The Brattleboro Reformer from Brattleboro, Vermont • 23

Film 23 Hratlleboro Rclormci Tliunnlay, July 10, 2003, www.reformer.coni '28 Days Later' is a creepy, well-crafted addition to the horror genre BRATTLEBOftO 28 l)y Utcr In aoroe WSjrt, director George Romero is the father of the modern hormr film When hia low-budget )mbie flick "Night of the Living Dead" burst onto the scene in 1968 straight out of the center of film culture in Pittsburgh, little did anyone know it would changed the tenor of horror films forever In fact, film distributors didn't know fi'it if) niuKc of (t)c i iiovitf At first- Nathan Hi hi bi anyone who has been Infected" with the virus is, the film punches up the long, vacant silences with effectively disorienting attack scenes Every encounter with the violently deranged creatures is shot with such frighten-mgly efficient skill that the film fully succeeds in creating a hysterically tense atmosphere. lt'i a shame then that the movie decides to shift gears midway through the story. After Jim's small group of survivors makes its way to a military outpost north of Manchester, the film opts to follow a more conventional thrillerslasher film formula As Jim attempts to free his companions from their present predicament, the previously menacing threat of the flesh-eat ing zombies unfortunately becomes a less prominent concern. Fortunately these later scenes are still shot with the same sense of urgency, even if they are just a bit less successful after the movie's promising opening hour However, it's impossible to deny how creepy and intense many of the scenes still are, suggesting the film is a promising return to form for director Danny Boyle It remains true that making a zombie film these days surely requires some debt to the talents of director George Romero and his "Night of the Living Dead Fortunately, with "28 Days Later," not only did the filmmakers acknowledge Romero's influential vision of horror, but have actually have crafted a film that George himself would probably be impressed with. Rated R.

Nathan Hurlbut is a free-lance filmmaker and a regular columnist for the Arts Entertamnu'nl section. They ended up dropping it into weekend matinee screenings, populated mostly by kids who had been innocently dropped off at the local movie theater by their parents As film critic Roger Ebert tells it, the look of dismay on children's faces as they witnessed highly realistic scenes of flesh-eating zombies devouring human corpses onscreen was almost as horrifying as what the film wan dishing out. Of course, the kids certainly had no idea what they were in for This it understandable considering there once was a time when horror films were more innocent. Back in the early part of the century, gothic horror was really the standard formula, with films such as "Frankenstein" and "Dracula" (both 1931) heavy on atmosphere and literary respectability. Eventually Alfred Hitchcock came along to re-invent the suspense film.

By the time his reign as master of suspense was winding down, he had succeeded in fashioning the first slasher film with "Psycho" in 1960 In fact, it's evident that Romero was influenced by Hitchcock's scary masterpiece, Jim (Cillian Murphy) survives a virus that wipes out most of the Earth's population in "28 Days Later." since he followed the master's lead by shooting his film in black-and-white for a seedier, authentic look. "Night of the living Dead" also took this concept one step further. Romero's film was shot with the feel of a documentary, employing shaky camera work, garish interior lighting and performances from non-actors (rather than overly mannered and dra matic technique of professionals) to add to the intensity onscreen For this reason, it's clear when watching the new film "28 Days Later" that director Danny Boyle has been strongly influenced by Romero's oeu-vre. For here, not only are zombies again the subject of this horror film, but the same bleak sense of existential dread permeates the film, creating a shockingly scary movie. One of the differences here is that the filmmakers have replaced black and-white film stock with shooting on digital video, successfully updating the realistic documentary style with apocalyptic images.

Director Boyle also utilizes this video technology to create some of his typically highly stylized camera work, while the screenplay's contemporarily relevant disease premise impressively updates the genre for the 21st century. Ln fact, early scenes showing bicycle courier Jim (Cillian Murphy) wandering the deserted streets of London are eerily effective, perfectly setting up the movie's chilling premise. Once Jim discovers how seriously dangerous Arts Council honors Malcolm Wright, Louis Moyse Walter Cerf Awards. The Award, which is named after one of Vermont's most generous philanthropists and supporters of the arts, is annually presented to artists who, through a lifetime of dedication and achievement, have made an outstanding contribution to the development of their field and to the quality of life and culture of America. The award ceremony was made particularly memorable by a special tribute performance by Grammy-nominated flutist Karen Kevra, (a long-time protege of Moyse's), violinist and VSO Music Director Jaime Laredo and his wife, cellist Sharon Robinson.

