Arts&Entertainment AtTheMovies SoundCheck Jennifer’s Body is a solid Artist: The Used satire that is destined to Album: Artwork become a cult classic Genre: Alternative Rock Directed by Karyn Kursama. Written by Diablo Cody. Starring Megan Fox, Amanda Seyfried and BY MATTHEW VINSKO • THE LUMBERJACK Adam Brody. Running Time: 112 ith their fourth studio al- song, dark imagery is created through minutes. Rated R. bum, Artwork, The Used word choice and a heavy supply of Wchose to create a genre of electric guitar. Credit goes to lead BY GARY SUNDT • THE LUMBERJACK music combining metal and pop mu- guitarist Quinn Allman for coming sic. The band called it gross pop, and up with unique riffs for each song, ennifer’s Body is about the of the big city indie band that’s in your life is “consumed” by the the album’s 11 tracks easily provide but besides these tasty grooves, there hottest girl in high school come to play. But a fire breaks pressures of society and the nev- some of the darkest music ever heard is simply too much of the same. Jdevouring the souls (and out and razes the bar, and Needy er-ending quest to get laid). from The Used. Each song, with the exception of entrails) of local teenage boys. is left alone when the band es- But Jennifer’s Body may be too The opener, “Blood on My “Kissing You Good Bye,” pans out in More specifically, it’s Megan Fox sentially kidnaps Jennifer. Later clever for its own good. Cody’s Hands,” subjects listeners to this new a similar way: Songs start slow before walking around half naked and that night, Jennifer shows up at Oscar win for Juno, while certain- style almost immediately. It has a soft, picking up in tempo. While gross pop bloody while eating boys. Most Needy’s doorstep covered in blood ly deserved, bothered more than a even catchy vibe up until the chorus, definitely has a future in the music would say this sounds like one and vomiting black goo. The hot- few people, because either a) they where the lead guitar kicks in and industry, The Used simply rely on it of those cheesy horror flicks you tie disappears into the night, only didn’t like her rapid-fire wit, or b) creates a sound more reminiscent of too much in Artwork. Through the watched with a group of buddies to turn up at school the next day they just plain didn’t like a strip- Three Days Grace. This song sets the first five or six songs, I found myself in your dorm room during your looking as radiant as ever. Of per being a brilliant screenwriter. tone for the rest of the album and for enjoying the different, yet rocking, sophomore year of college -- and course, that’s when the cannibal- Unfortunately for Cody, a large gross pop in general. tunes. By the time I reached the end, that might be a fair assessment. ized remains of local boys begin amount of those haters are hor- Unfortunately, almost all of the I figured I might have heard the same But underneath this low- to turn up. ror-movie-fans who don’t have remaining tracks follow suit. In each album twice. concept premise is a smart satire The performances are good, much patience for funny one-lin- on high school girls, high school possibly great even, considering ers among their carnage. Artist: We Were Promised Jetpacks boys, teenage female relationships the number of witty barbs the But wait just one minute and the horror movie genre. characters in Diablo Cody’s script here: Isn’t Cody doing exactly Album: These Four Walls Jennifer Check (Fox) is the dish out. Jennifer’s Body is almost what camp horror writers like Genre: Post-Punk Rock` hottie in question in the small certainly a comedy, but walks the Sam Raimi (the Evil Dead trilogy) town of Devil’s Kettle (is there line of horror rather carefully. have done for decades, with the any other place this story would Director Karyn Kusama has obvi- exceptions being that she won an be set?). She dreams of getting ously made a conscious decision Academy Award and she put the BY TROY FARAH • THE LUMBERJACK out but is trapped in end-of- here to not be Scream, in as much motive Glasgow group We the quartet a needed edge, but most senior year purgatory, so she’ll as it never plays as a straight hor- See MOVIE p 28 Were Promised Jetpacks flew offer the clichéd feelings of loneliness have to settle with dragging her ror film. She plays it right, focus- Einto the indie scene with and misunderstanding felt by almost “biff” Needy (Amanda Seyfried) ing on the satire and painting a These Four Walls, an album influ- anyone with a guitar. to a concert in order to effectively very specific and realistic image enced heavily by their label mates “Conductor” and “An Almighty screw the brains out of the singer of high school (where everything Frightened Rabbit and Biffy Clyro. Thud” are coma-inducingly boring. TakeTwo BY MATTHEW VINSKO• THE LUMBERJACK Not surprisingly, they all sound the “Ships with Holes Will Sink” couldn’t same, like a watered-down version of be more obvious and “This is My efore seeing Jennifer’s Body, comedy full of well placed expletives; sonality. Even though she plays two The Cure. Standing alone, they only House, This is My Home” is a song I had no idea what to expect the next is a bloodbath. It certainly different characters, a succulent teen strength they have to match Ameri- about being scared of the attic. Bout of a horror film written creates interesting cinema, but how and a demon, her acting style remains ca’s indie scene are Scottish accents. Just for the record: Applying by the woman who crafted Juno. are we supposed to take our demon the same. Amanda Seyfried easily Otherwise, there’s nothing special. vague, repetitive metaphors to every Give credit to Diablo Cody for antagonist seriously when she is con- steals the show as the bookish Needy. Four Walls is attempt to be cute powerchord doesn’t make you deep, coming up with a plot that combines sistently cracking one-liners? There is no question though: This is and clever, but as always with this type Jetpacks. Especially not when every 10 Things I Hate About You with The Fortunately, the majority of the Fox’s movie. Men may feel ripped off of music, it ends up being an anthem other indie band is doing the same Exorcist. But even this unique take on audience is probably not seeing Jenni- by the lack of nudity, but horror fans to depression and sentimentality. thing. terror, and Megan Fox, cannot save fer’s Body for witty banter. Enter Fox should rejoice that Jennifer’s Body is The only place the theme works Four Walls has its moments, and Jennifer’s Body from mediocrity. as a possessed cheerleader. not the train wreck many expected. is when the band doesn’t act like it- for a first attempt it’s not entirely ter- Part of this results from the shift Fox gives a decent performance self. Occasionally tracks like “Quiet rible. It just isn’t original enough to in tone throughout the film. One as Jennifer, once again playing the Little Voices” and “Short Bursts” give matter. scene is reminiscent of a high school ridiculously hot girl with little per- 24 The Lumberjack | Jackcentral.com