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Who is Banksy? It is one of the art world’s, perhaps even pop culture’s, most enduring mysteries since the street artist burst onto the scene in the early 2000s. But we may be one step closer to the artist’s true identity following the recent discovery of a lost BBC interview in which Banksy appears to confirm his name.

The BBC reported on Monday that it had unearthed a 2003 interview between the young, up-and-coming street artist Banksy and the former BBC arts correspondent Nigel Wrench. The original recording was edited for a spot on BBC radio, which was then used as part of the BBC podcast series The Banksy Story that was released in July. But Wrench, having listened to the podcast series, was inspired to revisit the full original recording and discovered a lot more buried information about the artist that was never used.

In the discovered audio,...

For this week’s home media offerings, we have only a few titles on tap for genre fans, as there are only five different titles making their way home on Tuesday. Arrow Video is showing some love to the underappreciated Dream Demon with their new Blu, and Scream Factory is resurrecting The Spider (1958) as well. If you’re into classic horror in three dimensions, you’ll definitely want to pick up the 3D Blu for House of Wax (1953) and two indie horror flicks are arriving on DVD this week as well: Wood Witch and The Haunted.

Dream Demon

A young bride-to-be s anxieties over her upcoming wedding take on a horrifying, demonic form in this underseen 1988 rubber reality shocker from director/co-writer Harley Cokeliss (Black Moon Rising), starring Timothy Spall and Jemma Redgrave.

As her marriage to decorated war hero Oliver draws near, well-heeled Diana moves into her sprawling new...

Dream Demon (1988) will be available on Blu-ray From Arow Video June 23rd

A young bride-to-be s anxieties over her upcoming wedding take on a horrifying, demonic form in this underseen 1988 rubber reality shocker from director/co-writer Harley Cokeliss (Black Moon Rising), starring Timothy Spall and Jemma Redgrave.

As her marriage to decorated war hero Oliver draws near, well-heeled Diana moves into her sprawling new London home where she starts to experience strange and terrifying nightmares. But are these blood-curdling night terrors merely the symptom of an unsettled mind, or the sign of something far sinister at work? Hounded by a pair of sleazy journalists (Timothy Spall and Jimmy Nail), Diana soon crosses paths with American tourist Jenny, who appears to have a strange connection to the foreboding house and its sinister past.

Long dormant on home media since its original VHS release, Dream Demon – a terrific blend of psychological horror...

Den Of Geek Aug 22, 2017

Horror Channel FrightFest takes place in London this weekend. Here's our pick of films to look out for...

Summer’s almost over and what better way to welcome in the spooky season than by hiding from the heat in a darkened room, with five days of wall-to-wall horror? Yep, it’s August Bank Holiday and that means the 18th annual London Horror Channel FrightFest is upon us. For some, this is a familiar pilgrimage. Veterans will be used to bloodshot eyes, numbness in the spine, a lack of nutrition and an acute anxiousness every time there’s a loud noise. For others, it may be their first visit and these are things to look forward to. Either way, FrightFest promises probably the biggest, purest, uncut dose of horror you can endure without going insane, complete with special guests, world premieres, live events and at least a couple of parties.

By Tim Greaves

Titling a film is no trivial matter, especially from a marketing perspective. As history has proven, there have been numerous films made which have little more to offer than a cracking title. A really sharp one can help sell the poorest product, conversely a stellar piece of movie-making can be undermined by something uninspired. When you're trying to make your movie stand out in a marketplace awash with alternatives, an attention-grabbing title is a crucial consideration and you'll probably be aiming for something that harbours intrigue, allure, and is capable of fostering curiosity and anticipation. When it was first unleashed theatrically in 1985, Howling II: Stirba – Werewolf Bitch was certainly an attention-grabber. Whether the film itself turned out to be good, bad or indifferent, as enticing titles go the suffix Stirba – Werewolf Bitch sure did the job, sending out a premium come and see me you know you...

Nick Aldwinckle Nov 24, 2016

The Bottom Shelf returns, with a video nasty, The Howling 2, and a tribute to the late Herschell Gordon Lewis...

