I'm Still Here (2010)

Throughout his film career, Joaquin Phoenix has taken on plenty of iconic roles — from Commodus in Gladiator (2000) and Johnny Cash in Walk the Line (2005) to his titular turns in Joker (2019) and Napoleon (2023). Yet none have been so bizarre or confusing as when he played a fictional version of himself in the mockumentary I’m Still Here (2010), not to be confused with the Todd Haynes film I’m Not There (2007). To further complicate matters, Joaquin would later star in Lynne Ramsay’s thriller You Were Never Really Here (2017). The R-rated film at hand is directed by actor Casey Affleck (who co-wrote the script with Phoenix). This faux documentary follows Joaquin’s supposed transition from actor to rapper. Indeed, we watch Phoenix fly off to parties and rehearsals as he tries to break into the ever changing hip-hop industry. Along the way, he encounters Ben Stiller, Billy Crystal, Bruce Willis, Danny DeVito, Danny Glover, Edward James Olmos, Jack Nicholson, Hugh Grant, Jamie Foxx, Mos Def, Natalie Portman, Robin Wright, and Sean Penn all playing cinematic versions of themselves. The same goes for Larry McHale, who flashes his abs, sack and shaft as he emerges from the bath. In other words, the nude dude’s privates go public 12 minutes into the movie! Not to be outdone, Anton (Antony Langdon) pulls out his perfect peen to impress a prostitute. He later goes full frontal again when a shirtless Joaquin chases him around the house whipping him with a towel. Speaking of towels…