Did Director "Ruin" Joaquin Phoenix's Film Career
Feb. 13 2009, Published 5:03 a.m. ET
(Photo: Splash Photo Agency) James Gray, the director of Joaquin Phoenix's so-called last film Two Lovers is as confused about Phoenix's decision to retire from film to become a hip-hop singer as everyone seems to be.
"If it is an act, it's the most committed act I've ever seen in my life," Gray tells ABC News Radio.
Now, Gray is questioning his role in Phoenix's new direction
"Two Lovers" features a bad freestyle rap performance by Phoenix, eerily similar to his disastrous real-life rap debut. Gray revealed to ABC Radio that Phoenix was imitating him for that scene. Gray had played some of his youthful rap stuff for the actor.
"It turns out that Joaquin is imitating me in a lot of the movie. He said, 'I want to do that, I want to steal from that, I want to do the rap that you used to do.' I said, 'OK.'
"And now I'm seeing him do this thing, and I feel like I've ruined Joaquin Phoenix for the world."
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