'I'm Still Here' A Review

Subtitle: Joaquin Does Dylan
('I'm Still Here' Graffiti on Grand Ave.)

I really enjoyed 'I'm Still Here.' I think Roger Ebert said it best so I'll just quote him "If Joaquin Phoenix is acting, it's the best acting he's ever done." Initially I think it started as a pre-planned thing then as time progressed and Joaquin got deeper and deeper in it he lost his dome and actually became that 'character.' When I was watching the movie I was struck by this feeling of familiarity, after thinking about it I realized it reminded me alot of the Bob Dylan documentary 'Don't Look Back.' They both investigate celebrity and the leads seem to be playing heightened versions of themselves. Both come off as self-centered and irritating. I think Casey Affleck and Joaquin Phoenix watched 'Don't Look Back' and decided to do an updated actor version with the same 'fuck you' attitude. Mocking the idea of celebrity while totally indulging in it by making a movie investigating it. What's interesting is that scenes from 'Don't Look Back' were transcribed and used in the movie 'I'm Not There' which had a bunch of different people play Bob Dylan. 'I'm Not There' of course is an inverted version of 'I'm Still Here.' Casey Affleck came out today and said that it was a hoax. He also repeatedly said it wasn't. At this point it's subjective. The truth of if it was fake or not doesn't matter and at this point can't be verified. So what if Casey says it was a hoax at this point, maybe he's embarrassed or the movie didn't do as well as he thought so he's trying a different marketing strategy. What matters is the movie going experience. Go see it. What do you think? Also see 'Don't Look Back.' I have a copy if you want to borrow it. If you watch 'Don't Look Back' and 'I'm Still Here' back to back you'll think

Joaquin Phoenix is channeling 1965 Bob Dylan.

A Fable About Shame

There comes a certain point in a wolf cubs life where he has to leave his den.
He may be tentative about leaving.
He may not want to leave.
But at a certain point if he has not left his parents push him out of the den.
He ventures out and becomes comfortable with the world.
He has no notion of what the outside world is so he is not afraid of it.
He explores freely and enjoys the freedom outside the den.
He hunts, fishes, mates and grows strong.
But he's still a cub.
He learns as much as he can but there are still things he does not know.
He is open to mistakes because he does not know fear or caution.
He has no restrictions because he has no need of them.
One day the wolf cub encounters a bear fishing by a creek.
That is my creek! Thinks the wolf cub.
The wolf cub attacks. He does not know bears, has never seen one.
He is filled with the confidence of youth.
The bear bats the wolf cub aside like a stray horse fly.
The wolf cub's ribs are cracked and blood is matted in his fur.
He slumps back to his den.
His parents lick his wounds and leave him be.
He sits and does not leave his den.
The wounds are one thing, his injured pride is another.
How, he asks himself, could I have been so stupid? So blind to my own danger?
He does not want to leave the den, does not want to show his tail to the other wolves.
But time heals all wounds.
When he is well again the wolf cub tentatively ventures out of the den.
He goes slowly at first, but only at first, now he knows pain, danger.
He is cunning.
At some point he has become a wolf.

He has a scar but fur has overgrown it.

Caution, friend.
Do Not Forget.