casey affleck

Joaquin Phoenix apologized to David Letterman on 'The Late Show' (weeknights, 11:35PM ET on CBS) for his previous bizarre appearance on the show back in February 2009.

That interview was a memorable event for all concerned.

Back then, Joaquin sported a long beard, unruly hair and dark sunglasses. He muttered his way through his 10-minute segment on the show, barely answered any questions, and then bizarrely announced that he was quitting acting to start a new career as a rapper.

Well, since that last interview, Joaquin has released the "mockumentary" 'I'm Still Here,' which he shot along with his friend Casey Affleck. The movie purports to cover his "lost period" -- and features full-frontal male nudity, topless call girls, tons of drugs, and a now-infamous scene involving defecation. However, following the movie's release, director Affleck revealed that the entire thing was a hoax.

Tonight, Joaquin was back on 'Letterman,' to explain what in the world he was thinking. Let's hear what he has to say for himself, shall we?

Now that the cat is out of the bag, confirming the long-running theories that Joaquin Phoenix's very public psychological meltdown was in fact part of a bizarre movie project he was doing, The film's director, Casey Affleck, went on 'The Tonight Show' (Weeknights, 11:35PM on NBC) to try and clarify exactly what's been going on, including Phoenix's infamous bearded and off-kilter appearance on the 'Late Show' in January 2009.

When Jay Leno asked Affleck directly if David Letterman was in on the hoax, Affleck answered evasively. "Neither Joaquin or I ever talked to Dave," he said, leaving it wide open that someone else involved could have filled him in. "I told [Paul] Shaffer, but he's not going to tell anybody," Affleck joked.

The folks at our sister site Cinematical are working hard to give you news and reviews of the best -- and worst -- the silver screen has to offer. Here are some of their musings on the latest blockbusters, indies, and everything in between:

• Cinematical is at Sundance and writer Eric Snyder outs fellow blogger, Defamer's Stu Van Airsdale as a joke thief. FACT: Cold weather and Mormons bring out the worst in people.
• So what do you make of the whole "Joaquin Phoenix as a rapper" thing? Personally, I think it's a joke or an over-extended performance piece. Regardless, Casey Affleck is making a documentary about Phoenix's quest. Share your thoughts over on Cinematical.
• If freezing your ass off in your own town isn't enough for you, you can imagine what you would be doing while freezing your ass off in Park City, Utah when you read Sundance in 60 Seconds.
• After seeing a trailer, I twittered that I couldn't think of a movie more unappealing than Bride Wars. I quickly got a reply from a movie reviewer friend who said, "Paul Blart: Mall Cop. Trust me." See if she was right when Cinematical reviews Paul Blart: Mall Cop.
• January is pretty much a dead zone for movies. Cinematical was able to find seven decent ones, though. Go figure. Check out the Cinematical Seven: Great January Movies.