Joaquin Phoenix's 'I'm Still Here' could soon be there in theaters

EXCLUSIVE: Film buyers were mystified/intrigued by Joaquin Phoenix's "I'm Still Here: The Lost Year of Joaquin Phoenix"  when they screened it last month. In the film, the actor -- er, rapper -- was seen cavorting around the screen, trying to get music industry bigwigs to pay attention to his singing, while also engaging in some pretty horrible behavior.

Now it looks like audiences will have the opportunity to be mystified/intrigued too.

Sources say that Magnolia Pictures is in final negotiations to acquire the Casey Affleck-directed documentary from seller WME Entertainment, aiming for a release in the fall.

Magnolia has worked with Phoenix before, releasing his last (final?) film, the romantic drama "Two Lovers." Release plans are still coming together, but one can imagine a multi-platform release following the theatrical one (video on-demand was an able platform for the company on "Lovers"). Magnolia declined to comment.

The new movie is a natural fit for the company; Magnolia will often take on some trickier marketing fare that the studio specialty divisions will shy away from. And this one is decidedly tricky. According to several people who've seen it, it features Phoenix having oral sex with a publicist, treating his assistants badly and rapping with no particular skill.

Of course, the entire film may be an elaborate practical joke. But that could still make for a challenge. Documentaries are already difficult sell. And the idea of Phoenix engaging in what is in many ways a 90-minute version of his infamous clip with David Letterman last year may not motivate everyone to spend $10 at the box office.

Then again, there's a lot of interest around Phoenix, and the film will no doubt be a media conversation piece. Expect plenty of publicity, as outlets will no doubt want to cover Phoenix and the film's is-it-or-isn't-it-real factor. We'd stay away from Letterman, though.

-- Steven Zeitchik and John Horn

http://twitter.com/ZeitchikLAT

http://twitter.com/JGHorn

---

Clicking on Green Links will take you to a third-party e-commerce site. These sites are not operated by the Los Angeles Times. The Times Editorial staff is not involved in any way with Green Links or with these third-party sites.

---

Comments

[emm305]

I'm an old woman. This boy is such a talented actor. It is a sin and a disgrace that he is not acting. Serious acting, not crazy porno documentaries.

What a shame. what a shame.

[Hollywood Dodger Mark]

Celebrity reaches a new low.

[san frann]

does anyone really care about this jerk?

[Jason Wallis]

An obvious fake that will bomb. JP will go back to making Gladiator 2 etc.

[h]

Wow! Everyone feels bad when there is a train wreck, but can't help to watch.

[Big Dude]

Yeah..just what i want to do...spend ten bucks and waste 2 hours watching Joaquin being an ass****..A producer friend of mine once told me: " every actor has a 'destruct button'..seems like JP has pushed his...

[Michael]

At the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab there resides a transmission electron microscope that can produce images of the most infinitesimally small particles of our universe. Even if you used that magnificent device, you could not find my interest in this film.

[17 year old]

what a shame hes waisting all his talent, his performance in Gladiator was moving, he deserves better than this, us people deserve better than this.

[Jon potter]

J P is entitled to his life the way you or I are... Let him be... Andy kaufman is being reborn here...

[Karen Harper]

I reckon he is an average actor at best. He is only famous because of his brothers name.
But funny all the same.
Just my two cents worth.