Playing Themselves

In this movie Paul Giamatti plays an actor named Paul Giamatti. It's not exactly clear if he's supposed to actually be himself, or if he's just playing himself more or less. I think that's his wife in the movie, like if you Google her it says she was in this, but I think maybe that's Emily Watson. They showed a clip of a movie he supposedly acted in at one point, but I couldn't tell if it was a film that existed solely in the world the movie takes place in, or if it was a real life movie that Paul Giamatti has done.

While there are other famous actors and actresses in this movie, only John Malkovich plays himself, in a manner similar to the way Paul Giamatti does it in Cold Souls. Then, the other actors and actresses play John Malkovich.

There are many TV shows (mostly sitcoms) where a comedian will play someone who has a very similar name to there's. Like in Everybody Loves Raymond, Ray Romano plays Raymond Barone and in Two and a Half Men, Charlie Sheen plays Charlie Harper. Then there are shows like Seinfeld that take it further. Making the main character have the same type of career and even the same name entirely. Seinfeld is probably the most famous example of this. If I were to list them all, this list would fill up with mostly TV shows, so I won't do that.

Pretty much every character in this movie is an actor playing themselves. Not just in name or in spirit like in the first three titles on this list. They literally play themselves entirely, histories and all. The twist is that it's the apocalypse. I can only think of one recognizable actor that didn't seem to play themselves in the movie, and that was Brian Huskey. The name won't sound familiar, but he's just one of those guys that you see in movies and TV shows here and there. Admittedly, pretty much everyone was playing a slightly exaggerated version of themselves, but other that that it was them.

This is a tricky movie to place. Joaquin Phoenix is not only playing himself in the movie, but pretty much every single person, even background characters are 100% themselves. Is it a documentary? Well... kind of. The thing is every person is playing themselves, except for Joaquin Phoenix. He's still actor Joaquin Phoenix, but throughout the entire movie he acts like a different person. Can you imagine the star of Walk the Line trying to get into the rap industry? That's the kind of stuff Joaquin Phoenix does in this movie.

Now I said I wasn't going to put anymore TV shows based around comedians playing a character that is basically supposed to represent themselves, but this isn't really that at all. It just so happens that Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 has actor James Vanderbeek star as a major recurring character on the show, where he plays himself, James Vanderbeek. He's not the star but I figured I'd include it anyway.

Congratulations. You got an honorary mention.