I'm Still Here, directed by Casey Affleck, was released in 2010 and caused a stir in the media and entertainment industry. The film portrays Joaquin Phoenix's year-long experiment with method acting, in which he publicly announced his retirement from film and instead focused on pursuing a career in hip-hop music.
Throughout the film, Phoenix engages in erratic behavior, including drug use, bizarre interviews, and a now-infamous appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman. Many viewers and critics were unsure whether Phoenix's behavior was genuine or a performance.
The film offers an unflinching look at the toll that fame and celebrity can take on an individual, and how it can lead to a desire to escape one's public persona. It also explores the lengths to which an artist may go to reinvent themselves creatively.
Overall, I'm Still Here is a thought-provoking and controversial documentary that challenges viewers to question their perceptions of celebrity and the roles that actors play both on and off screen.