Laredo and Robinson have been friends with both Moyse and Wright since their own days with the Marlboro Music Festival. Wright, through a presentation of slides of his work, also offered the audience a MONTPELIER More than 100 people from all over Vermont came to the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Montpelier June 13 to attend the Vermont Arts Council's Annual Meeting and honor the recipients of the 2003 Walter Cerf Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts Montpelier musician and composer, Louis Moyse, and Marlboro ceramicist and sculptor, Malcolm Wright. Two gifted artists, both with current and past ties to Marlboro, were recognized for their lifetime of achievement in their very different fields of the arts. Louis Moyse of Montpelier, who is internationally known as a flutist, pianist, composer and especially as a teacher; and Malcolm Wright a ceramicist and sculptor whose Turnpike Road Pottery Studio has been a fixture in Marlboro for over 30 years, were both presented with the 2003 perspective on the development of his signature style of pottery and ceramic sculpture. Outgoing chairwoman of the board of trustees, Mara Williams of Brattleboro, welcomed the attendees.

Williams recognized the contribution during the past four years of the council's Cultural Heritage Tourism Coordinator, Deborah Doyle-Schechtman of Quechee, whose position has-, been eliminated as a result of reassignment of funds from the state's Department of Tourism, which supported the position. Schechtman will continue to advise the state's cultural heritage tourism efforts as a private consultant Since 1964, the Vermont Arts Council has been pursuing its mission to support artists and strengthen the role of the arts in the lives of people and communities. The Vermont Arts Council is the only des ignated state arts agency in the U.S. that is also an independent, not-for-profit, membership organization. The Vermont Arts Council's Board of Trustees for 2003-04 is: Jack Benoze of Stowe, Bob Buckeye of Middlebury (chairman), Alison Clarkson of Woodstock, Willie Docto of Duxbury, Barbara Garber of Putney, Alan Gartner of Rutland, Irwin Gelber of West Barnet, Elaine Harrington of Montpelier, Nancy Hogg son of Norwich, Delsie Hoyt of Fairlee, Lisa Jablow of Johnson, Patricia Pedreira of North Bennington, Jeffrey Roberts of Montpelier, Rachel Schumacher of North Bennington, Diane Snelling of Hinesburg, Mara Williams of Brattleboro and Anne Wollman or Woodstock CuratorCollector.

Further information is available at: www.vermontartscouncil.org Film Calendar MASS MoCA to screen 'Guys and Dolls' NORTH ADAMS, Mass. "Guys and Dolls" was already a hit on Broadway by the time the 1955 screen version was released. The film, which garnered two Golden Globes and four Oscar ijomina ttons, feature Marlon Brando. Vr Sinatra, Jean Simmons and Vwjan Blaine arid songs that are' still loved today, including "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat" and "Luck Be a Lady." MASS MoCA will screen the film on Friday, July 11, at 9 p.m., outside under the stars. Lickety Split will serve full dinners and snacks starting at 8 p.m., when the doors open.

There will also be a full bar. In case of rain, the film will move indoors where the Hunter Center will have been transformed into a full movie palace. Tickets to Guys and Dolls are $6.50, MASS MoCA members get 10 percent off. Tickets are available through the MASS MoCA Box Office located on Marshall Street in North Adams from 10 am. until 6 p.m.

daily. Tickets can also be charged by phone by calling (413) 662.2111 during box office hours or online at www.massmoca.org at any time of day. Fund-raisers from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine. Admission is free.

The fair features more than 100 juried artisans, food booths, a picnic area, live music and a silent auction. Crafts on the Common Fair benefits Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampshire County. For information, call Ashley Dennis at (413) 2591. Sax tons Playhouse services are free to all those whose lives are affected by HIVAIDS. Tours generally take an hour.

If you are interested in attending the North Hill Garden tour, send your request in writing to the AIDS Project. It should include the following information: 1. Choice of Date: Thursday, July 31; or Sunday, Aug. 31 2. Choice of time: 9 a.m.

to 3 pm (include first and second choice) 3. The number of tickets you would like. Limit is four tickets per request. 4. A self-addressed stamped envelope.

Mail the request to: North Hill, AIDS Project, PO Box I486, Brattleboro, Vt, 05302. Crafts show aids Big Bros. Big Sisters AMHERST, Mass. The Amherst Crafts on the Common will take place Sunday, July 12, Gilbert Sullivan's IOLANTHE not be present at the Garden Party. Also, 5050 raffle tickets are on sale one for $1 or six for $5.

