 "Photo: Universal")
Actor Joaquin Phoenix has played a variety of roles, ranging from historic figures like a power-hungry son of an emperor and Johnny Cash to ordinary people, such as a professor dealing with the loss of his son and a firefighter.
But there's no more role-playing for him anymore - or so he announced - and Phoenix is now bowing out of the Hollywood spotlight after nearly 20 years of acting.
News broke out last week that the Academy Award-nominated actor would be retiring from Hollywood at the ripe age of 34. Shying away from his clean-cut image, a scruffy-looking Phoenix appeared behind a pair of shades to "slur" an interview to the TV tabloid news show, "Extra," at a benefit on Oct. 27, according to the Associated Press. He said, "Listen, I want to take this opportunity, um, also to give you an exclusive and just talk a little bit about the fact that, um, this'll be my last performance, as an actor; I'm not doing films anymore."
While most of us, including the reporter from "Extra," saw it as Phoenix's odd attempt at a joke and him being completely drunk - or so it seemed - his comments were indeed true. His publicist later confirmed that Phoenix wouldn't be acting anymore. Instead, he plans to work on his music career - which could easily pass as a code for, "He's having a mid-life crisis."
The only music background evident to the public that Phoenix is credited for is playing Johnny Cash in "Walk the Line," for which he received a Grammy - and ironically, he didn't win an Academy Award for that same role. Fortunately enough, his attempt to make music isn't completely out of the blue, and isn't like other Hollywood actors who realize their acting career is pretty much failed so they move on to the music industry.
He confirmed his planned departure from Hollywood one more time, looking even more disheveled in his failed attempt to grow a poor lumberjack beard than he did the first time he announced his resignation. According to AP, Phoenix showed up at the premiere of his supposed final film, "Two Lovers" with the words "Good Bye!" written across his fists - except from the viewers' vantage point, it said "Bye! Good" when he displayed it to the cameras, making him look more like a nut-job, and harder for audiences to be able to take him seriously in his supposed future endeavors.
What's more disheartening is Phoenix's current behavior. He slurred his way through the interviews, stumbling awkwardly around events and letting his fists do the talking in his farewell tour. The strange actions Phoenix seems to continually display over the past week provoke a tragic memory of the fate of his brother.
For those who can't remember back far enough into the early '90s - or all you could regurgitate from then was watching Nickelodeon and playing with Polly Pocket or Matchbox cars - Phoenix was the one who made the 911 call after his brother, rising star and actor River Phoenix, collapsed outside the famed Hollywood nightclub, The Viper Room. His death was later ruled the result of a drug overdose.
The biggest fear for his fans, including myself, is that, in light of his recent conduct, he could potentially be heading down the same road his brother did. Although there's no confirmation he's popping pills or boozing heavily, it's reported that his friends are worried about him since he has had past problems battling drugs and alcohol, according to AP. The thought itself is discomforting, especially for a man who still has a bright future in the entertainment world.
But before we jump to conclusions, the best thing to do is to look forward to Phoenix's extension of his talents in his music career. We can only hope that when he isn't off his rocker, Phoenix doesn't "Out! Peace" from the Hollywood scene forever.
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