Allison Rost

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Book-Based 'Hours' Blends Past, Present

By Allison Rost | January 23

"The Hours" 4 Stars "The Hours" is a rare film -- one that's based on a book that's based on a book. In 1925, British author Virginia Woolf wrote the classic "Mrs. Dalloway," the tale of a London socialite reminiscing over the various facets of her life as she spends the day preparing for a dinner party. Based on the novel by Michael Cunningham, "The Hours" follows three women as they retrace the steps of Woolf's heroine over the course of one day. "The Hours" proves that Woolf's story is one for the ages.

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MFA Students Seize Gallery in Hanes Art Center

By Allison Rost | January 16

A group of first-year master's of fine arts students has taken over the foyer of the Hanes Art Center. But the result is more awe-inspiring than scary. Facial expressions flit across a wall as they leap out from a slide projector. A white dress hanging from the ceiling catches the eye, and a collection of suits looks as though their owners had a roll in the mud. Through Jan. 24, these works are on display in the Allcott Gallery of the Hanes Art Center as part of "Engaged."

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Spielberg Flees From Heavy Themes In Purely Entertaining 'Catch Me'

By Allison Rost | January 9

"Catch Me If You Can" 3 Stars Call it the tale of two Stevens. In late 2001, acclaimed director Steven Soderbergh capped off a spate of serious dramatic films with the enjoyable casino caper "Ocean's Eleven." The older, more experienced Steven Spielberg followed suit by finishing 2002 in a similar way. His entry, "Catch Me If You Can," is definitely one of the more entertaining movies in recent memory. And that's all it could be.

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Acting Troupe Takes Stab at Stoppard

By Allison Rost | November 22

In the fourth act of "Hamlet," the prince of Denmark sends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, his disloyal childhood friends, off to their deaths with a little deception of his own. But starting Friday, Company Carolina will revive the treacherous twosome with its production of Tom Stoppard's "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead." While Shakespeare's play can be dark and depressing, this updated, postmodern version injects much more humor into the Bard's sticky, incest-ridden situations.

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Merritt Comes Home With Perfected Talent, Thanks

By Allison Rost | October 31

Tift Merritt Great Hall Student Union Saturday, Oct. 26 5 Stars Even though it was physically impossible to stop tapping your toes at Tift Merritt's concert Saturday, there's no way your feet could have missed the vibrating currents tearing outward from the guitars on stage through the floor of the Great Hall. That's how hard she rocked.

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UNC Awaits Return of Local Celebrity for Union Concert

By Allison Rost | October 24

Grabbing the spotlight. Striking gold. Or perhaps hitting the jackpot. Whatever the metaphor, the hope for fame and fortune is something a lot of students obsess over during their time in college. But for former UNC student Tift Merritt, a burgeoning musical career that has led to an appearance on "The Late Show with David Letterman" and an upcoming article in Vanity Fair has ensured her greatest dream -- the ability to come back and play for a hometown crowd. Merritt plays the Great Hall in the Student Union for the first time in a concert at 9 p.m. Saturday.

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'Sweet Home' Attempts to Avoid Southern Stereotypes

By Allison Rost | October 3

"Sweet Home Alabama" 3 Stars

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Returning Shows Fight For Viewers

By Allison Rost | October 3

Imagine if your English lit teaching assistant led a double life. Between classes, she jets off to the Vatican or Rio de Janeiro to replace priceless artifacts with fakes or to assassinate a crime boss. Though it may sound far-fetched, it's the premise of ABC's sophomore show "Alias." Jennifer Garner stars as Sydney Bristow, a student who moonlights as a CIA double agent. The show ended up ranking as about the 60th most popular show last season.

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Area Museums, Galleries Offer Artistic Escapes

By Allison Rost | September 27

If your curiosity is piqued by the mere glimpse of a paint swirl, there are numerous ways in which you can indulge your artistic passion in Chapel Hill and the Triangle. Closest to home is the Ackland Art Museum, located near the intersection of South Columbia and Franklin streets. Andy Berner, director of communications for the Ackland, said the current exhibits focus on diverse religions.

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Stone Spiral Tribute Planned for Sept. 11

By Allison Rost | September 10

To commemorate the one-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Arts Carolina is organizing a unique artistic tribute around the flagpole in Polk Place. After the conclusion of the noon University convocation Wednesday, members of the campus community will be invited to place stones in a spiral emanating 20 feet out from the flagpole. Amy Brannock, Arts Carolina director, said that the 3,000 egg-sized river stones each represent a life lost and that Arts Carolina requested the stones be multicolored to reflect the diversity of both the victims and the University.