For information, call Parks Place (802) 463-9927 or e-mail parksplsover.net. Garden tours help AIDS Project READSBORO Joe Eck and Wayne Winterrowd, partners in North Hill, will open their extensive garden in Readsboro, Vermont on Thursday, July 31, and Sunday, Aug. 31, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to benefit the AIDS Project of Southern Vermont.

Eck and Winterrowd, nationally recognized garden designers and horticulturists started the garden at North Hill 1977. It now comprises about seven acres under intense cultivation, surrounded by a larger tract of mature hardwoods of beech and maple. Though it has evolved in size and dimension throughout its life, most parts have now reached a youthful maturity. The mission of the garden has become to grow as many species as might be hardy in this cli- mate. Significant individual collections within the garden include plantings of heathers and dwarf conifers, antique and species roses, bamboos, unusual perennials and annuals, an extensive rock and bog garden, a large collections hybrid deciduous magnolias and many tender conservatory plants used as components of the garden in summer.

Eck and Winterrowd are the authors of "Living Seasonally: The Kitchen Garden and Table at North Hill," "A Year at North Hill," "Elements of Garden Design" and "Annuals for the Connoisseur." The garden at North Hill has been featured in Horticulture, in the New York Times, in The Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society, in Rosemary Verey's "The American Man's in Christopher Lloyd's "Other People's Gardens." Contributions to the AIDS Project of Southern Vermont are taken at the entrance to the Garden. The mission of the project is to provide services to people affected by HIV and AIDS and to prevent the spread of HIV. Its Ice cream social benefits Parks Place BELLOWS FALLS Parks Place Community Resource Center will hold its annual fund-raising Garden Party Ice Cream Social and Silent Auction, in conjunction with the the Our Town Summer Entertainment Series, featuring the Main Street Arts String Band, on Friday, July 11, from 5 to 8 p.m., in the perennial gardens at Parks Place, 44 School Bellows Falls. The band starts at 7 p.m. Admission is free.

Bidding for the silent auction closes at 6:30 p.m., the night of the Garden Party, and dessert will be served as winners are tallied. Silent auction Items include: roundtrip tickets with Southwest Airlines; gift tickets to museums, restaurants, inns, Sojourns Health Clinic, Ripples Gym and more; works by local artists; practical items for the home and garden, including perennials, and more. A silent auction book containing descriptions of items is available for viewing and bidding at Parks Place. Items go to the highest bidders, who need or the peer the peri BASIC PHONE BOOTH ZUSANDZO 927 PUTNEY ROAD CALL 254-8643 1 FORRESERVATIONSM July 3-7, 1014 (802) 869-2030 TheMftnA SEAFOOD and burgers QntK? water NOW THRU JULY 10 OWN EVERY NIGHT! fete FINDING NEMO Lunch, Dinner Sunday Brunch Buffet FALLS CINEMA On the Square Bellows Falls, Vt. (802) 463-4766 PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN (PG-13) 200 Dally Evening Matinees 630 9:10 LEGALLY BLONDE 2: WHITE I BLONDE (PG-13) ANIMATED 2:00 Matinee daily 4:00 SatSun Evening Matinees 7:00 9:00 DISNEYPIXAR HULKgy Rage Power.

Freedom. HMjjfl Urn. SINBAO: LEGEND OF THE SEVEN SEAS (PG) 215 Matinee daily 4:15 SatSun evening Matinees 6:45 8:45 DRAMA CHARLIE'S ANGELS: FULL THROTTLE (PG-1 3) 7:00 9:36 5:00 7:45 7:15 I Sun Dockside Dining Food Beverage Catering Boat Dock Rentals Connecticut River Cruise Boat Open Every Day Where the West River Meets the Connecticut Brattleboro.Vcrmont 802-257-7563 imvemoiirniQriM.com MO Daily-SatSun 4:00 Evening Matinees 7:00 9:00 Mon PG HOLES 28 DAYS LATER (R) Evening Matinees 7:00 49:15 TUESDAY BARGAIN Returns in September SIGOURNEY WEAVER JON VOIGHT FfflOMG Hmo 1st .4: 8:50 www.northfielddrtvcln.com (603)239-4054 Northfield Hinsdale Road (Rt. 63) 927 PUTNEY ROAD CALL 254S643 FOR RESERVATIONS FINDING NEMO (G) MO Dally SatSun 00 Evening Matinees 6:30 4 8:30 ILATOHIIS TIHIEATIRIE.