Ok, we all know that Joaquin Phoenix has “retired’ from acting to start a “hip-hop career.” He insists (with somehow keeping a straight face) the departure is not a “hoax” or an “art project.” We’re so sarcastic right now we don’t even know what’s “truth” anymore.
We’re all also aware that the upcoming James Gray film, “Two Lovers” with Vinessa Shaw and Gwyneth Paltrow is evidently his “last” film.
“Two Lovers” is actually out early OnDemand as we speak and there’s a curious scene with Phoenix’s character Leonard busting into a free spirited freestyle that’s one of his more lively scenes. And much like his recent, rather pathetic, inaugural hip-hop performance, Phoenix flubs his rap.
Now we’re not sure if his rap was written in the script, but something tell us James Gray doesn’t really write freestyles. This feels like pure unadulterated Phoenix, as in: a window to his soul and his new direction in life. Oh, yeah, and moments later in the film on the group’s way to the club Phoenix actually breakdances in the film too. No, we’re not kidding, the reverse worm and everything. Could it be that the career change is genuine and the writing was on the cinematic wall? You decide, but someone outta ask Paltrow in the press junkets, she looks positively perplexed in this scene at Phoenix’s rhyming attempts.
How those that caught “Two Lovers” at Cannes read about Phoenix’s transformation and didn’t put two and two together is beyond us. Maybe some people were too busy complaining about the wait. We should also note: the film is surprisingly good (though flawed, yes) and Phoenix and Shaw are quite great (Paltrow’s ok).