This saddens me

How do you know when a seemingly well-rounded and extremely talented actor has fallen off the wagon (or stage)? When this hits the internet. I can only question what gave Joaquin Phoenix the idea to try his hand at "rapping", but I feel like the only thing I am lead to believe is the unfortunate use of drugs. Over the last few months, he has become unrecognizable to the average movie watcher with his mad-man beard, shaggy-dog hair and absent look in his eyes. This video, however, takes him to a whole new level that I had truly hoped he would never reach.

The optimistic side of me hopes that he may have had too many Red Bull Vodkas and the drunk energy just needed a release. It also gives me the chance to imagine the day when Joaquin bushwhacks off his beard and accepts another amazing movie role in which people all over can watch with awe (and secretly wish for a cleft lip because he makes it look good).

If you are reading this Joaquin, get through whatever you need to work through, but please come back to your glory days in movies. The world misses you.

Gabby GG

Number One - Eminem

Typically, I don't like rap. One of the only rappers I've ever listened to with regularity (something that's not played on the radio constantly) is Eminem. Maybe because of how commercialized/common he was while I was in my angry-adolescent phase and how "cool" it was to like him. Anywho... his new song leaked on the internet about a week ago. (I don't understand why they use the word leaked - why not just state it as it is: "Eminem or one of his people decided it was time for the public to care about his music again and released it exclusively for internet usage.")

After giving it a listen, I'm positive it is not the best music he has ever done. Which means, in my eyes, he has already failed at his mission of 'reminding everyone how well he raps'. If you ignore the random and multiple outbursts of talking throughout the song by Dr. Dre?, the chorus is extremely hard to make out and consists of Eminem using his funny voice (which is what I have dictated his tone/pitch based on the first popular use of it in the song Just Lose It where he has the comical Pee-Wee Herman laugh). The song has been given credits of being produced by Dr. Dre, while the singing is Eminem. While listening, it seems as though Dr. Dre did as much singing (if not more - considering most of Eminem's vocals are the chorus) and I always thought of producers as a behind the scenes, silent partner, moral support character - guess I was wrong in the world of rap.

In a nut shell, I don't think this song is what he should have sent out in order to grab the attention of his fans (or former fans, seeing as how long it's been since his last song) and recreate a "need" for his rap. Sorry Marshall.

Here's the song if you want to listen for yourself.

Gabby GG