'The Canyons' review: Lindsay Lohan hits bottom. Again

'The Canyons' review: Lindsay Lohan hits bottom. Again

"The Canyons" is a movie written by Bret Easton Ellis, which means it's about incredibly rich amoral sociopaths, and directed by Paul Schrader, which means it's about guilt-ridden compulsion. They should have just called it "Wasted." And not just because that's how several of these characters stumble through the day. Or what they've done with their lives, their advantages and even these beautiful Los Angeles nights. It's because that's what Schrader's talents are here. That's what its ultimate commentary is on its star, actress Lindsay Lohan. I say "actress" Lindsay Lohan because you almost have to, these days. Who remembers now how charming she was, as a child, in "The Parent Trap"? How warm and believable she was in smart teen films like "Freaky Friday" and "Mean Girls"? Who remembers her when she was still a performer, and not just a cautionary tale? Schrader, of course, is his own cautionary tale — a brilliant screenwriter ("Taxi Driver," "Raging Bull") and often gifted director ("Blue Collar," "American Gigolo") whose personal excesses and anguished art eventually fell out of fashion in Hollywood. So he finally went off the reservation — to direct a script by the even more-out-of-favor bad boy Ellis, to cast it with Lohan (and porn star James Deen), and fund it with Kickstarter. "The Canyons," it seems, would be like nothing like Schrader had ever done before. And it's not. It's boring. Ellis' script — an improbable string of coincidences masquerading as a plot — has Lohan as the live-in girlfriend to dilettante producer Deen. She's also, however, the ex-girlfriend of a struggling actor who's now living with Deen's assistant, while the actor's other ex is Deen's current on-the-side lover. Got that? Good, because now it gets complicated — by the twosomes and threesomes Deen hires to drop by, by the gay-for-pay hookups of desperate Hollywood types and by the currents of jealousy and control that eventually turn into a wave of violence. And little of it works. Some of it doesn't work because Ellis was always a thumb-in-your-eye writer who built a career — "Less Than Zero," "American Psycho" — on controversy. But where's the shock in rich people behaving badly, anymore? The whole narrative is full of preening decadence — like some faked, "How I Hit Bottom" story told only to impress fellow 12-steppers. And as for the performers — Schrader should have simply cast the biggest Kickstarter suckers. Few of them can act their way out of a paper bag, except for sullen porn star James Deen, who can't act his way out of a prophylactic. Imagination? Honesty? The man did a more convincing job of make-believe in the Farrah Abraham sex tape. And while there are some lovely, scattered shots of abandoned movie theaters — the idea, nudge nudge, that rather than creating a vital cinema these characters are merely directing other people's lives — there are no striking images or movements. Everything's dull, tired, washed out. Including its star. And that's a bitter shame, because Lohan could — and can — act. She has moments here — all anguished ones, when she thinks about chances she threw away, or self-loathing sensations she's sunk into — which seem absolutely, horrifyingly real. Wasted? Oh yeah, Lindsay Lohan knows all about all kinds of wasted. But "The Canyons" isn't a movie, it's a small, sad, real-life object lesson: This is what happens when you don't hold on tight to all that you've earned. This is what happens when you throw away what you've been lucky enough to be given. Ratings note: The film contains full-frontal nudity, sexual situations, strong language, substance abuse and violence.




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Matt Smith to leave Doctor Who at the end of year

