I have been thinking about I'm Still Here since I watched it. Trying to find what is the point, not understanding exactly why.
On one side I could see the motivation of Joaquin Phoenix to break the mold he was being put in at the peak of his career but after this I couldn't go further. I might be getting a little closer to the point now.
The main point is not what happens during the film but that it is a lie. He had no intention of leaving acting, he had no intention to pursue a hip-hop career, it was a blatant lie.
Doubts arise regarding the lifestyle that is portrayed in the film, i.e drugs, prostitutes, procrastination, looks, personality traits, speech, etc. However,I assume it it a lie as well.
The film is so shocking that I forgot the most important point: It is a lie.
Joaquin Phoenix said on Letterman that the film explores the relationship between celebrity, the media, and the consumers. I am beginning to understand why he said that. First of all, the media lies all the time.They fabricate stories, mostly about celebrities. They sell lies to the consumers and they buy them.
Now, in this case Joaqui Phoenix and Casey Affleck flipped the coin: they told a lie themselves and sold it to the media who in turn sold it to the consumers.
It is briliant when you think about it because it is the first time that a celebrity took action in a creative way.
there is also the reality show side of it. Watching someone successful falling from grace and making fun of him becaue he is not doing what he is expected to do andvbeing treated as a looser. The culture of win/fail doesn't leave room to self-discovery.It's not about wining or loosing but about doing what you love and feeling good with one self. Of course main stream media is not interested in this. They target our lowest instincts and contaminate our consciousness with gossip and sensational melodramatic stories. Joaquin gave them what they wanted but it was a lie.
The consumers aren't free of criticism. If all of this exists is because there is a demand.
I will talk about my personal experience. I never used to care about celebrities until I needed evasion from reality.
I am blessed for I have analitical skills but I would dare to say that most people, specially in america, don't.
So, what is the role of the tabloids? To fill the empty lives of the consumers with stories about famous people.
What is the role of celebs? To create stories for the media to sell to empty people. Voluntarily or not.
Who gets more benefit? The mediator between celebs and consumers.
It shows the nature of the ppl behind this. the biz ppl who have destroyed culture, humanity, and he general intellectual capacity of society.Their job is to contribute to ppl staying empty for as long as there is a void it will need to be filled continuously with more gossip. No principles, no ethics, just greed. The only way for consumers to break free is discipline. Consumers are portrayed as passive agents but in reality they/we have the most power. It all depends to see that we have a choice. Te choice to say yes or no.
Edited by user Monday, December 12, 2011 4:43:54 PM(UTC)
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