To most, September 26th is the date when, in 1680, the Dutch city Gorinchem suffered a citizen’s revolt due to an imposed tax on cereal. From now on, though, that will change, as any right-thinking person will remember that date in 2016 as the day The Godfather Of Gore, the great Herschell Gordon Lewis, died.

The brain behind a range of vintage cult classics, spanning the gamut of exploitation cinema, from splatter movies to comedy erotica and supernatural witchcraft thriller (niche!), Lewis’ influential sixties and seventies productions paved the way for the video nasties of the eighties and the gory likes of David Cronenberg and Peter Jackson and stand up today as camp, gawdy historical documents of a bygone era. As such, to coincide with an impeccably timed release...

I’ve been a huge fan of Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of the War of the Worlds ever since one of my junior school teachers decided to play it to us over four lessons way back in 1978, encouraging us to discuss it among the class and to create our own words and pictures as a result. I’d never heard anything quite like it, and frankly, there’s never really been anything quite like it since, in terms of a completely immersive musical experience that was groundbreaking at the time and still sounds as fresh and vital today as it did 38 years ago.

When Wayne finally achieved his dream of bringing his magnum opus to life on the stage in 2006, I was there at the inaugural performance at London’s Royal Albert Hall to witness him conducting a live band and orchestra along with a breathtaking visual show that featured video walls,...

Joel Ryan/AP

Newcastle Upon Tyne. The Toon. Geordie land.

It’s a rather colourful place to visit and if you’re lucky enough to live in the North east, it’s a wonderful place to call home. Newcastle is a truly welcoming place that has its priorities spot on; there’s a Greggs on every corner and the clubs have cages that you can grind in or on – what’s not to love?

But with everywhere that you visit, it’s the locals that make the North East such a friendly and loving area. The Toon is full of banter despite the Black and White army that aren’t very good anymore, Jimmy Nail who loves his crocodile boots that no one wears anymore, oh and the girls… they’re a different breed of human. But in a good way.

They’re the most kind hearted, fun loving and...

This past weekend, Sting brought the The Last Ship home to Tyneside, where the musical is set, performing its score, concert-style, at the town's premiere music venue, Sage Gateshead, for three sold-out shows. He was joined onstage by original Broadway cast member Jimmy Nail, as well as singers Jo Lawry, Charlie Richmond, the Wilson Brothers, and Rachel and Becky Unthank. Scroll down for photos...

A once-in-a-lifetime Broadway event took place yesterday, December 21, following the matinee performance of The Last Ship when patrons were invited to meet Sting and members of the cast on stage at the Neil Simon Theatre 250 W. 52 St. as they signed copies of the recently released Original Broadway Cast Recording. 16-time Grammy Award winning musician Sting, who now stars in The Last Ship for which he also composed the score, was joined by cast mates Michael Esper, Rachel Tucker,Jimmy Nail,Fred Applegate, Aaron Lazar, Sally Ann Triplett and Collin Kelly-Sordelet.BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was on hand to chat with the company at the special event and you can check out the exclusive interviews below...

A once-in-a-lifetime Broadway event took place yesterday, December 21, following the matinee performance of The Last Ship when patrons were invited to meet Sting and members of the cast on stage at the Neil Simon Theatre 250 W. 52 St. as they signed copies of the recently released Original Broadway Cast Recording. 16-time Grammy Award winning musician Sting, who now stars in The Last Ship for which he also composed the score, was joined by cast mates Michael Esper, Rachel Tucker, Jimmy Nail,Fred Applegate, Aaron Lazar, Sally Ann Triplett and Collin Kelly-Sordelet.BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge wa son hand to chat with Sting and the rest of the cast at the special event. Check back later to find out what they had to say and check out photos of him in action below...

A once-in-a-lifetime Broadway event took place yesterday, December 21, following the matinee performance of The Last Ship when patrons were invited to meet Sting and members of the cast on stage at the Neil Simon Theatre 250 W. 52 St. as they signed copies of the recently released Original Broadway Cast Recording. 16-time Grammy Award winning musician Sting, who now stars in The Last Ship for which he also composed the score, was joined by cast mates Michael Esper, Rachel Tucker, Jimmy Nail,Fred Applegate, Aaron Lazar, Sally Ann Triplett and Collin Kelly-Sordelet.BroadwayWorld was there for the big event and you can catch photo coverage below...

