Wednesday, March 7, 2018 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
Commentary...
OSP spokesman under
criminal investigation
Spies, sex and sparrows
By Jim Cornelius
Editor in Chief
“In the old days, if an
agent did something that
embarrassing, heʼd have the
good sense to defect! Christ I
miss the Cold War! “
— M (Judy Dench),
“Casino Royale”
Ah, the good old days,
when operatives steeped in
tradecraft stalked their Main
Enemy counterparts in laby-
rinthine high-stakes spy
games in exotic locales and
“denied areas.” Seductions in
hotel bars, the cutting edge of
technology deployed to sur-
veille and subvert, meddling
in elections…
Wait. It’s baaaaaaack.
When Jason Matthews
hit the shelves with his spy
thriller “Red Sparrow” in
2013, the novel seemed like
a throwback to an early era.
Now it seems as current as,
well, Vladimir Putin threat-
ening the U.S. with “invin-
cible” nukes. You almost
expect to see him pull off a
shoe and bang it on a table.
Matthews, a former CIA
operative (a “denied area
specialist” in fact) was ahead
of the curve in 2013, or so it
seemed. Russia, of course,
has been back in the Great
Game for some time, a fact
that Mitt Romney tried to
raise in the 2012 presidential
campaign, to much ridicule.
After 2016, “Russiagate,”
and arms race escalations,
Vladimir Putin’s ill inten-
tions and direct actions can
no longer be ignored, except,
perhaps by the President of
the United States.
Matthews had simply
been paying attention.
In “Red Sparrow,” he
crafted a compelling hero-
ine and a taut tale, perfectly
suited to adaptation to the
big screen. In fact, Matthews
sold the rights for many,
many rubles before the book
was even published.
“Red Sparrow “ is now
screening at Sisters Movie
House.
The premise is lurid:
Dominika Egorova
is on a trajectory to
become a prima balle-
rina when her career is
derailed. She is forced
by her uncle into secret
service to the State and
packed off to Sparrow
School, the Russian
(formerly Soviet KGB)
academy of sexpionage.
Seduction — the “honey
trap” — was a key tool
in the KGB kit, develop-
ing kompromat (com-
promising material) that
could be used to subvert
targets of espionage.
Human nature
being what it is, it remains
effective.
Such a premise could
make for simple pulp exploi-
tation. In Matthews’ hands,
it is elevated by Egorova’s
capability, intensity, intel-
lectual prowess and, shall
we say, unique psychologi-
cal insight. And Matthews’
background creates powerful
verisimilitude in scenes of
surveillance and counter sur-
veillance on the street.
Through Egorova, we get
a glimpse behind the curtain
at Putin’s Russia — the man-
ner in which a mafia state
operates, in all of its syco-
phancy, paranoia, greed and
insecurity.
There are three books in
Fri., March 9 – Thurs., March 15
A Wrinkle in Time (PG)
Gringo (R)
Fri 4:45, 7:15
Sat-Sun 2:15, 4:45, 7:15
Mon-Thurs 4:45, 7:15
with THE BAD CATS
Classic Rock, Blues & Soul!
Green Beer, Lucky Charms,
Food & Drink Specials!
1 7 N
175
N. L Larch
h St
St.
t..
541-549-6114
5
4
hardtailsoregon.com
Dry Canyon
Stampede
Country
Dance Night!
Fri 4:00, 6:45
Sat-Sun 1:15, 4:00, 6:45
Mon-Thurs 4:00, 6:45
Game Night (R)
Fri 7:30
Sat-Sun 2:45, 7:30
Mon-Tues 7:30
Thurs 7:30
Dirtbag: The Legend
of Fred Beckey (NR)
LIVE MUSIC & DANCING
March 16 / Fri / 7 PM
Red Sparrow (R)
Fri-Thurs 5:00
9pm•MARCH 17
the “Sparrow” trilogy and
they are fine reads.
The movie, which
stars Jennifer Lawrence as
Dominicka Egorova and Joel
Edgerton as Nate Nash, a
young CIA operative who is
exceptionally good at coun-
ter-surveillance, is brutal
both physically and psycho-
logically, as are the novels.
Egorova may be beautiful,
but the world she inhabits is
ugly to the bone. This is not
a glamorous, fun-and-sexy
spy-romp like, for instance,
a Bond film or the brilliantly
stylized “Atomic Blonde.”
But at a time when the
Russian eagle is unfolding its
black wings in the east, it’s a
movie worth seeing.
Starts Friday
Early Man (PG)
ST. PADDY’S
DAY PARTY
PORTLAND (AP) —
Oregon State Police spokes-
man Capt. Bill Fugate has
been placed on leave because
he is the subject of a criminal
investigation.
Deschutes County Sheriff
Shane Nelson says his office
began the investigation late
Tuesday, February 27, after
receiving an anonymous tip.
