Poor guy.

There are so many hilarious bits in this interview. I love how Letterman doesn't pull any punches, goes right after the guy for his behavior, and just laughs at how ridiculous the interview is.

So bizarre... I have to wonder, does the guy have some sort of mental disorder? It's seems unlikely he's acting.

I don't know he could be acting for some reason. I think he's on drugs which seems sad and scary knowing that his brother died of an overdose. Hope he makes it out ok.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFbiNwrBILU

scary.

Tags for this video have been changed from 'Two Lovers, Hip hop, Gwyneth Paltrow, Isabella Rossellini, Vinessa Shaw' to 'Two Lovers, Hip hop, Late Nite, David Letterman, Joaquin, Phoenix, Feb 11, Paltrow' - edited by yoghurt

He's probably tried drugs, but he's probably not on drugs. Na, this appears to be a sad case of celebrity narcissism; an unfortunate complex of egotism thrust upon so-called (or self-perceived) "creatives" and "artists" of that ilk.

I think he should stick to rapping.

Letterman's the consummate professional.. love that Farrah Faucet crack & Paul's laughter is great timing.

Did he take his gum back off from under the desk and start chewing it again?

Interesting article on perhaps the whole thing being an Andy Kaufmanesque hoax:

http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2009/01/joaquin-phoenix.html

And the response from his publicist who, of course, says it's all on the up and up:

http://news-briefs.ew.com/2009/01/joaquin-phoen-1.html

*drugs

Adding video to channels (Drugs) - requested by dystopianfuturetoday.

From a marketing perspective it sounds pretty ingenious.

How many quality actors do you know, with such a reputation that you may be interested in illegally downloading/paying to watch their movies, almost solely to see their performance suddenly announce, 'that's enough for me, I'm going to rap'?

Not many I don't think. And as much of a trainwreck I expect his new album to sound like, I don't think I can not resist listening to it. Perhaps not longer than 15 seconds, I'd actually want to hear what it sounds like.


also, I didn't ever think of it as a hoax until I saw that kaufman-esque comment - which I didn't read, but it goes along with the beard. The beard amplifies the shocking news doesn't it? But it also goes in with the idea that he's doing this behind a mask. Might be reading too much into the beard, but oh well. That said, didn't Letterman 'go along' with one of Andy's 'pranks' before?

I'm pretty confident he's setting this all up. He's an actor, and a good one. I uploaded a clip of him rapping in Las Vegas, but didn't get the votes. Check it out if you're interested.

That's one hell of a commitment, if it's a set-up. I'd bet everything against it.

*dead

This published video has been declared non-functional; embed code must be fixed within 2 days or it will be sent to the dead pool - declared dead by berticus.

Well, the new embed code is for CBS's half complete, official 5:04 version of the interview. For whatever reason, the moronic Powers That Be decided that they didn't want the full 10:49 version floating around out there if they didn't put it up there themselves, despite it being nothing but free f'ing publicity for them. If someone else finds it, feel free to fix it, until then, we're going to have to use the half interview.

Comment hidden because you are ignoring dag.(show it anyway)

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LOL!! The fact that they played Pearl Jam's "Life Wasted" during the commercial break is just perfect! I wonder if Joaquin will ever look back at this interview, sober, and get the joke?

This link is working for now :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVg-c9P2CKc

his initial 'retirement' announcement:
http://www.videosift.com/video/Joaquin-Phoenix-s-initial-retirement-announcement

I'm going with the Kaufman-esque hoax theory. According to the Internets, it's supposedly for an upcoming mockumentary he's doing with friend Casey Affleck. If so, then that's some dedication to your profession (8 months so far consistently in-character is it?).

Sasha Baron Cohen has a rival. That is all.

It's unlikely that an actor would be acting?

>> ^Xax:
There are so many hilarious bits in this interview. I love how Letterman doesn't pull any punches, goes right after the guy for his behavior, and just laughs at how ridiculous the interview is.
So bizarre... I have to wonder, does the guy have some sort of mental disorder? It's seems unlikely he's acting.

Reminds me very much of Crispin Glover's infamous appearance:
http://www.videosift.com/video/Crispin-Glover-on-Letterman-1987

I love that he laughed at the last joke... "Joaquin I'm sorry you couldn't be here tonight."

alec baldwin did a funny (brief) impression of him on Conan

It looks like a hoax to me. Casey Affleck is filming a documentary about Pheonix's road to becoming a rapper, which smells a lot like a mocumentary when you consider the red carpet incident where Affleck did a poor acting job of seeming dismayed by the interviewer's line of questioning.

Man, I will be seriously floored and impressed if it turns out to be a hoax.

>> ^thinker247:
It's unlikely that an actor would be acting?


With that kind of commitment? Of course it is, absolutely. I think it's genius if that turns out to be the case, but it sure as hell doesn't seem likely to me.

not a fake, i know addicts when i see addicts. also, check out the dudes history. hes an addict .an addict is an addict is an addict. and they really dont think this sort of shit is funny when theyre sober or not.

i know letterman was trying to make the best of it. but im kind of disgusted. the dudes sick and he really hates all of you. and its not funny.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDZl22QUl20

What a damn shame.

If this is a hoax I'm not sure what value this particular scene would have to Affleck's mockumentary.

Embed changed back to the full 10:48 version, care of evil_disco_man (thanks). This embed may not last due to CBS's meddling. For now it does.

The question I kept asking myself while watching this: "If this is the real him, why would he want to be out in public?"

I just hope he is alright. Great actor.

P.S.
Correct me if I am wrong, but I think with the new YT embed it is now *unblocked

This video has been declared as having a corrected embed that is not Region Blocked - unblocked by maatc.

You know I always pegged him as one who'd go over the deep end eventually. Didnt expect it too be in this way though.

Sadly *dead

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This is either really sad, or a poor imitation of the Andy Kaufman one. Either way, it's getting the guy some attention, for sure.

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