Dear Frontier Psychiatrist,

What’s up with the new Joaquin Phoenix project?

-Emperor Comedius

Dear Emperor,

This project is a veritable cornucopia of psychopathology, so much so that the American Psychiatric Association may need to release a special “DSM-Phoenix.”  For those not aware of the details, the man who played Johnny Cash announced in early 2009 that he would be taking a hiatus from Hollywood in an effort to develop his nascent career in hip-hop.  Said effort would be filmed for a documentary to be directed by brother-in-law Casey Affleck. Phoenix made his impromptu debut in Culver City, California with the following performance:

Indeed.  Strange antics ensued, including this now infamous interview on David Letterman:

This fantastic show in Miami (please watch to the end):

And all sorts of other crazy shit.  Now word comes via numerous sources that the aforementioned documentary The Lost Year of Joaquin Phoenix will be released via Magnolia Pictures on September 10.

The pertinent question, of course, is whether Joaquin Phoenix is a) involving us all in a Sascha Baron Cohen style ruse, b) genuinely mentally ill, or c) both.  Choice a) is the most obvious answer; apparently even potential buyers of the film were unsure as to its honesty.  Indeed, while one’s initial impression might be that one’s leg is being pulled, it’s hard to imagine the mischievous but rather benign Borat, for example, snorting cocaine off the breasts of a prostitute on camera.

That being said, it’s difficult to conclude that Phoenix has a genuine mental illness, despite what some “relationship experts” might say.  He’s far too organized for a schizophrenic (he actually showed up to the Letterman interview and several others, for example, tolerated the presence of a large audience, and responded appropriately if oddly to questioning), and he’s far too in control for someone in the midst of a manic episode.  There’s no question that his problems may be substance-induced, but changing his entire career in such a calculated way seems out of step with that explanation as well.

So, most likely, this is indeed an elaborate piece of “performance art” in which Phoenix simply attempts to mystify, disgust, and weird-out all of us.  One could legitimately ask if this behavior itself should constitute a mental illness.  One thing’s for certain: we’ll all be paying for tickets.  I suppose the joke’s on us.

Dear Frontier Psychiatrist,

What do you think of the group Chilly Gonzalez playing in the background of the new iPad commercial “Delicious”?:

Chilly Gonzales – “Never Stop (Rap Mix)”

-Not Working for Apple

Dear Not Working,

Chilly Gonzales (known at times as just Gonzales) is not a group, but in fact a single dude.  And what a dude he is.  Born Jason Beck, Gonzales released his debut album Gonzales Uber Alles in 2000 and has had a productive and varied career since.  He has released (tongue-in-cheek) hip-hop records and records of solo piano improvisations; he has produced records for the more commercially successful Feist (apparently, Apple has a predilection for his work), appeared on tracks with Jamie Lidell, managed to set the world record for longest continuous piano performance (27 hours 3 minutes and 44 seconds), and once challenged Andrew WK to a solo piano duel:

Bizarre, but impressive.  In short, the Quebecois crooner has accomplished quite a bit in his short career.  His new film Ivory Tower, for which he co-wrote both the score and screenplay, is due in theaters this fall.  But perhaps, like Feist before him, it will take an  Apple commercial will give him the recognition he deserves.

Have a musical query? Write to Ask a (Frontier) Psychiatrist, and we’ll provide a therapeutic solution.