I'm sorry, I think Joaquin is great but what the hell was he thinking going on a nationally televised interview and basically not showing up. That was extremely rude of him to behave that way. David Letterman is a late night legend. You don't go there and act like that. Like Bysshe said, if he didn't feel up to being there, he could have cancelled. You people forget that David Letterman has a job to do. He has to make his show funny and interesting to watch whether or not Joaquin Phoenix wants to participate, and there are many people relying on him to do that. And Dave knows how to do it better than anyone else in my opinion. Joaquin was completely unwilling to participate so Dave had to work extra hard to make up for both of them. Joaquin brought it upon himself. Why should Dave have to suffer for Joaquin Phoenix' mid-thirties crisis?
He's obviously bored with his career, and now wants to try being edgy and strange but that doesn't mean you have to go on Letterman and act like a douchebag. Oh poor millionaire...I wish I had the burden of having to be at least semi-interesting on a television show while promoting my latest movie which I was paid millions to do. Poor, poor Joaquin.
Get over yourself, Joaquin. I don't know who the funk you think you are but you're not John Lennon.