Nelson provided no details
about the investigation, but
said it has nothing to do with
Wed 7:15
Movie times and titles are
bsite
subject to change. Visit we
on.
or call for latest informati
WWW.SISTERS
MOVIEHOUSE.COM
541-549-8800
April 20 / Fri / 8 PM
Bend
Burlesque
and Company
Grand
“All 70s Revue” is a
celebration of the music,
culture, and fashion
of the era. Eclectic
and vibrant Central
Oregon group includes a
9-piece funk rock band,
comedians, and dancers.
PUB OPENS 1 HR PRIOR TO SHOWS
BelfryEvents.com
541-815-9122
Fugate’s conduct while on the
job.
Fugate is on paid admin-
istrative leave. That would
change to unpaid if he is
charged with a crime.
OSP Superintendent
Travis Hampton says he is
confident that Deschutes
County investigators will
conduct a thorough and trans-
parent investigation.
Fugate has been with the
agency for almost 11 years.
entertainment & EVENTS
WED...MAR. 7
TUES...MAR. 13
Sisters Saloon Poker Night
7 p.m. Every Wednesday! $20.
For additional information call
541-549-7427 or go online to
sisterssaloon.net.
Sisters Saloon Trivia Night
6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sign-up is at
6:15 p.m. Free, every Tuesday!
For information call 541-549-
7427 or go to sisterssaloon.net.
THURS...MAR. 8
WED...MAR. 14
Sisters Saloon Karaoke
Night 9 p.m. Every Thursday,
no cover! For additional
information call 541-549-7427
or go to sisterssaloon.net.
Sisters High School Sisters
Folk Festival Winter
Concert with Darlingside
7 p.m. Celebrating their newest
album, “Extralife,” don’t miss the
fi nal SFF winter concert of the
year! sistersfolkfestival.org or
call 541-549-4979 for tickets.
Sisters Saloon Poker Night
7 p.m. Every Wednesday! $20.
For information call 541-549-
7427 or go to sisterssaloon.net.
FRI...MAR. 9
Hardtails Bar & Grill
Karaoke Night 9 p.m.
Every Friday (if no live music
is scheduled), no cover! For
information call 541-549-6114
or go to hardtailsoregon.com.
SAT...MAR. 10
Fri 4:30, 7:00
Sat-Sun 2:00, 4:30, 7:00
Mon-Thurs 4:30, 7:00
11
HarmonyHouse Live Music
with Singer/Songwriter
Johnsmith 8 p.m. (doors
open at 7 p.m.) Don’t miss your
chance to see and hear this
Kerrville New Folk winner at
17518 Kent Road! Suggested
donation is $20. For more info
or directions call 541-280-1821
or see HarmonyHouseConcerts
on Facebook.
Sisters Saloon Live Music
with the Eric Leadbetter
Duo 8 to11 p.m. No cover!
For additional information call
541-549-7427 or go online to
sisterssaloon.net.
Cork Cellars Live Music
with Jim Cornelius & Mike
Biggers 7 to 9 p.m. No cover!
For additional information call
541-549-2675 or go to online
to corkcellarswinebistro.com.
Hardtails Bar & Grill
Karaoke Night 9 p.m. Every
Saturday (if no live music is
scheduled), no cover! For
additionalinformation call
541-549-6114 or go online to
hardtailsoregon.com.
MON...MAR. 12
Hardtails Bar & Grill Open
Mic & Jam Night 7 p.m.
Every Monday, no cover! For
additional information call
541-549-6114 or go online to
hardtailsoregon.com.
Sisters Saloon Painting
Party 6 to 8 p.m. $35, every
Monday! For additional
information call 541-549-7427
or go to sisterssaloon.net.
Events listings are free to
advertisers. Submit by
5 p.m. Fridays to
teresa@nuggetnews.com
THURS..MAR. 15
Sisters Saloon Karaoke
Night 9 p.m. Every Thursday,
no cover! For additional
information call 541-549-7427
or go to sisterssaloon.net.
FRI...MAR. 16
The Belfry Country Dance
Night with Dry Canyon
Stampede 7 to 10:30 p.m.
$10 singles, $15 couples. For
tickets and more information go
online to belfryevents.com.
Hardtails Bar & Grill
Karaoke Night 9 p.m.
Every Friday (if no live music
is scheduled), no cover!
Call 541-549-6114 or go to
hardtailsoregon.com.
SAT...MAR. 17
Hardtails Bar & Grill
St. Paddy’s Day Party
featuring Live Music with
The Bad Cats 9 p.m. Dance to
classic rock, blues & soul. Plus
green beer, lucky charms and
lots of specials! 541-549-6114
or go to hardtailsoregon.com.
Sisters High School 7th
Annual Sisters Science Fair
12 to 4 p.m. Free and fun for
the whole family. Participate in
experiments and more! For info
go to sistersscienceclub.org.
Sisters Saloon St. Patrick’s
Day Party and Live Music
with Derek Michael Marc 8
to 11 p.m. No cover! 541-549-
7427 or go to sisterssaloon.net.
Paulina Springs Books
Author Reading with
Jacqueline Keeler 6 p.m.
The Yankton Sioux/Navajo
writer presents “Edge of
Morning: Native Voices Speak
for the Bears Ears.” Free, with
refreshments! 541-549-0866.
