Shedding light on 'Sunshine'

(Wiqan Ang for the boston globe)

Disturbing is one way to describe Danny Boyle's movies, and the director of "28 Days Later" is up to his old tricks with "Sunshine," about a team of astronauts bound for the sun with a nuclear bomb. "I like extreme scenarios," Boyle told us yesterday during a junket for the flick. The British-born filmmaker said it was a particular pleasure working with Sudbury's own Chris Evans, who he feels is much underrated as an actor. "I would get on stage with him tomorrow and do Shakespeare," said Boyle. "He's got that kind of range." But what does he think about director Eli Roth? In a widely-reported diss, Boyle recently called the Newton native's films "horrible." Or did he? "I'm not sure where that came from," Boyle told us. "I did say something not complimentary about Michael Bay. That must have been transferred to Eli Roth."

"The Bronx Is Burning," ESPN's eight-week miniseries about the '77 Yankees, is must-see TV for Sox fans. While Brooklyn-bred actor John Turturro is winning most of the raves for his portrayal of manager Billy Martin, our eyes have been on Oliver Platt, an improbable choice to play owner George Steinbrenner. Platt, you see, is a Tufts grad and longtime Sox fan. Asked for his insights on the Boss, Platt told New York magazine: "He pays a lot of attention to his hair. We call it 'the knife's edge.' He takes great pains to make it keep still."

Could we get another couple of nights of Bruce Springsteen at the TD Banknorth Garden this fall? The Boss's reps couldn't be reached, but the buzz is that Bruce and the E Street Band are in discussions to play the Garden for a couple of nights in mid-November. Springsteen & Co. have had success with the Garden. In 2002, the gang played five sold-out nights over nearly two weeks.

If she's bitter about her career, Lindsay Crouse isn't letting on. Nominated for an Oscar in '84, the actress naturally wishes she could make more movies, but she also understands how Hollywood works. "Once you get your driver's license, you end your film career," cracked Crouse, who recently had a bit part in the Kevin Costner flick "Mr. Brooks." "Look at my generation. Great actresses like Glenn Close and Susan Sarandon -- there's nothing written for anyone over a certain age." So Crouse, whose ex is playwright David Mamet, is contenting herself with theater, starring in the Gloucester Stage production of "The Belle of Amherst." Of the role made famous by Julie Harris, Crouse said: "I saw her do it on Broadway and I never forgot it. It was one of those amazing theater experiences."

Natalie Jacobson's dutiful daughter Lindsay Curtis threw an informal fete for her mom after the anchor signed off for the final time. Among the friends and colleagues at Lucky's Lounge were Dick Albert, Mike Dowling, Susan Wornick, Anthony Everett, and Mary Richardson.

Oh, to be Rob Mariano. The reality TV type known as Boston Rob is certainly making the most of his 15 minutes of fame. The Canton-bred cad is hosting a new show called "Tontine," which is billed as the "most ambitious and high stakes competition" in reality TV history. Whatever that means. Anyway, Boston Rob, a.k.a Amber Brkich's husband, will be at Faneu il Hall this weekend fielding potential contestants.

On location with Denzel

Denzel Washington (above with Joe Spaulding, CEO of the Wang Center) did a meet-and-greet with local arts officials last night before beginning five days of filming in Boston. The Oscar winner is directing and starring in "The Great Debaters," about a college debate team from Texas. Other actors in town for the shoot include Denzel Whitaker and Nate Parker. The movie's expected to be released on Christmas Day.

A beaitufil evening at Gypsy Bar

A slew of wannabe models squared off last night at Gypsy Bar for the chance to audition for Tyra Banks and the producers of her TV show "America's Next Top Model." Sponsored by Smartwater -- Jennifer Aniston's drink-of-choice -- the contest was won by the comely Melissa Jones of Randolph (second from left).

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More celebrity news

Jon Bon Jovi (inset) wants the owner of the Mijovi energy drink to change its name, arguing it is too similar to his famous moniker. But Marcos Carrington says his coffee-based energy drink is named after his girlfriend, Jovita, not the 45-year-old rocker. In a letter, Los Angeles lawyer Peter Laird, representing Bon Jovi, objected to the word "Mijovi" as well as other words "itsmijovi" and "itsmilife" that appear in the company's marketing materials and on the can. Rather than use Carrington's spelling, the letter used the phrases "It's My Jovi" and "It's My Life." "As you should be aware, one of Bon Jovi's most popular songs is entitled 'It's My Life,' " the letter states. "We hereby demand that you immediately cease and desist all further use of the name 'Mijovi' and 'It's My Life."' Carrington said the words "itsmijovi" and "itsmilife" are meant to mean "it's my jovial life." (AP)

Shooting began yesterday in a forest outside Berlin on a movie starring Tom Cruise (inset) as Germany's most famous anti-Hitler plotter. The German government said it was letting filmmakers shoot anywhere they requested, except the former German general staff headquarters. The so-called Bendler Block, where Colonel Claus Graf Schenk von Stauffenberg was executed by firing squad 63 years ago Saturday, was off-limits, said government spokesman Torsten Albig, citing "the dignity of the place." Cruise plays Stauffenberg in "Valkyrie," directed by Bryan Singer. The government's refusal to permit filming where Stauffenberg worked and died led to controversy about whether the 45-year-old actor's religious beliefs had triggered the decision. Cruise is one of Scientology's best-known members. The German government considers Scientology a commercial enterprise that takes advantage of vulnerable people ; some critics maintain that one of its adherents shouldn't be playing one of the Nazi-era's few heroes. (AP)

Michael Jackson toured the Smithsonian's National Air and Space and American Indian museums, arriving with his children before the buildings opened to the public. "He wanted to show them the sights," said Raymone Bain, a publicist for the 48-year-old pop star. At the air and space museum, Jackson lingered over the 1903 Wright Flyer, the first heavier-than-air powered aircraft to make a sustained flight with a pilot aboard. His children enjoyed robots R2-D2 and C-3PO from the "Star Wars" movies. (AP)

Live from New York, it's LeBron! Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star forward LeBron James , fresh off co-hosting the ESPY Awards this month, will host the season premiere of "Saturday Night Live" in September, an NBC spokesman confirmed. The 22-year-old James will be the latest prominent athlete to host "SNL." (AP)