This movie is absolutely brilliant.

Some people consider this a misstep in Joaquin Phoenix's career, but I just rewatched it for the first time since its release. In the context of the films that followed (The Master, Her, Inherent Vice...), this is a real turning point in his career, the beginning of a second phase where he truly commits everything to become a new character.

This put on, where he pretends to lose complete control of himself, is really him exercising total control over himself.

On top of his masterful performance is the concept behind the whole film is so wonderfully satirical and says so much about the fickle nature and hollowness of celebrity in Hollywood.