Joaquin Phoenix visits David Letterman again -- and this time Dave wants cash [video] [poll]

 

Joaquin Phoenix stopped by to chat with David Letterman on Wednesday night, and to explain what exactly had happened the last time he was on Dave's show -- the night in early 2009 when he showed up in character for the now-we-know-it's-fake documentary "I'm Still Here."

One little problem, the way Letterman sees it: If the flick isn't a documentary, does that whole "fair use" thing still apply to the footage of the interview they used in the movie ? Because the lawyers say maybe it doesn't, and maybe they could sue? And, um, could he have $1 million now please? Then there's the matter of his appearance fee ...

Phoenix gave Letterman straight "no" answers when asked if the host knew what was going on in the first interview, or if they were working from a script. Never mind that one of the Letterman's writers said last week that the boss was in on the joke.

PREACH IT! It's goodbye, Amanda Bynes. Or is it hello? [poll]

We’ve been treated to another celebrity "bombshell" via Twitter: Actress Amanda Bynes, onetime star of the TV series “What I Like About You,” has taken to the Internet to announce her retirement.

"Being an actress isn't as fun as it may seem," said Bynes, 24. "If I don't love something anymore, I stop doing it. I don't love acting anymore, so I've stopped doing it."

So does that mean we’ll never see Bynes again? Maybe. Or, seriously, maybe not.

Even in show business, where people issue press releases for everything from weddings to death denials -- people rarely confirm retirements. That is, they rarely confirm real retirements.

Joaquin Phoenix announced his flight from film in October 2008, only to signal several times that the joke was on us. He filmed a "documentary" -- which turned out to be a mockumentary -- about a supposed foray into rap. And the whole time, he managed to stay in the occasional spotlight through a gig in Vegas here, an appearance on Letterman there. Point is, he didn’t retire, not really.

Neither did Jay-Z, who also went into retirement. Until he came out of it.

(Yes, for the record, we know Leonard Nimoy recently announced his farewell to film too. But he’s 79, so something tells us that one is real.)

So: Back to Amanda Bynes. Which kind of retirement is this: the Jay-Z or the Nimoy?

Madonna, Elton John, Quentin Tarantino and more hit Soho House for a star-packed pre-Oscar party in WeHo

And they call this a soft open?

Soho House held a preview party Thursday night in West Hollywood, receiving an embarrassment of bold names at its newest venue. The members-only club, which has outposts already in London and New York, partnered with Grey Goose to open its doors to Madonna, Elton John, Quentin Tarantino, Natalie Portman, Harvey Weinstein, Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony, Kellan Lutz, Rachel Zoe, Josh Hartnett, and Clive Owen.

If only the Academy Awards could bring out better celebs (insert appropriately ironic sound effect here).

The stars gathered in the penthouse of the exclusive Sunset Boulevard property to celebrate Sunday's big show and raise awareness for RADD, aka "the entertainment industry's voice for road safety." The select, wall-to-wall crowd snacked on steak tartare and Champagne in the redesigned space that the club had rented for a week of sneak-peek Oscars parties in 2008.

Maggie Gyllenhaal chatted on the balcony with Topher Grace, while a newly single Ryan Phillippe bobbed and weaved through a crowd that also included Joaquin Phoenix, James Cameron, Emile Hirsch, Ben Silverman, Rosanna Arquette, Matt Dillon and Guy Oseary. 

Madge, clad in a silver top and black fur-lined coat, hit it off with "Star Trek" and "Heroes" star Zachary Quinto. The two were so chummy they carried their lovefest from the balcony to a table inside.

Arty or party? The stars divide at MOCA's 30th birthday

The transformative power of art has nothing on the transformative power of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie -- who turned L.A.'s Museum of Contemporary Art's 30th anniversary gala into a contender for social event of the decade Saturday night.

MOCA trustees and tons of bold names stepped out for shmoozing and a much-hyped performance art piece from Francesco Vezzoli, the center of which was Lady Gaga unveiling her new single "Speechless."

We were mostly speechless over the sheer star presence, like at Grey Goose vodka's pre-ceremony cocktail hour -- where Guy Ritchie worked the room solo swilling a martini, French Vogue editor Carine Roitfeld pouted and Kate Beckinsale allowed passers-by to watch as she radiated insane beauty.

Below the bash's elevated bar was the heavily curated anniversary art collection, which required, before viewing, that any booze be checked at the door. Quelle horreur!

The brave names ditching their bubbly for art's sake: Chloe Sevigny, Eva Mendes, Zoe Saldana, Diablo Cody, Neil Patrick Harris and James Franco.

Those who preferred to stay on the surface to sip?