A once-in-a-lifetime Broadway event will take place this Sunday, December 21 at 6 p.m. following the matinee performance of The Last Ship when patrons are invited to meet Sting and members of the cast on stage at the Neil Simon Theatre 250 W. 52 St. as they sign copies of the recently released Original Broadway Cast Recording. 16-time Grammy Award winning musician Sting, who now stars in The Last Ship for which he also composed the score, will be joined by cast mates Michael Esper, Rachel Tucker, Jimmy Nail, Fred Applegate, Aaron Lazar, Sally Ann Triplett and Collin Kelly-Sordelet.

“Well, we opened in October,” says Sting, 63, about The Last Ship, the musical he co-wrote and, through January 24, will star in. “And like most of the new musicals on Broadway, we were struggling with ticket sales. And very quickly the producers came to me and said, ‘There’s one thing to do.’ And I said, ‘What’s that?’ ‘You have to go into the play.’ I said no way — I don’t want to. I wrote this for my dear friend Jimmy Nail. ‘Nope, you’ve gotta do it.’ I said they had to ask Jimmy, and Jimmy was wonderfully magnanimous and said, ‘Yep, it’s the right thing to do.’ ‘Well, okay.’ ” *This article appears in the December 15, 2014 issue of New York Magazine.

Just last night, Sting joined the cast of the musical he penned, The Last Ship, for a limited run through January 10, 2015. He will be replacing actor Jimmy Nail, who is said to have 'blessed' the move. Sting then joins Paul Simon on tour in New Zealand on January 30, 2015, making any further extensions unlikely. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you photos of Sting in the BroadwayWorld.com series 'In The Spotlight' by acclaimed photographer Walter McBride...

Just last night, Sting joined the cast of the musical he penned, The Last Ship, for a limited run through January 10, 2015. He will be replacing actor Jimmy Nail, who is said to have 'blessed' the move. Sting then joins Paul Simon on tour in New Zealand on January 30, 2015, making any further extensions unlikely. BroadwayWorld was there for his first official curtain call last night, and you can go inside the special night below...

Just last night, Sting joined the cast of the musical he penned, The Last Ship, for a limited run through January 10, 2015. He will be replacing actor Jimmy Nail, who is said to have 'blessed' the move. Sting then joins Paul Simon on tour in New Zealand on January 30, 2015, making any further extensions unlikely. BroadwayWorld was there for his first official curtain call last night, and you can check out photos from after the curtain went down below...

Just last night, Sting joined the cast of the musical he penned, The Last Ship, for a limited run through January 10, 2015. He will be replacing actor Jimmy Nail, who is said to have 'blessed' the move. Sting then joins Paul Simon on tour in New Zealand on January 30, 2015, making any further extensions unlikely. BroadwayWorld was there for his first official curtain call last night, and you can go inside the special night below...

Hoping to boost a floundering box office, Sting is going to step into a role in the $15 million Broadway show for which he's supplied the score, The Last Ship. "I've been working on this show for five years and been at every rehearsal, every performance, so it's not like I've flown in from Planet Rock Star to save the day," the musician, 63, told The New York Times on Sunday, adding that he'd display his rear end "in Macy's if it will help our show." "I know all the lines and lyrics after all these years," he added with a laugh.

Hoping to boost a floundering box office, Sting is going to step into the leading role of the $15 million Broadway show for which he's supplied the score, The Last Ship. "I've been working on this show for five years and been at every rehearsal, every performance, so it's not like I've flown in from Planet Rock Star to save the day," the musician, 63, told The New York Times on Sunday, adding that he'd display his rear end "in Macy's if it will help our show." "I know all the lines and lyrics after all these years," he added with a laugh.

This just in The NY Times reports that Sting will be joining the cast of the musical he penned, The Last Ship for a limited run from December 9th to January 10, 2015. He will be replacing actor Jimmy Nail, who is said to have 'blessed' the move. The production has been reportedly losing 75,000 a week since performances began on Sept. 29. According to the Times, it needs to gross at least 625,000 a week to break even and sustain a Broadway run.

