Hollywood Digest

BONO TOPS MUSIC POWER LIST

According to a British music magazine, U2's Bono is the most powerful man in the music business.

"Q" polled top music industry executives, and Bono landed on the top of the power heap -- largely because of his highly visible campaigns on behalf of such issues as forgiveness of Third World debt and expansion of the European Union. That, and the continuing success of his band -- whose most recent album, "All That You Can't Leave Behind," has won seven Grammy Awards over the past two years.

According to the "Q" poll, the second-most powerful figure in the music business is Doug Morris, Chairman and CEO of the Universal Music Group, the largest record company in the world. Rapper Eminem was third.

The Top 10 included Sir Paul McCartney, John Lennon's widow Yoko Ono -- and an artist who is no longer living, Kurt Cobain.

MADONNA ON POWER, SPIRITUALITY AND SEX

In an interview with "Access Hollywood," Madonna has opened up about power, sex and spirituality -- among other things -- admitting that she was uncomfortable doing sex scenes for her director-husband Guy Ritchie in the new movie "Swept Away."

"I love my husband and I don't really want to kiss another guy in front of him, or not in front of him," she said, "so it was just weird."

Although she said she is at ease performing for arenas and stadiums full of fans, Madonna said she gets "a little bit more nervous" when Ritchie is in the house.

"I want him to like what I do," she said. "I want him to be proud. I guess that's a bit silly, isn't it?"

After two decades as one of the most powerful women in the entertainment business, Madonna also said she would like to rephrase a comment she made to Dick Clark in her first appearance on "American Bandstand," when she said her ambition was to conquer the world.

"What a dorky thing to say," she said. "I would like to change the world, not conquer the world, because I don't want to overpower the world. I would like to effect change for the good, yes."

Madonna also said she is happy that she and her husband are both interested in Kabbalah, an offshoot of Judaism.

"You know, it's nice to be with someone who's interested in the same things you're interested in because, obviously, we can sit around and talk about it," she said. "So, it is a big part of our life because ultimately I think it is the key to peace on earth and the unity of mankind, as corny as that may sound."

Madonna said she and Ritchie do not read their own press.

"There's a lot of stuff in it that isn't very positive," she said, "and you know, even though you know it's not true, you read it and you just think ... why are people so mean?"

AND YOU THOUGHT THE ALAMA WAS IN SAN ANTONIO

Billy Bob Thornton ("Monster's Ball," "Sling Blade") is reportedly in talks to star as Davy Crockett in Disney's upcoming epic "The Alamo," scheduled to start shooting in January in Austin, Texas -- where the studio has already built sets recreating the San Antonio landmark.

John Lee Hancock, who directed "The Rookie" -- and gave Disney a surprise hit with one of the "feel good" movies of 2002 -- is directing "The Alamo." Ron Howard ("A Beautiful Mind," "Apollo 13") had been set to direct the project, but pulled out because he could not guarantee a PG or PG-13 rating for a movie about one of the major military battles in U.S. history.

When Howard was still attached to the project, plans called for Russell Crowe ("A Beautiful Mind," "Gladiator") to play Sam Houston. According to published reports in Hollywood, Disney has not given up on the idea of getting Crowe on board.

TARANTINO'S VIDEO GAME DEAL

Quentin Tarantino will help develop a video game based on his upcoming movie "Kill Bill."

The movie -- due in U.S. theaters in the fall of 2003 -- stars Uma Thurman ("Pulp Fiction") and David Carradine ("Kung Fu") in the story of a former assassin who is shot and left for dead by her lover and former boss on their wedding day. She comes out of a coma five years later, intent on finding him and his squad of professional killers -- including Daryl Hannah and Lucy Liu -- and killing them all.

Black Label Games plans to release the game the same day as the movie comes out on home video.

LIL' ROMEO'S NEXT

Rapper Lil' Romeo, who was featured prominently in the 2001 comedy "Max Keeble's Big Move," is reportedly making plans to star in "Lil' Romeo and Lil' Juliet."

The project is described as a youthful, hip-hop take on Shakespeare's classic tragedy "Romeo and Juliet" -- only without the violence. Lil' Romeo is due in U.S. screens next year in "Honey," starring Jessica Alba as an inner city dancer who becomes a top music video choreographer.