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Tuesday, February 19, 2013 - 7
v
The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom Tuesday, February 19, 2013 - 7
TV REVIEW
Contrived 'Cult' seeks a
following of its own
Matt Davis stars
in a new CW show
about a CW show
By KELLY ETZ
Daily Arts Writer
The new CW series "Cult"
centers around the frantic fans
of a series on the CW called
"Cult" ... con-
fused yet?
Don't worry.
The show- Cuft
within-a-show
execution is Tuesdays
surprisingly at 9 p.m.
seamless, play- CW
ing on the com-
mon TV-fueled
fantasy: What if this was all Alaric, come buck!
real?
The plot follows shady, out- and it's the sheer difference that
of-work journalist Jeff (Mat- makes "Cult" the best offering
thew Davis, "The Vampire out of the CW in a while, since
Diaries") in his search for his "TVD" has slipped into cure-
missing brother Nate, a fanatic fueled monotony, "Beauty and
of the fictional "Cult" series. He the Beast" is dead on its feet and
meets up with a researcher from "The Carrie Diaries" is destined
the show, Skye (Jessica Lucas, for a pre-teen-inspired melt-
"Friends with Benefits"), and the down.
two start investigating linked Even with a radical storyline
occurrences between the show and a wealth of twists and turns
and real-life. Meanwhile, detec- to work around, "Cult" stumbles
tive Kelly (Alona Tal, "Veronica a bit. The whole thing feels a
Mars") investigates the disap- bit contrived, and the actors
pearance of her sister, Meadow, fumble with cheesy dialogue
somehow related to a-bit-too- and forced interactions. Jeff and
aptly named charismatic cult Skye's meeting is too much of a
leader Billy Grimm (Robert coincidence, every clue seems
Knepper, "Prison Break") in the glaringly obvious and there
show within the show. wasn't really a need to beat us
The amount of trust "Cult" over the heads with "Well, hey,
places in its audience is refresh- these things just snap right off."
ing, there's no dumbing-down At least Matthew Davis is back
here. The concept is ambitious, on our TV sets, a blessing and a
cw
curse (Alaric, why did you have
to die?!), even if he isn't in top
shape.
It's a shame that "Cult" will
debut after the fantastic series
"The Following" is just reach-
ing it's groove. "Cult" comes off
as a less-than-stellar knockoff,
though the series was originally
ordered to air on the former WB
Network in 2006, right before
the network merged with UPN
to form The CW. "Cult" was
tossed out until Mark Pedowitz
took over The CW and made the
series his top priority.
The network could end up
working in "Cult" 's favor, even
though there isn't a lot of faith
in the CW for producing more
than just mediocre program-
ming. "Cult" does bring togeth-
er creator Rockne S. O'Bannon
("Farscape") with executive
producers Josh Schwartz and
Stephanie Savage ("Gossip
Girl"), an awkwardly awesome
pairing of science-fiction-style
kitsch and heavy-handed, soapy
drama. With a diverse team
behind it, "Cult" certainly has
more to say than the pilot sug-
gests.
Set to air only 13 episodes
each season, "Cult" will have to
pull itself together in order to
keep viewers invested - shock-
ing violence and a wealth of
suspicious glances just aren't
going to do it - and hopefully,
the rather unexciting pilot will
morph into a realistic version
of what it's trying to be. God
knows the CW can't afford
another flop right now, and the
network deserves a successful
series for daring to think out
side the cube.
ALB UM RE V IE W
With 'Miracle Mile,' STRFKR
forges funky, danceable sound
By ERIKA HARWOOD
-For the Daily '
The past few years have
become a lackluster gold-
mine for electro-pop fusion,
a sound that
has morphed B+
from an excit-
ing novelty Miracle Mile -
into the unin-
spired white STRFKR
noise that polyvinyl
can be heard
while walk-
ing through any given Urban
Outfitters. ST RFKR (have
they officially decided on that
abbreviation, or are we spell-
ing out the full "Starfucker" '
now?) stands out, not only with
its quirky albeit absurd moni- POLYVINYL
FILM COLUMN
Eliminating
pretension from
fim taste
S ay it with me: "I like bad hate?
movies and I'm proud." Or, you may ask, why the love?
