and “Walk the Line” star says, is “fraudulent” and “misery to me” — as
he tries to rock the mike in his new calling as a hip-hop performer.
Now it looks as if Phoenix is backing away from his “I’m retired” pronouncement.
Several producers have said in recent days that they
have been approached by Phoenix’s talent agents about their client’s
return to movie roles. Though no deals have been announced, the
preliminary conversations suggest that Phoenix could be in front of
cameras soon — and not just as a guest next week on “Late Show With
David Letterman,” the scene of Phoenix’s infamous monosyllabic
appearance in
Over the last several weeks, Phoenix has been
offered parts in the upcoming movies “The Raven,” “The Sitter” and “The
Avengers,” according to someone who works closely with the actor, but
he turned them down because they weren’t the right fit. Like the
producers, the person asked not to be identified so as not to
jeopardize future work with Phoenix.
Separately, two women who worked in prominent positions on “I’m Still Here” who had sued director
have settled their lawsuits against the filmmaker, a spokeswoman for
Affleck and a lawyer for the women said Monday.
Throughout the making of the film and in the run-up to its release Friday,
debated whether the movie was an authentic documentary about an artist
at a professional crossroads or a contrived piece of performance art.
Critics and audiences have argued over the endeavor’s authenticity, but
both Phoenix and Affleck have insisted that it was not a prank.
Phoenix, who appears disheveled, bloated, cavorting
with prostitutes and snorting what appears to be cocaine in “I’m Still
Here,” has gotten himself back in physical shape. In contrast to his
yeti-like appearance in the film, Phoenix showed up last week at the
Venice Film Festival well-groomed, slimmer and wearing a closely
tailored suit — looking like a movie star, in other words. Several
executives who had been interested in casting Phoenix said that they
had little doubt he would work again.
Phoenix’s talent agent, WME’s
has been open to discussions about roles for the actor, according to
one executive who asked not to be identified. The talent agency, which
never completely stopped pitching Phoenix during his apparent stint as
a rapper, declined to comment.
“I’m Still Here” opened to mediocre box-office business of
in 19 locations Friday. It goes into wider release this weekend in
about 110 locations and will be available through distributor Magnolia
Pictures’ video-on-demand outlets
Studios had not given up on Phoenix even during the
filming of “I’m Still Here,” which purports to trace Phoenix’s attempts
to get people to take his career switch seriously. “This is me changing
my life in front of your eyes,” Phoenix says to some friends at one
point in the film. “I want to leave something special on earth.”
In one scene in the movie,
offbeat love story “Greenberg” to see if Phoenix would be interested in
a starring role. (The meeting does not go well, with Phoenix insulting
Stiller and his blockbuster comedy “There’s Something About Mary.”) And
there had been interest in casting the actor in at least one other art
house movie, and likely more, in the latter half of 2009 and the early
part of 2010. But nothing came of the talks, executives said.
Phoenix’s last feature film role was in 2008’s “Two Lovers,” a drama with
that Phoenix appeared on Letterman’s talk show, where his unkempt
appearance and disjointed mumblings turned the interview into a YouTube
blockbuster.
In the film, Phoenix describes the appearance as a fiasco. “I’m so stupid,” he says. “I’m just going to be a joke forever.”
Phoenix skipped the film’s screenings at the Toronto
International Film Festival in recent days, as did Affleck (although
both attended the world premiere in
surprisingly reductive debate in the press.” Affleck declined to be
interviewed.
In July, two key crew members on “I’m Still Here” filed lawsuits against Affleck and his company,
Producer
after months of work on the film, also describing in detail how she was
“forced to endure uninvited and unwelcome sexual advances in the
workplace.” Among White’s claims: that Affleck hired transvestite
prostitutes “for his personal gratification” during filming, referred
to women as “cows,” manhandled her when she rejected his sexual
advances and instructed a camera operator to flash his genitals at her
on several occasions. She was seeking a
In a separate action, cinematographer
barrage of sexual comments, innuendo and unwelcome advances” by crew
members, encouraged by Affleck. In that suit, Gorka described awaking
one night to find the director in bed with his arm around her
“caressing her back, his face was within inches of hers and his breath
reek(ing) of alcohol.” She was seeking
In a motion filed with the court in July, an attorney for Affleck,
said White “concocted this fabricated sexual harassment lawsuit over a
year after she failed in her devious attempt (to) extort a better
production deal.”
representing both Gorka and White, declined to comment for this story.
Singer did not respond to requests for comment.
In a statement released Monday by Affleck’s
spokeswoman, the parties said the lawsuits “have been resolved to the
mutual satisfaction of the parties” and are being dismissed.
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