Dollar Days: Chameleon actor Depp plays a, well, chameleon in ‘Rango’

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

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File/Paramount Pictures/MCT
Rango (voiced by Johnny Depp) in “Rango.”
  • Rango (voiced by Johnny Depp, left) and Beans (voiced by Isla Fisher) are shown in a scene from the animated feature “Rango.”
    ( File/Industrial Light & Magic/Paramount Pictures/AP )
    Rango (voiced by Johnny Depp, left) and Beans (voiced by Isla Fisher) are shown in a scene from the animated feature “Rango.”
  • Depp
    ( File/Matt Sayles/AP )
    Depp
  • Gene Kelly as Don Lockwood, Debbie Reynolds as Kathy Selden and Donald O’Connor as Cosmo Brown during the opening musical number “Singin’ In The Rain.”
    ( Warner Bros. )
    Gene Kelly as Don Lockwood, Debbie Reynolds as Kathy Selden and Donald O’Connor as Cosmo Brown during the opening musical number “Singin’ In The Rain.”
  • Donald O’Connor as Cosmo Brown, Debbie Reynolds as Kathy Selden and Gene Kelly as Don Lockwood sing “Good Morning” in “Singin’ in the Rain.”
    ( Warner Bros. )
    Donald O’Connor as Cosmo Brown, Debbie Reynolds as Kathy Selden and Gene Kelly as Don Lockwood sing “Good Morning” in “Singin’ in the Rain.”
  • Donald O’Connor as Cosmo Brown and Gene Kelly as Don Lockwood during musical number “Moses Supposes” in “Singin’ in the Rain.”
    ( Warner Bros. )
    Donald O’Connor as Cosmo Brown and Gene Kelly as Don Lockwood during musical number “Moses Supposes” in “Singin’ in the Rain.”
  • Gene Kelly as Don Lockwood dancing with Cyd Charisse in musical number “Broadway Melody Ballet” in “Singin’ in the Rain.”
    ( Warner Bros. )
    Gene Kelly as Don Lockwood dancing with Cyd Charisse in musical number “Broadway Melody Ballet” in “Singin’ in the Rain.”
  • Gene Kelly as Don Lockwood swings from a lamppost during in an iconic scene from “Singin’ in the Rain.”
    ( Warner Bros. )
    Gene Kelly as Don Lockwood swings from a lamppost during in an iconic scene from “Singin’ in the Rain.”

Johnny Depp is easily one of the most well-known (and much loved) actors out there, what with having been a world-renowned pirate, owner of a chocolate factory, a murderous barber, a Mad Hatter ... the list could go on and on.

But the rolls that require his (handsome) face to not be shown on screen have been few and far between: a personal favorite, Tim Burton’s “Corpse Bride” comes to mind.

So when I found out that the man who has been People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive on several occasions was again hiding behind an animated character, I was intrigued.

The result was the super cute film “Rango,” where Depp voices the title character, who happens to be a pet chameleon. Rango is in search of adventure but finds none of what he imagines and pretends in his terrarium. After a “car accident,” Rango finds himself alone in the desert and quite thirsty, which leads to the one-time pet venturing off on a real-life adventure.

Catch Rango/Johnny Depp on Wednesday night at Freshfields Village’ Starlight Cinema. The free show begins at 8:30 p.m., and don’t forget to bring a blanket and/or chair. Freshfields Village is on Johns Island between Kiawah and Seabrook islands. Find out more info at www.FreshfieldsVillage.com or www.facebook.com/FreshfieldsVillage.

Music on the Green

Also at Freshfields is the free concert series, Music on the Green.

With only a few shows left in the summer series, this week’s show is a great one to catch.

Performing 6-9 p.m. Friday will be Shrimp City Slim (aka Gary Erwin), who is celebrating 25 years as a full-time professional musician. The Charleston-based keyboard player-singer-songwriter performs “Lowcountry blues and original songs.”

Food and drinks will be available for purchase on-site. And again, guests are encouraged to bring blankets and/or chairs.

‘Singin’ — again

After playing to packed theaters across the country on July 12, “Singin’ in the Rain” is making a repeat appearance on the big screen Aug. 22.

Playing at 7 p.m. at Regal Azalea Square Stadium 16, 215 Azalea Square Blvd., in Summerville and Regal Charles Towne Square Stadium 18, 2401 Mall Drive, in North Charleston, it will cost you $12.50 to catch one of the most beloved musicals of all time (it was named the No. 1 musical on the American Film Institute’s 2007 list of the “25 Greatest Movie Musicals”), not to mention one of my all-time favorites, back on the big screen.

This year marks the 60th anniversary for the film, which stars Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds and Donald O’Connor as they sing and dance their way through a silent film production company’s transition to making “talkies.”

Presented by NCM Fathom Events, Turner Classic Movies and Warner Home Video, this movie event features a prerecorded TCM original production with an introduction by TCM host Robert Osborne, who will take audiences behind the scenes, including a special interview with Reynolds.

For more information, go to www.FathomEvents.com.

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