Matt Smith to leave Doctor Who at the end of year

After four years as the Time Lord on the BBC One show, viewers will see Smith's Doctor regenerate in the 2013 Christmas special. The 30-year-old actor said working on the show had been "the most brilliant experience". Doctor Who marks its 50th anniversary in November with a special episode, which Smith has already filmed. The BBC said Smith's "spectacular exit" was yet to be revealed and would be "kept tightly under wraps". 'Extraordinary show' Smith first stepped into the Tardis as the 11th Doctor in the New Year's Day episode of 2010. Taking over from David Tennant, he was the youngest actor to play the role. Continue reading the main story Matt Smith's statement in full "Doctor Who has been the most brilliant experience for me as an actor and a bloke, and that largely is down to the cast, crew and fans of the show. "I'm incredibly grateful to all the cast and crew who work tirelessly every day to realise all the elements of the show and deliver Doctor Who to the audience. Many of them have become good friends and I'm incredibly proud of what we have achieved over the last four years. "Having Steven Moffat as show runner write such varied, funny, mind bending and brilliant scripts has been one of the greatest and most rewarding challenges of my career. It's been a privilege and a treat to work with Steven - he's a good friend and will continue to shape a brilliant world for the Doctor. The fans of Doctor Who around the world are unlike any other; they dress up, shout louder, know more about the history of the show (and speculate more about the future of the show) in a way that I've never seen before. "Your dedication is truly remarkable. Thank you so very much for supporting my incarnation of the Time Lord, number 11, who I might add is not done yet - I'm back for the 50th anniversary and the Christmas special. "It's been an honour to play this part, to follow the legacy of brilliant actors, and helm the Tardis for a spell with 'the ginger, the nose and the impossible one'. But when ya gotta go, ya gotta go and Trenzalore calls. Thank you guys. Matt." Speaking after the announcement, he said he was "incredibly proud" of what the show had achieved over the last four years under Steven Moffat, the show's lead writer and executive producer. Smith also thanked fans around the world for their "truly remarkable" dedication to the show. During his tenure, Smith's floppy-haired, bow tie-wearing Time Lord has fought enemies such as the Daleks, Cybermen, Weeping Angels and the Silence. His Doctor has shared his adventures with Amy Pond (Karen Gillan), Rory Williams (Arthur Darvill) and most recently, Clara Oswald (Jenna-Louise Coleman). Referring to his time-travelling companions, Smith said: "It's been an honour to play this part, to follow the legacy of brilliant actors, and helm the Tardis for a spell with 'the ginger, the nose and the impossible one'. But when ya gotta go, ya gotta go..." Show runner Steven Moffat said: "Every day, on every episode, in every set of rushes, Matt Smith surprised me. The way he'd turn a line, or spin on his heels, or make something funny, or out of nowhere make me cry - I just never knew what was coming next. "The Doctor can be clown and hero - often at the same time - and Matt rose to both challenges magnificently. And even better than that, given the pressures of this extraordinary show, he is one of the nicest and hardest-working people I have ever had the privilege of knowing. Whatever we threw at him - sometimes literally - his behaviour was always worthy of the Doctor." Moffat added: "Great actors always know when it's time for the curtain call, so this Christmas prepare for your hearts to break as we say goodbye to number 11. Thank you Matt - bow ties were never cooler." The announcement of Smith's exit is likely to spark months of fevered speculation about his replacement. 'Still so exciting' "Somewhere out there right now - all unknowing, just going about their business - is someone who's about to become the Doctor," Moffat hinted. Continue reading the main story Peter Davison The 11 Doctors 1. William Hartnell (1963-1966) 2. Patrick Troughton (1966-1969) 3. Jon Pertwee (1970-1974) 4. Tom Baker (1974-1981) 5. Peter Davison - pictured (1982-1984) 6. Colin Baker (1984-1986) 7. Sylvester McCoy (1987-1996) 8. Paul McGann (1996) 9. Christopher Eccleston (2005) 10. David Tennant (2005-2010) 11. Matt Smith (2010 - 2013) "A life is going to change, and Doctor Who will be born all over again. After 50 years, that's still so exciting." Smith's first adventure in April 2010, the Eleventh Hour, saw his newly-regenerated Doctor crash his Tardis into the garden of a young Scottish girl who was later to become his new companion - Amy Pond. In his most recent adventure, the Name of the Doctor - which aired two weeks ago - Smith's Time Lord visited his own grave on the planet Trenzalore. In 2011, Smith became the first actor to be nominated for a Bafta in the role. And he won the most popular male drama performance award at the National Television Awards in 2012. Born in Northampton in 1982, Smith studied drama and creative writing at the University of East Anglia. He made his TV debut in the 2006 adaptation of Philip Pullman's the Ruby in the Smoke, which starred former Doctor Who companion Billie Piper. Smith's stage work has included stints with theatre companies such as the Royal Court and National Theatre. His West End debut was in Swimming With Sharks opposite Christian Slater. During his time in Doctor Who, Smith also appeared in BBC TV films Christopher and His Kind, in which he played novelist Christopher Isherwood, and in Olympic rowing drama Bert and Dickie.


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