Richmond Times-Dispatch from Richmond, Virginia • D2

10714TD2F02D Rair 714 D2 10714TD2F02D ZALLCALL 63 D2 Richmond Times-Dispatch Friday, July 14, 2006 www.TinwsDispateh.com A powerful performance Strong cast brings life to gospel of Jackson; Armstrong ideal lead BY SUSAN HAUBEN STOCK Special Cobbesfgndent 1 1 WARNER INDEPENDENT PICTURES VIA THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FERNANDO mVADENEIRA and cotmiiufWisj stsjjo pros- Cora Harvay Armstrong's Mg votca Kmmi Rnwm Pnti with Wlnons Rydor) Is often insoKiiod for Ms on-scroon obHUos, but ths shot ths nwwto In Ivb wstkMip thMi Mrotioscopdw It Into mHqJMbb A 'Darkly' different take on sci-fi perplexingly good collaboration with songwriter Thomas A. Dorsey, her landmark concert at Carnegie Hall and her long association with the civil rights movement. Sightly more interesting is Stolz's emphasis on Jackson's strong and deep commitment to her religion and her God, which she credits for her talent and her success. There are gentle chuckles, too, about the rolls of cash she stashes about her person, and the tearfulness of her long-time accompanist Mildred, played by Young. Swift Creek artistic director Tom Width strikes the perfect modest note with his set and lighting, and he elicits charming performances from each of his actors.

had her sexual desire stripped by drug use. She abhors physical contact, but Arctor hopes to persuade her into a physical relationship. Also around are a couple of tragicomic side characters played by Woody Harrelson and Robert Downey Jr. Downey strikes the most haunting figure as Barris, a paranoid speed-talker who does all he can to sell out his friends to authorities. Reeves takes a lot of heat for his lack of expressiveness, but in the animated world his stiffness comes across more as deep, affected solemnity.

The film masterfully captures Dick's ideas of humanity scarred and separated by technology. The film is at times confusing enough to buck you off and have you lose your way. If it leaves you with a facial expression as stunned as that of Keanu, you know Linklater and his crew have done their jobs. Scripps Howard News Service THE FUNNIEST MOVIE YOU'LL SEE THIS SUMMER! Funny, charming and relentlessly honest!" Mirk S. Alan, UPN BY PHIL V1LLAHREAL Axraxu Daily Star This is your movie.

This is your movie on drugs. "A Scanner Darkly" is meant to synthesize the experience of being wasted, scurrying through a darkening world while burdened with hallucinations and paranoia. MOVIE REVIEW A SCANNER DARKLY V4 CAST; Keanu Reeves, Robot Downey Jr. AT; Westhampton FYl; Running time: 1:40. Rated (drug and sexual content, language and a brief violent scene) There's also a convoluted, twisting plot set in a near-future dystopia in which the drug war has thoroughly insinuated itself in daily life, but that's secondary to the visceral experience of becoming lost in the moment, dazed, confused, hopeless and used.

The government monitors citizens with video surveillance and supports a lobotomizing, 12-stepHke recovery program that saps the life force of participants. The film is animated, but not in the traditional sense. Writer-director Richard Linklater filmed every scene in the conventional manner, then had artists draw and paint the images using computers in a method called rotoscoping. It's a technique the director first used in "Waking Life" (2001), his fascinating philosophical smorgasbord. Rotoscoping allows for perfectly lifelike movement with an added degree of sep-aration from reality, and it enables Linklater to expand the film to his trippy vision organically, without the help of special effects.

There's no better way to stage such haunting spectacles as a scene in which a man cowers in the corner of a room as an alien with eyes all over its head reads off a comprehensive list of the druggie's sins. Linklater adapts sci-fi legend Philip K. Dick's novel, which drew on Dick's experiences experimenting with mind-altering chemicals. Keanu Reeves plays Bob Arc tor, an undercover narco tics detective who wears a suit that cloaks his appearance and flickers randomly among several identities. While cloaked, Arctor is known as Fred.

Due to an apparent snafu in the system, Fred is assigned to entrap Arctor, who is suspected of trafficking and using the feared Substance which has many side effects, including splitting the brain into two competing entities. Fred Arctor might be able to sec the irony in his situation if his mind weren't so fried from the drug. Arctor also is sent after his girlfriend, Donna Hawthorne (Winona Ryder), a dealer who has tions and specialized businesses. "We're going to have roughly 150 half-hours per week where we can introduce local programming, whether it's a local football game or tennis tournament. Currently, there's a limited amount of local program opportunities on the big four networks." "Desire" and "Fashion House," MyNetwork TV's two initial tele-novelas, will air at 8 and 9 p.m., respectively, Monday through Saturday.

"Desire" follows the adventures of two brothers being chased by the Mafia. "Fashion House" will feature two icons from the '80s, Morgan Fairchild and Bo Derek. Contact staff writer Dougtas Durden at ddurdenitimesdispatch.com or (804) 646359. 0 got no right not to sing," says Mahalia Jackson in Swift Creek Mill's "Maha lia." "It's a gift from God for His glory." As much can be said of Cora Harvey Armstrong, the vocal powerhouse who plays iconic gospel singer Jackson in Tom Stolz's musical biogra- ONSTACE pby.Arm- MAHAUA great big voice, packed with WHERE Swift musicaKty and Creek Mill Theatre, spirit, and 17401 Jefferson she's the rea-Davis Highway son to see this WHEN; Through reprise of Swift Aug 12 Creek's 1998 TICKETS: production. $28.50431.25 show Joining only; $38,50441.25 Armstrong wtthbuffet this time are INFO: call (804) her sister, Vir-748-5203 or visit ginia Harvey www wiftcreekrnill.c Young, and om Tim Harris, both of whom play a variety of roles.

