Why Jonah Hill Stopped Promoting His Movies, According to His Therapist

Jonah Hill was finishing "Stutz," an intimate and touching documentary about his longtime therapist, when the actor and filmmaker decided he was done talking about himself in public.

Citing that he realized he had suffered from anxiety attacks for years, Hill said in a public statement over the summer that he would no longer promote his work, including " Stütz". For now, at least, the Netflix release is the last time he will appear on camera without performing.

It was an extraordinary gesture from a movie star in an era defined by self-promotion. Publicity has been part of Hill's job since "Superbad" put it on the map more than 15 years ago, and the decision to escape the spotlight has immediate consequences: "Stutz" has lost a high-profile spot in the Telluride Film Festival, which has a hard line on in-person appearances, launched on Netflix last week with a considerably lower profile than other fall titles. (However, it has received a series of awards.) It's an unfortunate setback for one of this year's most innovative and risky nonfiction experiences.

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However, for Phil Stutz, the 75-year-old stars' therapist in question, Hill's decision was a new opportunity for both of them. "The good news is I can say whatever I want about him," Stutz said in a Zoom interview, laughing with the same ironic, no-nonsense demeanor he projects in the film. "He's not here to defend himself!"

Stutz helped Hill overcome his anxiety about the promotion process. "I applaud the decision," he said. "I thought it was appropriate." In the documentary, Stutz often talks about "The Tools," his set of principles that guide people to the recognition that they still fall short of their perfect ideals.

In Hill's case, this obstacle was exacerbated by his relationship to the public perception of his work. "That's the thing," Stutz said. "He's trying to connect all of these problems and issues that he has, and the idea of ​​how he's perceived by others and how that makes him feel is a key part of his life - probably in the life of everybody. The way I try to guide people with this is to make them ask themselves, "If this particular thing didn't go well, would you regret doing it?"

In Hill's case, the answer was yes. Still, Stutz said he was surprised by the finality of the decision. "To be honest, it made me smile," he said. "In a way, it was so ridiculous. You know, the guy is peaking. I was like, 'Is he serious?'

Over time, Stutz said he realized Hill's choice fit into a familiar pattern he'd seen with other celebrity patients. "There's this kind of person who wants to be exposed and doesn't want to admit it," Stutz said. "They come out of a wrestling party and blame the paparazzi for taking their picture. But when they come out of a wrestling night and nobody takes their picture, it's worse. That's the dilemma that I try to get people across."