'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

Jade Kimiko, Cecelia Taylor Headline 'Women Seeking Women 199'

Jade Kimiko and Cecelia Taylor topline “Women Seeking Women 199” from Girlfriends Films.

Kaela Luna Makes Her TransAngels Debut

Kaela Luna has made her TransAngles debut alongside Parker Savage and Harrison Feels in “Jackhammering Kaela.”

Adult Time Marks April Fool's Day With 5 Satirical Releases

Adult Time is marking April Fool’s Day with the release of satirical scenes from five of its series.

Adult Time Wraps Production on Bree Mills' Feature 'Escape From Camp Conversion'

Adult Time has wrapped production on its latest feature, the Bree Mills-helmed "Escape From Camp Conversion," from its Girlcore studio brand.

Daisy Fox Makes Her TeamSkeet Debut

Daisy Fox makes her TeamSkeet debut in the latest episode of the studio series "She's New," titled "A Foxy Little Newcomer," with Nicky Rebel.

Elizabeth Skylar Performs Her 1st B/B/G in Latest From New Sensations

Elizabeth Skylar has performed her first B/B/G in the latest scene from New Sensations, with Codey Steele and Milan Ponjevic.

Lynna Nilsson Fronts Latest From Immoral Productions

Lynna Nilsson performs her first DVP in a new trilogy from Immoral Productions, alongside Matt Bird and Brad Knight.

Anna Claire Clouds: From Nashville to XMA Gold

The photo shoot is going great. Anna Claire Clouds knows all her angles. The moment the cap comes off the camera lens, Clouds tilts her head just so and deploys her signature dreamy eyes with all controls set to “smoldering.” Girl knows what she’s doing.

Lilly Bell Takes the Spotlight in 2 New Adult Time Scenes

2025 XMAs Girl/Girl Performer of the Year Lilly Bell stars in two new scenes from Adult Time.

LorReign Makes Her WIFEY Debut

Content creator and former Colorado sheriff's deputy LorReign has made her debut for new Vixen Media Group (VMG) studio imprint WIFEY alongside her husband Anthony and Jax Slayher.

Show More