ENTERTAINMENT
Saturday, October 1, 2016
East Oregonian
Page 3C
‘Submission’ a timely read on religion and politics
I
n the height of our current
political cycle with its narrative
being spun as an insider versus
outside competition, set against a
backdrop of heightened anxiety
concerning the role of Muslims
within American society, there are
bound to be a few
works of iction
that provide an
opportunity to
pause and relect
on this zeitgeist.
The darkly
satirical novel
“Submission”
J.D.
by French
Kindle
author Michel
Comment
Houellebecq,
though revolving
around France’s political climate,
offers just that.
In France’s not-so-distant
future — 2022 — an Islamist
party, The Muslim Brotherhood
(no relation to that of Egypt),
attains the presidency through
building a coalition among the
traditional center-right and center-
left parties against the fervently
nationalist National Front
candidate Marine Le Pen. That the
main candidates to square off in
the runoff election are from fringe
parties is a direct result of voter
dissatisfaction with the status-quo
— anti-immigrant conservatives
concerned about changes within
French society and global
economic forces align themselves
with the National Front while
actors of the far-left side with the
Muslim Brotherhood as they are
seen as more sympathetic to their
cause of economic redistribution.
Remnants of the centrist parties,
seeing the National Front’s
economic protectionist stance
as detrimental to France’s well-
being, put their support behind
Muslim Brotherhood candidate
Mohammed Ben-Abbes.
Once in power, President
Ben-Abbes dismantles many
of the restrictions the French
government had previously
placed on religious practices,
in particular those on Islam,
and removes the ban on burkas
(eventually mandating them) and
decriminalizes the practice of
polygamy. Government stipends
are provided to families in order
to allow for women to withdraw
from the workforce. In order to
pay for this stipend the university
system is privatized. The royal
family of Saudi Arabia steps
in the ill the higher education
void, emphasizing a curriculum
congruent to Islamic teaching and
all non-Muslim faculty are forced
into early retirement, albeit with a
very generous pension.
Watching these events unfold
is François, a middle-aged
academic whose life work
revolves around the study of
Joris-Karl Huysmans, liaisons
with his students, and obsessing
over microwavable Indian
BRIEFLY
Festivals
DAYTON — The work of Milton-
Freewater artist Jean Ann Mitchell is
featured in an exhibit at the Wenaha
Gallery.
Specializing in watercolor
paintings of area wildlowers and
botanicals, her work is on display
through Saturday, Oct. 22.
The gallery is open Monday
through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to
6 p.m. at 219 E. Main St., Dayton,
Washington.
After moving to the region,
Mitchell became fascinated by the
rich diversity of native plants. After
receiving a copy of the “Peterson
Field Guide to Paciic States
Wildlowers,” she embarked on a self-
directed study that included plant and
botany courses at both Blue Mountain
and Walla Walla community colleges.
Mitchell worked 13 summers with
the U.S. Forest Service on projects
mostly involving plant identiication
and use of native plants in restoration.
Working with the Native Plant
Society of Oregon, she produced
a number of drawings that were
published in the “Trailside Guide of
Wildlowers in the Blue Mountains
near Walla Walla.” Note card sets of
her work are available at several area
gift shops.
For more information about the
gallery, contact 509-382-2124, art@
wenaha.com or visit www.wenaha.
com.
•Saturday, Oct. 1; 9 a.m.-5
p.m.
•SAGE Center, 101 Olson
Road, Boardman
www.visitsage.com
Free admission. Food and
craft vendors, beer and wine
tasting, kids activities include
horse and buggy rides, an ob-
stacle course, miniature hors-
es, pumpkin painting and a
photo booth. Also, Boardman
Kiwanis and River Lodge and
Grill is hosting a kayak race
and the Boardman Chamber
of Commerce is hosting a car
show.
PENDLETON — Irish and
Scottish folk music is featured during
an upcoming show at Pendleton
Center for the Arts.
With a simple approach to their
presentation, and in keeping with
tradition, Men of Worth remains true
to the music and story. Their show
is a unique combination of humor,
exciting tunes and soulful, heartfelt
ballads.
The concert is Friday, Oct. 14 at 7
p.m. at 214 N. Main St., Pendleton.
Tickets are $12.
In 1986, Scotsman Donnie
Macdonald and Irishman James
Keigher began performing together.
Featuring both traditional and
contemporary styles, the duo blends
their voices with harmony and
support their collection of songs with
a varied selection of instruments
— including mandolin, tenor banjo,
concertina, guitar, mando-cello and
bodhran.
For more information or to reserve
a seat, call 541-278-9201. Tickets also
will be sold at the door.
FCC delays decision on
much-disputed rules on
cable boxes
NEW YORK (AP) — Federal
regulators have delayed a decision
on requiring cable and satellite TV
companies to make free apps to
bypass the need for cable boxes.
The plan has drawn criticism
from the TV industry, Hollywood
studios and lawmakers. The Federal
Communications Commission
canceled a vote Thursday; Chairman
Tom Wheeler and the two other
Democratic commissioners say they
are still working on the plan.
