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Movies
The gangster of Hollywood
FEATURE. Johnny Depp doesn’t know what time it is. Though he technically calls an adorable village in France home and owns an island in the Caribbean, the mercurial actor spends so much time working that his internal clock is all out of whack.
 
 
Movies
Directorial debut is a shot at the ‘Moon’
INTERVIEW. When directors are limited to a $5 million budget and a 33-day shooting schedule, they usually won’t do anything too arduous — especially for their first films. But director Duncan Jones, 37, tells us that he “wanted to do something with ambition” for his debut flick. So instead, Jones, who is the son of David Bowie, decided to make the sci-fi adventure “Moon,” which opens Friday. The affable Brit explains how.
 
The Word
The Beckhams’ island getaway
GOSSIP. According to the Sun, David Beckham is planning a trip to Necker Island, Richard Branson’s private island hideaway, to celebrate his 10th wedding anniversary with Victoria Beckham. And the best part? It only costs $51,000 a night to have the whole island to themselves.
 
Movies
Bale does light-lifting
 MOVIES. Christian Bale is more relaxed than usual, and with good reason. The heavy lifting in promoting his latest film, “Public Enemies,” falls to Johnny Depp. For once, the success or failure of the movie doesn’t rest on Bale’s shoulders. There’s no talk of on-set outbursts or franchise potential. And for that, he’s grateful — and cheerful.
 
Published 21:43, November the 19th, 2008
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Oh, what a knight: The “Spamalot” cast jumps for joy. Oh, what a knight: The “Spamalot” cast jumps for joy. 
 

‘Spamalot’ of laughing here

Easy to ‘Look on the Bright Side of Life’ with Python

There’s nothing like a night with the Knights who say “Ni” to make you forget what’s going on in the real world.

“Spamalot,” the Tony-award winning “musical lovingly ripped off from the motion picture Monty Python and the Holy Grail” is back in Boston for an all-too-short run at the Colonial Theatre. And it’s as fresh and funny as it was on its first visit nearly three years ago.

The legendary tale of the quest for the Holy Grail by King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table has been turned into a big, fabulous musical complete with a Killer Rabbit, flatulent French, a very sexy Lady of the Lake and some smoking hot Laker Girls.

As the quirky troupe tries to “Find Your Grail,” they also manage to take some seriously uproarious swipes at musical theater. “The Phantom of the Opera” may be the one of the first victims of the poison pens of Eric Idle and John Du Prez but by the time the curtain has fallen, everything from “Fiddler on the Roof” to “Les Miserables” has taken a ribbing.

Whether it’s the clomping coconuts, the Black Knight or the wooden rabbit scheme that goes awry, this impeccably-executed production is the ultimate yuckfest. And each time you think you couldn’t possibly laugh any harder, the inanity reaches a new level.

Esther Stilwell delivers a big diva turn as Lady of the Lake with her powerful voice and larger-than-life mannerisms that play equally well to the front row and the rafters. Matthew Greer also shines as Lancelot and the blisteringly funny French Taunter. And Brad Bradley finds the sweetness within the craziness with a delightful performance as Patsy, Arthur’s lovable sidekick.

Contemporary references that earn guffaws include swipes at a potential Secretary of State and the infamy of Dianne Wilkerson. But ultimately, it’s the discovery of the Holy Grail and the big finish that’ll leave you singing all the way home. 


‘Spamalot’
Through Sunday
Colonial Theatre
106 Boylston St., Boston
MBTA: Green line to Boylston
$28 - $91, 617-931-2787
www.spamalot.com

 
 
Music
MMMpod
The June edition of MMMpod features an interview with Perry Farrell on getting Jane's Addiction back together, as well as a talk with actor Ed Helms about his love/hate relationship with a capella music. We also have new music from Phoenix, Magic Magic, Lady Sovereign, and a classic from Booker T. & the MGs. As always, there's a chance to win a whole lot of free music.
 
 
Metro Life Panel
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