'The Canyons' Gets Prime Coverage in the L.A. Times

LOS ANGELES — Paul Schrader’s post-theatrical uber-hyped "The Canyons" has hit Los Angeles — just check the front page of the Los Angeles Times' Calendar section.

Under the headline “One Hot Mess” is a photo of porn (and the film’s) star James Deen leaning his elbow against a wall, looking very cool and unmessy.

L.A. Times reporter Chris Lee eschews the film as a cultural flashpoint: “Its prelease awareness is wholly out of proportion with the film’s scope, star power or marketing push,” he wrote.

And he yet unwittingly validates it: the story not only won the cover, but encompasses another whole page, accompanied by several large photos

Lee’s piece really begins with Deen, “the frat boy next door,” who he chats with in Woodland Hills a few days before the release of one of the summer’s most talk-about films.

“It’s the most, unprofessional, God-awful business anywhere: Hollywood,” Deen told Lee. “Porn is much more respectable. No shady power plays. People are nicer.”

Deen’s words are somewhat ironic, given that he plays a power-perverse Hollywood film maker in "The Canyons." Or, as Lee suggests, maybe it was his particular vantage point (i.e., as Linsday Lohan's co-star) that colored his view of the "mainstream."

In any case, Lee uses Deen’s disgust with Hollywood to segway into a rehash of what he calls “one of Hollywood’s most notorious film shoots,” making sure to include all the highlights: the film’s Kickstarter origin, Schrader’s “strip tease” to help Lohan to shoot her nude scene and, of course, all of Lohan’s shenanigans, which Schrader describes as a “cone of crisis.”

The story, more of a feature than a review, lauds the film for defying its “shoestring” budget of $250,000 and centers mostly on the film’s financial and technical, rather than cultural or cinematic, feats.

“The Canyons” is a kind of experiment by a band of outsiders with their faces pressed against the glass of mainstream moviedom,” Lee wrote. “… The project could assert the viability of making, marketing and distributing film on the digital cheap.”

According to the article, the creators of “The Canyons,” through their distribution deals with IFC Films and Voltage Pictures, turned a profit before raking in a single dollar from theatrical revenue.

“The Canyons” is being screened tonight at the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles at 7:30 p.m. It premiered last week in New York and is available everywhere through video-on-demand.  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Hentaied Founder Romero 'Mr. Alien' on Fetish, Fantasy and Finding Order in Chaos

A sharp sting pierces the woman’s skin. Something foreign slips beneath the surface. Eggs, maybe. She doesn’t know it yet, but soon her body will become a vessel, a hive, a source of contamination.

Bree Mills Unpacks Power, Pain and Family Ties in New Pure Taboo Film

Bell is shooting a scene for “The Secrets We Share,” a new feature from Pure Taboo and Adult Time — and moments like this remind the crew that they are not out to make just another adult movie.

Cubbi Thompson Stars in Latest From Brazzers

Cubbi Thompson stars with Keiran Lee in the latest release from Brazzers, titled "Slippery Business."

Adult Time Drops Bree Mills' 'Hard Stop Reunion' Documentary, New Scene

Adult Time has released a documentary feature on the recent Bree Mills-helmed drama “Hard Stop” as well as a new cast orgy scene, titled “Hard Stop Reunion Orgy.”

Gal Ritchie Performs Her 1st Anal for Brazzers

Gal Ritchie performs her first anal scene alongside Ricky Johnson in the latest Brazzers release, titled “Say Hello to My Little Arsehole.”

Elegant Angel Premieres Jennifer White Showcase 'Hollywood Whore'

Jennifer White gets the spotlight in a new six-part showcase release from Elegant Angel.

Autumn Rain Headlines Latest From TransSensual

Autumn Rain stars with Little Puck in “Playtime with a TS MILF,” from TransSensual.

Adult Time Releases New 'Out of the Family' Episodes for 'Steptember'

Adult Time has released new episodes of “Out of the Family,” as part of its “Steptember” series programming.

Alina Lopez Stars in Final Installment of Blacked Feature 'The Blueprint'

Alina Lopez stars with Vixen Media Group exclusive Jason Luv in the final installment of Blacked's new feature, "The Blueprint."

Miss Lexa Makes Her Brazzers Debut

Miss Lexa has made her Brazzers debut alongside JMac in the studio's latest release, titled "Miss Lexa Is a Powerhouse."

Show More