We're not going to lie - when we found out that Zoe Birkett was entering the Big Brother house earlier this week, the Digital Spy office got very excited indeed. What a blast from the past - and how much the "little podgy kid from Pop Idol with the dreadlocks" (her words, not ours) has grown up in the last 13 years. But it got us thinking - what happened to the other contestants? We put on our deerstalker, pulled out our magnifying glass and started digging...

Series One

Korben

Korben, whose real name is Chris Niblett, now seems to be going by the hybrid Korben Niblett. He previously worked at Jemma Kidd Make Up School, but according to his LinkedIn page (oh yes), earlier this year he launched his own company, Evolve Beauty. Not so much of the singing anymore, then...

Rik Waller

Well, for one thing, he's not Rik anymore - it's Richard now!

16-time Grammy Award winner Sting and The Last Ship cast members Aaron Lazar, Jimmy Nail, Michael Esper and Fred Applegate appeared last night, Monday, June 23 at Wrigley Field for the Ceremonial Chicago Cubs First Pitch. Lazar took the pitch, followed by the Seventh Inning Stretch performance by Sting, accompanied by the cast of the Broadway-bound world premiere musical. Scroll down for a photo...

The Last Ship, with an original score by 16-time Grammy Award® winner Sting, will open on Broadway in the fall of 2014 following its World Premiere at Chicago’s Bank of America Theatre from June 10th through July 13th. An epic yet intimate tale inspired by Sting’s own childhood experiences, the production features direction by two-time Tony Award® winner Joe Mantello (Wicked), a book by Tony Award® winner John Logan (Red) and Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award® winner Brian Yorkey (Next to Normal) and choreography by Olivier Award winner and Tony Award® Nominee Steven Hoggett (Once). Michael Esper, Rachel Tucker, Jimmy Nail, Aaron Lazar, Sally Ann Triplett, Collin Kelly-Sordelet and Fred Applegate will make up the principle cast. Additional casting will be announced at a later date. Life in...

Steppenwolf Theatre Company presents an evening with 16-time Grammy Award-winner Sting on behalf of his forthcoming musical, The Last Ship, on February 24, 2014 at 730pm. For one night only, this benefit event features Sting in conversation with musician, BAFTA nominee and The Last Ship cast member, Jimmy Nail. The pair will also perform songs from the new musical, joined by Emmy Award-nominee Rob Mathes on piano. Funds raised at the event support Steppenwolf's Artistic Development Fund, a special fund created by the theater to provide enhanced resources for large scale productions initiated by our artists and to mount new plays. A limited number of tickets 250 go on sale to the public February 5 at 11am through Audience Services 1650 N Halsted St and at 312-335-1650.

The stars of Auf Wiedersehen, Pet will reunite for the show's 30th anniversary later this year.

A special weekend-long convention in Newcastle will mark the milestone in September, including a tour of locations used in the series.

The comedy followed a group of British construction workers overseas, launching in November 1983.

It ran for two series on ITV from 1983 to 1986, before returning on BBC One in 2002. A fourth series followed in 2004, along with a two-part finale special.

Timothy Spall, Kevin Whately, Jimmy Nail and Tim Healy led the cast, along with Gary Holton, Christopher Fairbank and Pat Roach.

Healy - who played team leader Dennis Patterson - is confirmed for the event, along with creator Franc Roddam and writers Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais.

Several other cast members are expected to confirm their attendance in the coming weeks.

"Thirty years, I can't believe where it's gone," said Healy. "We're having...

Madonna does her best screen work as Eva Peron, the notorious B-movie actress who married Argentina's dictatorial president Juan Peron (Jonathan Pryce) only to become the country's most beloved first lady. Based on the hit stage production by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, Alan Parker's musical biopic also features Antonio Banderas as Che the narrator and Jimmy Nail as Eva's hometown boyfriend. Trivia: Barbra Streisand turned down the role...

