Crazy Funny or Crazy Crazy

Joaquin Phoenix's recent appearance on Letterman has understandably raised a lot of eyebrows. Throughout the interview a disheveled and heavily bearded Phoenix answers Letterman's questions by giving monosyllabic mumbles or by saying nothing at all. The star of Walk the Line and the just released Two Lovers, alternates between despondency and being aggravated by questions that he is being asked about a movie he's there to promote, at one point even sticking his gum to the bottom of Dave's desk. He goes on to tell Letterman and the audience that he is giving up acting to pursue a career in hip-hop. This seems to make sense given another recent video to surface of the actor on stage attempting to rap (emphasis on attempting) before falling off said stage.
So what's up with Phoenix? For one thing, we know that he has been in rehab in the past. We also know his own brother River Phoenix died of a drug overdose and often appeared disheveled and erratic himself. But here's the kicker - we also know that Phoenix is being followed around by his brother-in-law Casey Affleck, as well as a film crew. Affleck is apparently filming a movie about Phoenix's move from film to music. All this begs the question - was Phoenix's appearance on Letterman a joke? Is Affleck's "documentary" really going to be a mockumentary? The persona that Phoenix showed us in the interview had the makings of Andy Kaufman all over it, no doubt, and pay special attention to the end of the interview. Before walking off stage he says, "good job" to Dave, takes off his sunglasses and smiles. This begs the second question as to whether or not Dave was in on the joke. In the first couple minutes it looks very well like he could be, but as things go even further downhill it's hard to tell whether his cutting wit is out of frustration or just part of the gag. If it turns out that he is part of it, job well done, and if he isn't, then he's indeed very good at his job. Only time will tell if we are witnessing one of our generations better actors fall extremely hard from grace (and the occasional stage) or if he's playing his greatest part yet. Me, I'm betting on this being one funny movie.