OK, with feeling this Let me explain.
time. You have to really mean it. What's better than a Rachel
"I like bad movies and I'm McAdams-Anna Faris-Rob
proud." Schneider genderbender? How
Scream about a Rachel McAdams-Anna
it from the Faris-Rob Schneider gender-
rooftops, or bender featuring cameos from
fetch a mirror the Mowry twins, a slew of
and practice quotable scenes and a catchy,
your best new schoolyard rhyme? The
SpongeBob 2002 comedy, "The Hot Chick,"
impression - is subtly progressive for its time,
embrace your weaving transvestism, trans-
taste in mov- BRIANNE genderism and female homo-
ies and shake JOHNSON sexuality into its plot without
off the shame. addressing these "taboo topics"
This is a guilt- with the melodrama and disap-
free column: no walls, no judg- proval attributed to controver-
ments, no elitist pretensions; sial social issues. But that's not
just open minds and maybe a why I like it and other "chick
couple of Rob Schneider jokes. flicks."
But, first, what exactly quali- Whether one cares to admit it,
fies as a "bad" movie? Ask your low-brow humor can be funny,
roommate, your best friend, and it's often laced with social
your professor or your parents, commentary too overwhelmed
and the answer will range from by bare butts and creative dis-
"anything inspired by a Nicho- coveries of genitalia for us to
las Sparks novel" to "remember notice. OK, maybe not "social
'The Last Airbender'?" Maybe commentary," but each movie
a co-worker will exclaim that has a message, and those mes-
"The Perks of Being a Wallflow- sages tend to, at least, be pro-
er" was "horrible" and "unre- social. That's enough for me.
alistic" and "dude, the sexual Or, to turn my back on any
harassment was such a cop-out." scholarly instinct, I like "chick
Deep breaths. flicks" because (and it pains
Everyone is entitled to their me to write this) they're likea
own opinion (remember, deep paid vacation for my brain - a
breaths). But many moviegoers vacation during which Josh
seem to think their opinion is Duhamel's glorious face is the
the definitive factor of a film's sun, and I am free to bask in an
quality, whether because it escapist's ultimate weekend of
aligns with the general consen- rain-drenched kisses, makeover
sus, or because his or her fall montages and elevator run-ins.
enrollment in that screen arts I'd lament The "Chick Flick"
class has provided him or her as a guilty pleasure if, well, I'd
with a knowledge surpassing felt any guilt. Remember: I like
that of the uneducated masses. "bad" movies and I'm proud!
Hey, forget your fancy jump_______
cuts! We don't need 'em! We
just ( want Ryan Gosling to flex GoslIing makes
(again)! G s n a e
lesBeforeI indulge in my defense"bdmoesImutakwl
edg the fine line betweendea y ai g e t
film - cinematic art - and a
movie. I understand that "The But what about The Blood-
Shawshank Redemption" is not and-Guts-and-Boobs Slasher?
comparable to "The Cinderella Surely the sexual objectification
Story." The two evolved from of women and desensitization
vastly different creative and eco- infamous of the horror genre are
nomic conditions. However, if enough for me to turn a blind
one feels the urge to debate the eye - that is, if it hasn't already
acting prowess of Tim Robbins been gouged out.
with that of a star-studded the- Unfortunately, no.
atrical goddess like Hilary Duff As I write, a complete VHS
(and the dashing good looks boxed set of "The Nightmare on
of the three-name king, Chad Elm Street" series supports a
Michael Murray), I will not hesi- stack of books on my shelf
tate to play along. Shoddy effects and the regur-
But, for a moment, let's be gitation of similar storylines (and
serious: I really, really, really boobs) seem to define the horror
need to defend a movie in which genre. Friends write off "Drag Me
Rob Schneider is a woman and to Hell" and "Thirteen Ghosts"
stuff. like atired parent dismissing a
I wish I were kidding. two-year-old's closet monsters.