Spies of Warsaw. co. BBC4

B Van Heusen

Former Doctor Who actor David Tennant made his much anticipated return to the BBC America tonight in the pre-World War II spy drama Spies of Warsaw. This new adaptation of Alan Furst’s book was penned by Ian La Frenais and Dick Clement – the men who brought us such hits as Porridge and Auf Widersehen Pet. The duo might seem like an unlikely choice to write a straight laced spy drama given that their usual fare is best described as dramedy but in Spies of Warsaw they proved that they can write good dialogue for more serious minded performers than Ronnie Barker and Jimmy Nail.

Visually the show was similar to The Hour although the exterior scenes were obviously in Europe rather than London. David Tennant was very good as war-hero turned spy Colonel Jean-Francois Mercier even if he seemed a bit...

Spies of Warsaw. co. BBC4

B Van Heusen

Former Doctor Who actor David Tennant made his much anticipated return to the BBC tonight in the pre-World War II spy drama Spies of Warsaw. This stylishly made, expensive looking show deserved better than a Thursday night airing in the TV wilderness that is BBC4. This new adaptation of Alan Furst’s book was penned by Ian La Frenais and Dick Clement – the men who brought us such hits as Porridge and Auf Widersehen Pet. The duo might seem like an unlikely choice to write a straight laced spy drama given that their usual fare is best described as dramedy but in Spies of Warsaw they proved that they can write good dialogue for more serious minded performers than Ronnie Barker and Jimmy Nail.

Visually the show was similar to The Hour although the exterior scenes were obviously in Europe rather than London.

By Allen Gardner

The Samurai Trilogy (Criterion) Director Hiroshi Inagaki’s sprawling epic filmed from 1954-56 is an early Japanese Technicolor masterpiece, rivaling the scope of filmmakers like David Lean and Luchino Visconti. Toshiro Mifune, Japan’s greatest actor, stars as real-life swordsman, artist and writer Musashi Miyamoto, following his growth from callow youth to disciplined warrior. The three films: the Oscar winning “Musashi Miyamoto,” “Duel at Ichijoji Temple,” and “Duel at Ganryu Island” are an incredible story of human growth, tender love and sublime, blood-soaked action. Not to be missed. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Interviews with translator and historian William Scott Wilson; Trailers. Full screen. Dolby 1.0 mono.

The 39 Steps (Criterion) Alfred Hitchcock’s 1935 story of spies, conspiracies and sexual tension put him on the map on both sides of the Pond. Robert Donat stars as an innocent thrust into a deadly plot alongside a cool blonde (Madeleine Carroll...

It's a legal battle that would have put Hollywood in a spin back in 1992

Close your eyes for a moment and pretend it's 1992 again. Your Global Hypercolour T-shirt is forming a perfect thermochromatic triangle between your armpits and your bumcrack. The mixtape on your Walkman is segueing between Rem's Man on the Moon and Ain't No Doubt by Jimmy Nail. People are predicting big things for Hangin' With Mr Cooper. And the two biggest stars around are Kevin Costner and Stephen Baldwin.

Costner is already king of Hollywood, having released Dances With Wolves, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and The Bodyguard in three successive years. And, after showing so much promise in Born on the Fourth of July a few years ago, it seems natural to assume that Baldwin will go the same way. If only Costner and Baldwin would team up on a project, it could be bigger...

It's impressively bad. But it's still impressive. Keith Chegwin's Kill Keith is a better representation of British horror than any glossy Radcliffe drama

Ever since The Woman in Black became the most successful British horror film of all time, it's become apparent what the next few years of British horror will have in store. There'll be period costumes. There'll be stately atmospherics. There'll be long periods of hardly anything happening that are suddenly punctuated by a noise or a chair or a bird or whatever. But that's not what British horror is all about.

British horror isn't about Daniel Radcliffe looking glum. It's cheap. It's trashy. You can see the seams. And it barely cares. In fact, there's an argument to say that the bizarre low-budget Keith Chegwin vehicle Kill Keith (out on DVD next week) is far more representative of the British horror scene than The Woman in Black will ever be.

