American Fame Pt. 1: Drowning River Phoenix

2004
11m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

American Fame Pt. 1: Drowning River Phoenix (2004)

Archer examines the short, tumultuous life of actor River Phoenix. The film explores the fame and pressure that defined Phoenix's life, along with his desire to become pure.Archer examines the short, tumultuous life of actor River Phoenix. The film explores the fame and pressure that defined Phoenix's life, along with his desire to become pure.Archer examines the short, tumultuous life of actor River Phoenix. The film explores the fame and pressure that defined Phoenix's life, along with his desire to become pure.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.2/10

YOUR RATING

4User reviews

See production info at IMDbPro

Photos

Top cast5

Edit

Jasper Bel

River Phoenix

Jeff Bornstein

Barbara Ann Crumm

LA Girl

Corey Feldman

Self

Lydia Lunch

Narrator

Director
- Cam Archer
Writer
- Cam Archer
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

More like this

8.1

American Primeval

Featured review

1/10

drowning River Phoenix's memory

Maybe Archer's short was selected for Sundance because film people love River Phoenix's name regardless of what it's attached to, because this is not a complementary film. Archer's style would make him a great music video director, but it does no service to River's memory, and Archer clearly stole his entire short film's device -- River's haunting voice over -- from that Biography channel show. That show didn't include Joaquin's famous panicked 911 call, and it's clear Archer never heard that recording, because he recreates it as if Joaquin was bored and blasé. Drowning River Phoenix indeed. I'd compare Archer to a budding David Fincher, but don't check this out if you're a fan of River.