"Bad" movies generally fall "Ghosts don't exist," they insist,
into one of three categories: "And neither does artistic merit
The Blood-and-Guts-and-Boobs in these cheesygorefests!" But
Slasher, The "Chick Flick" and there's a thrill in peekingthrough
The Made-for-TV Original the holes of an afghan blanket
Movie. However, honorable as you track the course of death
mentions include The Romantic through five "Final Destination"s.
Comedy (a dimension of The Be afraid. Be very afraid - it's half
"Chick Flick"), The Coming-of- the fun.
Age Teen Roadtrip (often evolv- As for The Made-for-TV Origi-
ing into The Slasher or softcore nal Movie, I have but one argu-
porn) and Yet Another Adam ment: Atsome point, we have
Sandler Movie. all wanted to live in the "Smart
Despite the resentment House," join the ranks of "Cadet
these genres seem to provoke, Kelly" or saunter down the run-
and the Internet memes that way with a pre-"Suit & Tie" Justin
they inspire, studios continue Timberlake in "Model Behavior."
to churn out cinematic ... well, Yes, Disney really does know
shit. But "Friday the 13th" has what dreams are made of.
spawned nine sequels, a 2009 We can't all be Roger Ebert,
remake and a battle of the bad- or even that one eloquent com-
dest with horror head honcho, menter on Rotten Tomatoes
Freddy Krueger. Channing whose repertoire puts my horror-
Tatum has more romcoms heavy DVD collectionto shame.
under his belt than he has abs. But who cares? I like movies
And we all know someone who - the good, the bad and the Rob
live-tweets Disney's "Hallow- Schneider.
eentown" years after its 1998
release. Case in point: The "Bad" Johnson is currently having a
Movie is here to stay, so, please, Channing Tatum marathon. To
let us enjoy it in peace. Why the join, e-mail briannen@umich.edu.
CALL ME,
TWEET ME.
@michdailyarts
ker, b
1 willin
synth
ate d
band's
Mile.
T
if
gb
ut with an unashamed STRFKR prom.
gness to embrace every following the formulaic outline
and guitar riff that cre- of a classic pop track (catchy
ance/pop bliss on the hook, simple baseline and, over-
latest album, Miracle all, 100-percent danceable), it
demands attention. From the
song's jarring, electronic shifts
or the roll-off-the-tongue rep-
urn on this etition of "While I'm alive!" it's
hard to completely figure out
you w ant to why the song is so compelling.
In theory, there should be noth-
t your head ing special to the song, yet that's
exactlythe reason Miracle Mile is
Jobbing on. such a success.
Pulling what sometimes seem
to be exhausted elements from
heroes of indie-pop past, the
album asserts its sound upbeat tempos and soul-infused
he start as the crooning riffs are refreshing to a sound
and funk guitar assail on that can easily become stale.
ening track and lead sin- Tracks like "Malmi" - where
While I'm Alive." Despite lead singer Joshua Hodges's
voice combines with a chorus
so catchy that, naturally, they.
whistled some of it - bring up
comparisons to groups like Peter,
Bjorn and John.
Sprinkled throughout the
record are shorter songs like
"Isea" and "Yayaya" that range
from 50 seconds to around two
minutes. There's nothing par-
ticularly profound about these
mini-tracks aside from the fact
that they maintain the flow of
the album and will keep people's
heads bobbing, but that's exact-
ly what they do, and they do it
well. The funk guitar is cru-
cial to this album's sound, as it
guides Hodges's breathy vocals
throughout, making sure the
slower paced songs (such as the
memorable, two-minute-long
"Yayaya") are still danceable.
ones.
Miracle Mile isn't a ground-
breaking work, but STRKFR
makes it clear that isn't the goal.
In an attempt to make a polished
and catchy pop album, STRFKR
clearly embraces all the sounds
and tropes that are all too
commonly heard and, frankly,
exhausted in typical pop music.
Instead of hyping up the.
synths and overproducing songs
to make them digestible at best,
STRKFR brings out the quality
in these elements and produces
its best album to date. Miracle
Mile combines the best of elec-
tro-pop and makes an album
that will have people danc-
ing until these guys decide to
change their name again.
The
from t
vocals
the op
gle, "V
MISS THAT EPISODE OF'THE WALKING DEAD'?
WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED.
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A