Surprised by the hate!
Really though. I just finished it a few hours ago and I actually liked it. I'm surprised, since it has universally awful reviews, but I'm going to have to say I respectfully disagree! It was by no means a great film, but I don't understand why people: a) thought the acting was bad, b) thought the writing was bad c) thought the story was bad and unoriginal.
The acting was not great, but I have seen MUCH MUCH MUCH worse. I never got annoyed by any of the actors to the point where I get resentful. Lindsay did a good job! What's with the hate!? The ending scene was good, solid acting. The role fit her, and her haggard appearance most certainly helped her pull it off. Mr Deen was not extraordinary, but I'd say he manages to play the part of an apathetic, wealthy, entitled, sexual brat fine enough. Mr Actor who played Ryan was not very good, but again, I have seen acting that is 10x worse so I'm not going to complain.
The writing... I think the issue with the writing is it does sound a bit fake and unnatural at times, but in thinking, I really think that is part of the movie's intended purpose-- those people in the movie industry can be exactly that-- FAKE and two-faced and coy and dramatic and selfish, and I don't think it's impossible to assume that in Hollywood, there are people really like these characters. Another issue with Easton Ellis' script is its accessibility. This movie was marketed to a group of young people who don't watch movies like The Canyons. Slow, purposeful, dialogue heavy with awkward sex and uncomfortable content. Not the most thrilling movie, but marketed to those who need thrills, and satisfying answers. I think the wrong crowds watched it. Id bet money that most of those who watched it, did so to see Lohan's nudity and Mr Deen's mainstream debut... Not exactly good reasons to watch a movie such as The Canyons!
The story was fine. Moved slowly but that isn't a bad thing. I liked the story. I watched all the characters with enough interest right up to the end.
So then why was this hated so?! I thought it was a decent movie! I'd give it a 6.5 but I rounded up to a 7 to be nice. People are ruthless when they don't understand movies, so many are written off as stupid or trashy, when in actuality, it was simply just not comprehensible to the viewer. It happens! And its okay; it's okay not to understand a movie. I really believe that in a few years, the right crowd of people might find this film and start to show it more appreciation. Some movies take time to sink in. 20 years from now, who knows? Hindsight's a funny thing. We could look at The Canyons and see a film that managed to capture the indifferent, affluent and cynical politics that rule Hollywood and the creation of its movies that has plagued the years around its (then current) release...