HollywoodNews.com: Exclusive: Sting’s 60th birthday party at the Beacon Theater was a four hour celebration of the rock star’s career and songs with his own band and almost a dozen famous musicians performing his music. They included Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Herbie Hancock, Lady Gaga. Branford Marsalis, will.i.am, Mary J. Blige, Chris Botti, Jimmy Nail, and Met Opera star Bryn Terfel. The latter opened the second act of the show with a rendition of “Roxanne” certain to become part of pop history–it was hilarious and serious at the same time, and showed how Sting’s punkiest new wave music has resonance in many forms.

There were many extraordinary moments on stage and off, where documentary maker Joe Berlinger brought the primary member of the just released Memphis 3, Jason Baldwin. And there were also Robert Downey and his wife Susan (Downey was...

British actress Denise Welch has stunned fans by coming clean about her cocaine habit - the veteran star regularly took the drug on set while filming her role in hit U.K. soap opera Coronation Street.

The 51-year-old actress became a household name in Britain with roles in Spender opposite Jimmy Nail and Soldier Soldier, and later expanded her fan base when she was cast as Natalie Barnes in the popular drama serial in 1997.

She spent three years on the show, and has now revealed her work on Coronation Street was blighted by a raging cocaine addiction.

Welch admits she started snorting the drug when she was in her 20s, but the problem escalated when she became depressed following the birth of her first son in 1989.

She would take the drug in between scenes, and once even asked her dealer to come to the set and sell her more drugs to get her through the working day.

Writing in her new autobiography, Pulling Myself Together, Welch reveals, "The risks I took were incredible. I was a total wreck... I'd reached a point where I felt taking cocaine was the only way I could survive. I was suffering crippling depression and I'd made myself believe coke was the only thing that could make me cope...

"I'd become the master of getting out of scenes. I'd always be saying something like 'Don't you think Natalie would be in the toilet? Or in the... living room?' It was ridiculous, but this was a particularly awful day and I felt very low. When you suffer with depression it can just hit you like that at any time and I could feel myself slipping. I didn't have any drugs on me and I knew the only way I could possibly keep going and stay on an even keel was to get some more."

The actress managed to put her drug demons behind her when she fell pregnant with her second child, Louis, who is now nine.

The early 80s saw a whole raft of so-called sword and sorcery epics. The success of Star Wars meant that audiences were obviously desperate for more fantasy cinema - or not. Nowadays the likes of Krull, Hawk the Slayer and the Beastmaster are more likely to be seen propping up the late night film schedules and only people of a certain age will admit to liking them. Solomon Kane seems intent on reviving the genre but has a tricky task. Firstly if you not a fan of mystical hokum, nothing in evidence here will change your mind. Secondly, the titular hero is from the West Country. Imagine Jimmy Nail as Spender taking on the world’s terrorists. Kane (James Purefoy) is a murderous mercenary who when threatened by a demon with eternal damnation, renounces his violent ways in an attempt to save his soul. When a warlock threatens his native land,...

Ever the shrinking violet, Mickey Rourke, the much-lauded star of Darren Aronofsky’s new drama, rolled into London to wrestle with the British media.With the dazzling smile of a man who is relishing his time firmly back in the limelight, he was dressed in a jewel-and-brocade-encrusted navy velvet blazer and crocodile shoes (sans socks) - like a glorious love-child of Austin Powers and Jimmy Nail. And he even mentioned he had kept some of the spandex-tastic costumes from the film: “I kept the pants and the tights- they’re in the closet and I cringe every time I look at them.”He noted that his often boxing background was a hindrance and not a help for making the movie: “Wrestlers don’t move like fighters and fighters don’t move like wrestlers. With the boxing, you move very gracefully, and these guys move more hulking - you can see their punches,...

A new family comedy starring Jimmy Nail got off to a very slow start in the ratings on Friday. Parents of the Band, in which Nail stars as a one-hit wonder from the '80s, pulled in just 2.61m (11.2%) to BBC One from 8.30pm. The figure is down on the 3.07m (13.3%) who saw the last episode of After You've Gone in the same slot a week earlier. The comedy suffered from going up against Coronation Street on ITV1, which pulled in the day's best numbers with 8.79m (37.6%). An earlier episode had 8.6m (39.1%) at 7.30pm. BBC One's EastEnders picked up 8.16m (36.4%) at 8pm and a further 370k (1.9%) on BBC Three. Emmerdale took its usual third place amongst the soaps, with 6.82m (33.4%) at 7pm. Hollyoaks had 1.64m (8.3%) for Channel 4 at 6.30pm, then 466k (2.6%) for E4 at 7pm. At 10pm, Hollyoaks Later concluded with 390k (more)...