The FCC had wanted to force
TV providers to make free apps for
popular streaming gadgets so a cable
box wouldn’t be needed. That could
save consumers money.
But industry groups complained
that the FCC would have power to
oversee licensing agreements with
tech companies that would make such
gadgets.
the Koran, submission is a
familiar concept: Submission
to God, submission to His will,
submission to Islam. In the case
of Francois, when he converts
to Islam, his submission is not
based on any kind of spiritual
awakening, but upon the
realization that his conversion is
a path to regain social status. The
true horror of “Submission” lies
not in the hypothetical situation
of France becoming a totalitarian
theocracy, but that men are
capable of being complicit in such
forces in order to advance their
own material interests.
Its unthinkable that a
“Submission” scenario would
actually play out in France
— let alone the United States —
however the “anti-establishment”
mood depicted in the novel is
a very real phenomenon across
much of the Western world and
regardless of what happens this
November has left an indelible
mark upon our collective psyche.
■
James Dean Kindle is a Pendleton
musician and executive director of
the Oregon East Symphony. Contact
him at jamesdeankindle@gmail.
com.
WHAT TO DO
Dayton exhibit features
wildlower artist
Concert blends Irish
and Scottish roots
dinners with an almost Patrick
Bateman level of detail. Losing
his job in the privatization
of the university system,
François is set adrift, living off
his pension and watching his
tenuous relationships unravel.
His young Jewish girlfriend
lees for Israel in the face of the
inevitable wave of anti-Semitism
to sweep the country and both
his parents with whom he has
no meaningful connection pass
away. He neglects to mourn
the loss of these people who
should be central to his life and
instead basks in his ennui and
compulsively rereads Huysman’s
body of work, hoping to ind a
greater sense of fulillment.
“Submission” concludes with
François being offered a teaching
position at the rechristened
Islamic University of Paris
contingent upon his conversion to
Islam, which upon relecting how
mundane his life has been up to
that point, he dutifully accepts.
He will be able to once again put
his niche body of knowledge to
work and resume carrying on
affairs with his students.
For those that have read
English interpretations of
Morrow County Harvest
Festival
Oktoberfest Wein &
Stein
•Saturday, Oct. 8; 5-10
p.m.
•Hermiston
Conference
Center, 415 S. Highway 395
w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m /
events/264289217286546
$25. Authentic German
dinner, microbrews, brew tast-
ings, rafles, and a live and si-
lent auction .
Art & Museums
“Asunder: a reconstruc-
tion of space and place”
•Monday-Thursdays, 9:30
a.m.-1:30 p.m.
•Betty Feves Memorial
Gallery, BMCC, 2411 N.W.
Carden Ave., Pendleton.
Free. Features Portland
artist Katie Steinberg, who
creates small architectural
structures that reference fa-
miliar environments while cre-
ating entirely new and ictional
worlds. Gallery also open by
appointment by calling 541-
278-5952. The exhibit runs
through Oct. 27.
Jean Ann Mitchell
•Monday-Saturdays;
9
a.m.-6 p.m.
•Wenaha Gallery, 219 E.
Main St., Dayton, Wash.
www.wenaha.com
Free. Features the work
of wildlower artist Jean Ann
Mitchell of Milton-Freewater.
Runs through Oct. 22.
“The East Oregonian
Captures the Round-Up”
•Tuesday-Fridays, 10 a.m.-
4 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m.-4
p.m.
•Pendleton Center for the
Arts, 214 N. Main St.
www.pendletonarts.org
Free. Exhibit features im-
ages of Pendleton Round-Up
taken by ive staff and free-
lance photographers who work
for the East Oregonian. Runs
through Sept. 30.
Jackson Sundown and
Happy Canyon: A Centu-
ry Later
•Monday-Saturdays;
10
a.m.-5 p.m.
•Tamástslikt Cultural Insti-
tute, near Wildhorse Resort &
Casino.
www.tamastslikt.org
Regular admission, $10/
adults, $9/senior citizens, $6/
youths, free/5 and under or
$25/family of four. The exhibit
highlights Jackson Sundown’s
championship run in saddle
bronc and the history of Hap-
py Canyon Indian Pageant
and Wild West Show. Runs
through Oct. 29.
Inmate Art Exhibit
•Monday-Thursdays;
11
a.m-7 p.m.,
•Friday-Saturdays;
10
a.m.-5 p.m.
•Hermiston Public Library,
235 E. Gladys Ave.
www.hermistonlibrary.us
Free. Artwork of in-
mates from Two Rivers
Correctional Institute.
Arts Portal Exhibit
•Saturday & Sundays;
noon-5 p.m.
•Arts Portal Gallery, 508 N.
Main St., Milton-Freewater
www.facebook.com/Arts-
PortalGallery
Free. Exhibit features the
photography of Fran Walker.
“Circuit Chautauquas:
Educating Dayton and
America”
•Wednesday-Saturdays;
10 a.m.-5 p.m.
•Dayton Historic Depot,
222 E. Commercial St., Day-
ton, WA
www.daytonhistoricdepot.
org
Admission by donation.
Exhibit explores the history of
traveling shows and assem-
blies popular in the late 19th
and early 20th century. Runs
through early November.
