Joaquin Phoenix

JP Liz

Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix is retiring from Hollywood - at the age of 34.
The Walk The Line star announced his plans to move away from acting at a fundraiser for late actor Paul Newman's children's charity on Monday.
Phoenix will instead focus on his budding music career.
He told Extra, "I want to take this opportunity... also to give you the exclusive and just talk a little bit about the fact that this will be my last performance as an actor... I'm not doing films anymore.
"I'm working on my music. I'm done. I've been through that."
And the news has been confirmed by his representative, who says, "That is what he told me."
Phoenix's brother-in-law Casey Affleck, who is married to Summer Phoenix, insists the star is for real: "I don't think he's kidding. He's got music and stuff."
Phoenix has made just one movie this year - romantic drama Two Lovers with Gwyneth Paltrow.
His vocal skills were applauded in 2005 when he recorded the soundtrack for the Johnny Cash biopic Walk The Line. His efforts won him a Grammy award, and he is now working on an album with British rocker Tim Burgess from The Charlatans.

He is such a great talented actor its a shame he wont do anymore films

Ay Cee

Aw man! Hopefully this will be a "rapper retirement" i.e. that will last about 6 months!

JP Liz

I so want to see him win an Oscar he was robbed for Walk The Line

Basq

It's a shame alright.. one of the more talented actors in Hollywood.

Think his performance in 'Return To Paradise' is the one I'll remember him by actually, not 'Walk The Line'.

Particularly the scene below (BIG OL' SPOILERS IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE FILM) and

where Vince Vaughn visits him in his cell, and he's a shell of his former self - tortured, starved and driven mad

. If you haven't seen 'Return to Paradise', it's a hugely under-rated movie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTC1Sr03dYE

faceman

Did anyone hear the interview with him about this? He walked out after answering a few questions. (politely but much to everyone's surprise) about 10 minutes later his publicist walked in to see how things were going!! He never told anyone he left!

JP Liz

He has never been an actor for interviews or publicity

I dont think i have ever seen a bad performance for him in any of his movies

Is he going into recording music himself or directing music videos???????

He did well on the soundtrack for Walk the Line i even preferred his versions to some of Johnny Cash's original versions

Rabies

Ah no.
Hope he comes back to movies at a later stage. Good actor, never afraid of odd character choices.

K4t

His performance in 'Gladiator' was simply incredible. Completely overshadowed Russell Crowe, who was also very good in it.

Full_Circle

Ah he'll make it back to the screen at some point. Even if his musical career takes off, I doubt he'll be able to resist making more movies, especially if the role interests him.

Feelgood

Jasus he's not doing anymore movies?. Seriously can't believe that, he is an awesome actor and haven't seen a movie with him in it that I hated...

Buffalo's Soldiers is an awesome movie with him in it...well worth a watch if your slightly twisted and haven't seen it..

ekevosu

faceman wrote: »

Did anyone hear the interview with him about this? He walked out after answering a few questions. (politely but much to everyone's surprise) about 10 minutes later his publicist walked in to see how things were going!! He never told anyone he left!

it was on the metro this morning that he told the extra tv interviewer that he was giving up acting for music and the interviewer asked him was this a joke. He stopped the interview after that.

He'll be back.

L31mr0d

His sombre narrating in "Earthlings" was second to none. I think it would of been half a documentary without his voice describing the scenes and actions you where witnessing.

lostexpectation

what music videos has he directed?

kraggy

L31mr0d wrote: »

His sombre narrating in "Earthlings" was second to none. I think it would of been half a documentary without his voice describing the scenes and actions you where witnessing.

Truth.

JP Liz

Actor Joaquin Phoenix has dismissed reports he has suffered an alcoholism relapse, after his allegedly bizarre behaviour at a recent event sparked concern over his health.

The 'Walk The Line' actor, who was treated at an alcohol rehab centre three years ago, prompted alarm when he showed up to a tribute to late actor Paul Newman last week in San Francisco.

According to the 'New York Post', other actors were performing scenes and readings, but Phoenix just got up and walked out.

A source said: "He wobbled back in a bit later, but it was odd. He was slurring his words and was unsteady on his feet."

The episode came just before the 34-year-old actor announced his plans to retire from acting at the event, prompting further concern for his wellbeing.

But a spokesperson for Phoenix has dismissed the reports, adding: "He's fine. He just wants to focus on music, and he'll be at the screening of his film 'Two Lovers' on Saturday night in LA, and he's directed a number of music videos over the past couple of years."

I hope he hasnt relapsed

JP Liz

I'm watching Parenthood at the moment - he was so talented and hot even as a teenager

Basq

Watch Space Camp.. he wasn't always talented!

Gool ol' Leaf!

thermo66

say it ain't so! He's one of the best. I don't always the movies he is in but he is always watchable and he's HOT!

D-FENS

basquille wrote: »

Watch Space Camp.. he wasn't always talented!

Yes, very shoddy work for a 12 yr old

Basq

Not sure if you're being sarcastic.. as sarcasm doesn't translate very well in text!

But it was especially a bit wooden when compared to some of the current child actors in a class of their own.. like Ivana Bacquero

D-FENS

basquille wrote: »

Not sure if you're being sarcastic.. as sarcasm doesn't translate very well in text!

But it was especially a bit wooden when compared to some of the current child actors in a class of their own.. like Ivana Bacquero

Your sarcasm detector was right to go off

Granted, there's been some good child performances, I just don't read too much into sh*te ones, especially when the canvas you have to work with is a movie like Space camp. (And he was better than Kelly Preston!)

jane86

He was amazing in Murder She Wrote a few weeks ago on RTE

Basq

D-FENS wrote: »

(And he was better than Kelly Preston!)

Jinx was better than Kelly Preston tbh!

floydmoon1

Check out his inteview with letterman.
It seems he is taking the piss or very high.

missingtime

There are rumours going around its all an act.

Casey Affleck is supposed to be secretly doing a "documentary" on his supposed rap career

pvt.joker

Hi-larious

Devious

floydmoon1 wrote: »

Check out his inteview with letterman.
It seems he is taking the piss or very high.

haha, he's definitely off his tits in that.

weemcd

^ he's putting on an act there tbh

robby^5

I doubt it's an act, I'd say he's back on the drugs and this ambition to become a rapper is a product of said drugs.

He'll sober up, detox, make a comeback and win an oscar in a few years time.

Ivan

I really dont think thats drugs tbh. He seemed bored and frustrated in the begining which no recreational drug would do unless he was coming down off it at the time of the interview, which I guess is plausible. The glasses would certainly fit that scenario.

But a guy like that, on a show like that would be taking something before he went on stage if he were using at all...

Compared to the likes of Crispin Glover's appearance in a similar capacity and you can see the differences fairly clearly

I think he was deliberately acting the way he was, one sigh could be boredom and/or frustration, three seems intentional.

And he seemed to try really hard not to laugh or smile throughout until the final bit where he appeared to laugh out of sheer hostility. Again, seemingly deliberately.

I'm begining to think there is more basis for believing it's all a joke as was mentioned.

left_behind

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