Joaquin Phoenix displays words written on his fists as he poses for photos at the Los Angeles premiere of the movie "Che" during the AFI Fest 2008 at the Grauman's Chinese theatre in Hollywood, Calif., in 2008.Reuters
When you think about it, Hollywood's all about hoaxing (Leonardo di Caprio really didn't die when the doomed Titanic sank, but it sure looked like he did). However, is a hoax still a hoax if it's not believable?
The Mob Blog had to ponder this question Thursday morning when it, with other media, received a "press release" saying a Joaquin Phoenix impostor "is on the loose making red carpet appearances everywhere" at this year's TIFF.
"Fans are being tricked and disillusioned by the fraud who arrives by limousine and is accompanied" by security personnel and "scantily clad female [as opposed to male]groupies." Apparently, the impostor is fond of declaring: "It is the other Joaquin Phoenix who is the fake!"
Uh-huh.
It's true that Joaquin Phoenix's latest movie, what some are calling "an alleged documentary" going by the title I'm Still Here, is having its North American premiere in Toronto Friday evening. Directed by Joaquin's brother-in-law, Casey Affleck, the film is a chronicle of Phoenix's supposed descent into supposed madness after he supposedly quit the acting biz close to two years ago to become a rapper. It's also true that Phoenix, the real Phoenix, allegedly, was spotted earlier this week in Venice where I'm Still Here was having its world premiere.
But those are about all the facts - or should that be "facts"? - you can trust. A lot of critics are already saying Affleck's effort should be subtitled F for Fake. And as for those red carpet appearances everywhere? The first TIFF screening occurred hours after the release was issued: at 6 p.m. Thursday, in fact, at the funky Ryerson Theatre, and the movie was Film Socialism by perennial crowd-pleaser Jean-Luc Godard.
A call to the Georgia media company paid to put out the release elicited the admission that "some kind of a prank [is]scheduled" Friday - an apparent reference to a supposed press conference set to occur at 8:45 p.m. outside the Toronto theatre where I'm Still Alive is to be shown. The release says Casey Affleck and his team are aware of the con man, "have been in touch with him" and plan to issue an "official statement" concerning the misrepresentation.
The Mob Blog can hardly wait. Not. Staff