It should come as no surprise that "Still Crazy" thematically falls somewhere between "The Commitments" and "This Is Spinal Tap", given that screenwriters Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais penned the former and honed their satirical chops as writers on "The Tracey Ullman Show".

But while the material -- about a quintessentially '70s British rock band called Strange Fruit that reunites two decades later for one more kick at the old can -- may not exactly be the freshest concept in town, sharp characterizations and a crack comic cast nonetheless make it an amusing diversion.

Ticket sales won't set any records, but Columbia should enjoy some modest domestic business, with stronger results overseas.

Finding little artistic fulfillment in his condom-dispenser concession, former Fruits keyboard player Tony Costello (Stephen Rea) gets the reunion ball rolling by tracking down his worse-for-wear bandmates with the help of Karen Knowles (Juliet Aubrey), their old PA and now a divorcee with a teenage daughter (Rachael Stirling).

The quest proves no easy feat: Bassist Les Wickes (Jimmy Nail) has eased into domestic bliss with a family and a roofing business; drummer Beano Baggot (Timothy Spall) works at a gardening nursery while fearing the wrath of the tax collector; pompous lead singer Ray Simms (Bill Nighy) lives over his head in a country mansion with his take-no-prisoners Swedish wife Astrid (Helena Bergstrom); and ace roadie Hughie (Billy Connolly) earns what he can in a street market.

Ultimately, the lure of past glory prevails, though plans for a full reunion are hampered by the discovery that former lead guitarist and acknowledged star of the group Brian Lovell (Bruce Robinson) appears to be dead. No matter, much younger guitarist Luke (Hans Matheson) is brought in, adding a little wrinkle-free incentive for a new generation of potential Fruits fans.

Landing a bus left over from an old INXS tour, the band hits the road, bringing along all the requisite excess baggage -- old feuds, bruised egos, etc. They work their way back up again through scary Holland dives with an eye toward a triumphant reunion concert at the Wisbech rock festival some 20 years after a freak electrical storm at that very venue effectively splintered the mighty Fruits.

Blessed with terrific comic timing and some masterful, scene-stealing turns by Nighy's Ted Nugent-meets-Ted Baxter lead singer Simms and Bergstrom as his domineering better half, "Still Crazy"'s motley crew of a cast hits all the right notes. And director Gibson -- no stranger to choreographing musical performances having done "What's Love Got to Do With It" and "The Josephine Baker Story" -- keeps the tempo amiably upbeat, even as the Clement/La Frenais script follows a fairly generic path.

Musically, the picture is right on the money, with Foreigner's Mick Jones and the Electric Light Orchestra's Jeff Lynne contributing some pitch-perfect power ballads that are as earnestly overblown as all that '70s hair. Hats off also to costume designer Caroline Harris for the expert fur-and-sequins glam work.

STILL CRAZY

Sony Pictures Releasing

A Columbia Pictures presentation

with the participation of the Greenlight Fund

A Marmot Tandy production

A Brian Gibson film

Director: Brian Gibson

Screenwriters: Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais

Producer: Andrea Marmot

Executive producers: Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais

Director of photography: Ashley Rowe

Production designer: Max Gottlieb

Editor: Peter Boyle

Costume designer: Caroline Harris

Music: Clive Langer

Music supervisors: Tarquin Gotch and Steve Dagger

Casting: Gail Stevens

Color/stereo

Cast:

Tony Costello: Stephen Rea

Hughie: Billy Connolly

Les Wickes: Jimmy Nail

Beano Baggot: Timothy Spall

Ray Simms: Bill Nighy

Karen Knowles: Juliet Aubrey

Astrid Simms: Helena Bergstrom

Brian Lovell: Bruce Robinson

Luke Shand: Hans Matheson

Clare Knowles: Rachael Stirling

Running time -- 97 minutes

MPAA rating: R...