They're excellent singeractors, and they're accompanists, too, on piano and organ. Among the chief delights of this production, though, are the few occasions when these three combine voices in magical unaccompanied harmony. It's simply beautiful. Stolz's book is a slight thing, a sketchy telling of Jackson's Hfe that manages to leave out her two marriages and divorces. He concentrates on her young womanhood in 1920s New Orleans under the care of an aunt; her move to Chicago to escape Jim Crow and to study nursing; and her installation in the choir of a Windy City church that frowns on her undignified clapping and swaying while singing.

There's a bit about her iillaiMikiiKiiillalU I miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiKa mth your ZIP CODE TP 4JHX (4J549) TODAY UMiBMmm PUMP 14 IWM1II OHM 10 WISTIDW TIACT tO. 000 MMOOtOP Ml 110-7111 IH71 awnimnrmmatctu.imMatmiuamuaiaC General Interactive Network if Curt i Hipper ill i lit EXCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENT STARTS TODAY Regal Cinemas WESTHAMPTON 5706 Grove Avenue 800FANDANGO 391 OwenWkon Kate Hudson Matt Dion Michael Douglas WRLH taps into new network idea Costume designer Maura Lynch Cravey merits special mention for the well-chosen attire, glittery but not glitzy. Ultimately it's about Armstrong and the music, the great gospel songs that Jackson made into classics and that Armstrong makes her own. "I Will Move on Up a Little Higher," "How I Got Over," "Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho," "Walk in Jerusalem" Jackson was often urged to sing blues or jazz, but she stayed true to gospel. Armstrong's big voice and thoroughly believable commitment to the power of this music convince us that Jackson made the right choice.

Susan Haubenstock is a regular contributor. Dupree's a crowd. TODAY- Smtnpm mUMM obmbnoomo Mmamooaw obmbnoohti IBM WMt Bid Dllw 00OMMMNQO 071 BM1 Villi HiiiE SBIM loWmuVEIttimSitl will mm mmmmmmmmimm Two's company. STARTS to mJOTDahlta rm nan mtmumsim mm STARTS 110 CQMMONWIMM 10 MOV 1M04UUUML MOI COMMOMVEMM UWII I00l 1X1. BUMF KON.

0M0 VUTMOW KXMUT soma, mo mi i moi root two NEWS 1 (CLASSIFIED) LIFESTYLE SERVICE BY DOUGLAS BURDEN Times-Dispatch Star Witter Along with the new CW network debuting this fall, look for another new TV service MyNetwork TV, premiering Sept. 5. In some TV markets, MyNetwork TV will be an over-the-air-channeL In Richmond, however, it will only be available to digital cable customers. As a national service, MyNetwork TV, run by Fox's parent company, News will start out small: two serial dramas airing in prime time six days a week. The plan is for these dramas to have 13-week story fines, then new serials take their place.

The service was created for TV stations left without programs once the WB-UPN merger goes into effect Sept. 18. Richmond, however, doesn't have both WB and UPN stations. The local UPN affiliate, WTJFV, will become the new CW affiliate. WRLH, the local Fox affiliate, will launch MyNetwork TV, calling it MyTV Richmond, on channel 209 of Comcast Cable's digital tier.

Along with the 12 hours of original prime-time programming from MyNetwork TV, WRLH will add simulcasts of syndicated programs found on WRLH, including the new talk show from writer Greg Behrendt Just Not That Into plus cablecasts of syndicated programs not currently found on the station, including "Good Times," "Sanford Son" and "Diffrent Strokes." MyTV Richmond will also be the exclusive local home for the new talk show from "Will Grace's" Megan Mullalhy, which will air at 4 p.m. weekdays. The new channel will include shows targeted toward Richmond's growing Hispanic community as well. WRLH also plans to repeat its 10 p.m. newscast at midnight.

In addition, Bill Lane, WRLrTs general manager, sees MyTV Richmond as an opportunity to offer programming blocks to local schools, churches, sports organiza 5i i-" Get more on your event. Promote it 'i I 1 'J 'J NEW SearehabJe sysnrs ctfieifBa-rJ limeslispatch.com NEWS CLASSIFIED LIFESTYLE OJMMMLnMID pHL MOk UOT iWlOT OOMmWMLIII tHOHT PUMP 14 VnOMK OSNiai 10 apnanu EOOI CommoramOi 11050 WL Braad Mwt 10001 JU Ohart Pkwy TOWHUMIM ClPky74UKC OOMUMMNaOtlOO OOP WHaWWO tm 110KMUontanThk. ox wnawwo tin ENTERTAINMENT IHOHJdtDntilhK mnminuonu ISoronopMiin Brought to you by TimesDispatch.com, Web site of the Media.