blends real and faked material to examine notions of celebrity, mental stability and friendship.

    Read Full Review

  • 70

    out of 100

    The New York Times Manohla Dargis

    My guess is that after years of being the trick pony, he wanted to see what it was like to be the ringmaster.

    Read Full Review

  • 70

    out of 100

    The Hollywood Reporter

    This sporadically engrossing mockumentary, which gets better as it rolls along, must have been planned way back before Phoenix bombed on "Late Show With David Letterman."

    Read Full Review

  • 75

    out of 100

    Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

    A sad and painful documentary that serves little useful purpose other than to pound another nail into the coffin. Here is a gifted actor who apparently by his own decision has brought desolation upon his head.

    Read Full Review

  • 91

    out of 100

    Entertainment Weekly Owen Gleiberman

    An artful piece of exploitation vrit.

    Read Full Review

  • See all I'm Still Here reviews at Metacritic.com

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For Families provided by Common Sense Media

not for kids

Bad behavior from movie star Joaquin Phoenix isn't for kids.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that I'm Still Here is presented as a documentary about actor Joaquin Phoenix, who began behaving strangely in the spring of 2009, when he claimed to be retiring from acting to embark upon a career in rap music. Directed by Phoenix's friend/brother-in-law Casey Affleck, the film was revealed to be an elaborate stunt/hoax after it was released, but that doesn't change the fact that it showcases some truly awful behavior, including an onslaught of foul language (particularly "f--k"), drugs, booze, and sex with prostitutes (there's both male and female nudity, as well as some scenes that almost show actual sex acts taking place). Although it's definitely not for kids, the movie does provide an interesting commentary on pampered, spoiled celebrities.

  • Families can talk about Phoenix's behavior in the film -- including swearing, drinking, smoking, drugs, and fighting. Were there any consequences for his actions? If not, should there have been? What do you think would happen to non-celebrities who behaved this way?
  • What is the movie saying about celebrities? Is it out to convey a specific message? Is it successful?
  • It turns out that Phoenix's behavior here is part of a hoax. Is it funny? What do you think Phoenix and Affleck's goal was?

The good stuff
  • message true0

    Messages: Phoenix essentially quits a job that he doesn't like to start a new one that suits him better. There might have been some inspiration to others if that was all, but he goes about this life change in a spoiled, selfish, and aggravating way, alienating all those who would help him. The fact that the film isn't actually a real documentary but was staged to look that way doesn't change the fact that this is what viewers who aren't in on the "joke" will take away from the movie.

  • rolemodels true0

    Role models: The film presents Phoenix as shockingly spoiled and selfish. He treats those around him with anger and contempt. He's slovenly, unkempt, and consumes drugs and alcohol. And he gets away with all of these things because of his celebrity, and there's little or no consequence. Yes, the whole thing is actually an elaborate stunt, with Phoenix playing a "character" version of himself, but that "character" is still a poor role model.

What to watch for
  • violence false2

    Violence: Phoenix fights with his personal assistant -- mostly verbally, but once there's a face slap, and in another scene, there's a full-on brawl after a disgruntled assistant defecates on Phoenix while the actor sleeps, and Phoenix wakes up and starts fighting. There's also a fight at a concert.

  • sex false5

    Sex: Several men (not Phoenix) are shown fully naked. In one scene, Phoenix browses sexy pictures on the internet, hires two prostitutes, and uses crude sexual language. The prostitutes are seen naked (with their faces blurred out) and partly (almost) engaged in sexual acts.

  • language false5

    Language: This movie could set a record for the most frequent onscreen use of "f--k," though it will be up to others to do the actual counting (it's easily over 200). Also fairly frequent uses of "s--t" and "bitch," as well as occasional uses of "d--k," "c--t," "Jesus Christ" (as an exclamation), "oh my God," "c--ksucker," "ass," and the "N" word.

  • consumerism false0

    Consumerism: Not an issue

  • drugsalcoholtobacco false4

    Drinking, drugs and smoking: A secondary character is an alcoholic. Phoenix is seen smoking cigarettes and pot, snorting coke, and drinking beer.

An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology.

© Common Sense Media Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.

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Fan Reviews provided by

Average Rating: 2.941
Read all reviews Write a review at Fandango
5

Really Good by Joshzanow
I would first like to say that in order to enjoy this film you have to be a Fan of Joaquin, if you are not don't even go. If you are you are in for such a treat. This film was so surprising, Clever, Funny, Sad, Poetic and very unique. Just a few words I would use to describe this film. I am still not sure if this is real or not. Must See!

4

I'm Still Here for real by everyweek60706
Actors pretending to be somebody else in a made up story - why the very idea! It appears this movie is an attack on reality actors who are in fact scabs. COPS is credited with being the first reality show and a direct response to the last SAG strike. The freaks who appear on Springer and the like are paid minimum scale as actors. One of the Letterman writers claims written evidence that Dave knew Joaquin was playing a character in the famous first interview. In the second interview Joaquin says the project was motivated by the 'reality' issue. I find the whole thing fascinating, the Letterman interviews, the movie, the news stories. The movie doesn't seem to be about celebrity but more about work and career management. The subject matter of the film is disgusting stuff, it got me out and into the city on a work night at twice what I usually spend, but it was well worth it.

5

tres

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