Boardman Quilt Show
•Friday, Oct. 7, Saturday,
Oct. 8; 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
•Boardman Senior Center,
100 Tatone St.
$3. Includes featured quil-
ter Kathy Hyder, vendors, rafle
quilts, hourly door prizes and
food available for purchase.
Music
ing. Featured performers in-
clude Johnny & the Packstring,
The Wild Turkey Band, Coyote
& Little Joe, Duane Nelson &
Carter Junction Music.
John Nilsen
Night life
•Saturday, Oct. 1; noon
•Wesley United Methodist
Church, 816 S. Main St., Mil-
ton-Freewater.
•Saturday, Oct. 1; 5 p.m.
•Hermiston First United
Methodist Church, 191 E.
Gladys Ave.
•Sunday, Oct. 2; 5 p.m.
•Heppner United Methodist
Church, 175 Church St.
www.johnnilsen.com
$10/suggested donation.
Award-wining pianist who per-
forms folk-rock, jazz and clas-
sical.
Fun Addicts
•Saturday, Oct. 1; 8 p.m.
No cover
•Wildhorse Sports Bar,
Wildhorse Resort & Casino, off
I-84 Exit 216, Mission.
“City Girl”
•Saturday, Oct. 1; 7:30 p.m.
•Vert Auditorium, 480 S.W.
Dorion Ave., Pendleton
www.oregoneastsympho-
ny.org
$20/adults, $15/students,
seniors, $45/family. Oregon
East Symphony season-open-
er features a live soundtrack
set to “City Girl,” a silent ilm
shot in Umatilla County.
Jamie & Luke
•Friday, Oct. 7; 6:30 p.m.
No cover
•Sno Road Winery, 111 W.
Main St., Echo
Men of Worth
•Friday, Oct. 14; 7 p.m.
•Pendleton Center for the
Arts, 214 N. Main St.
www.pendletonarts.org
$12. Features Scottish and
Irisk folk music. In additon to
voals, the duo plays an array
of insruments.
Cowboy Poetry Dinner &
Dance
•Friday, Oct. 21, 7 p.m.;
Saturday, Oct. 22, 3 p.m.
•Elgin Opera House, 104
N. Eighth St.
•Saturday, Oct. 22; 5 p.m.
•Stampede Hall, Elgin
www.elginoperahouse.com
$22/show, $15/dinner, $7/
dance, $40/combo ticket. The
Friday and Saturday afternoon
event features cowboy poetry.
Saturday night event features
a social hour, dinner and danc-
Comedy Night/Coyote
Ugly
•Saturday, Oct. 1; 6 p.m.
•Sub Zero Restaurant &
Lounge, 100 W. Highway 730,
Irrigon
$8/if reserved by 9-18, then
$10. Call 541-922-4374.
DJ music
•Saturdays, 8 p.m.
•The Pheasant, 149 E.
Main St., Hermiston
Whiskey Wednesday
Game Night
•Wednesdays; 3-7 p.m.
•The Pheasant, 149 E.
Main St., Hermiston
No cover. Xbox 360, Nin-
tendo Wii, PlayStation 3 and
Nintendo 64.
Digital Karaoke
•Thursdays and Fridays, 8
p.m.
•The Pheasant, 149 E.
Main St., Hermiston
Wine tasting
•Fridays, 4-8 p.m.
•Sno Road Winery, 111 W.
Main St., Echo.
Open Mic
•First/third Friday each
month, 8 p.m.-midnight
•The Packard Tavern, 118
S.E. Court Ave., Pendleton
w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m /
groups/pendletonopenmic
Karaoke
•Fridays 8 p.m. (9 p.m. if
game on)
•Riverside Sports Bar,
1501 Sixth St., Umatilla
DJ and dancing
•Fridays, 8 p.m.
•The Pheasant, 149 E.
Main St., Hermiston
Theater & ilm
“Disney’s The Little
Mermaid” (inal shows)
•Saturday, Oct. 1; 2:30 p.m.
& 7:30 p.m.
•Elgin Opera House, 104
N. Eighth St.
www.elginoperahouse.com
Reserved $17/$8. Extend-
ed performance. Based on
one of Hans Christian Anders-
en’s most beloved stories and
the classic animated Disney
ilm. (541-663-6324).
“The Barbershop Hour”
•Friday, Oct. 7; 7:30 p.m.
•Princess Theatre, 1228
Meade Ave., Prosser
•Saturday, Oct. 8; 2 p.m.
•Faith Tri-Cities, 1800 N.
Road 72, Pasco
www.rollinghillschorus.org
$15/general, $10/seniors
& students. The Rolling Hills
Chorus of Sweet Adelines In-
ternational, along with guest
quartets bring back the golden
age of radio with a 1950s-style
variety show.
Eastern Oregon Film
Festival
•Oct. 20-22
•Various venues in La
Grande
www.eoilmfest.com
$50/if purchased by Oct. 5,
then $60. In its seventh year,
features screenings of inde-
pendent ilms and music at
The Granada Theatre, Stage
Door Theatre and Eastern Or-
egon University.
“America’s Greatest
Game Shows Live on
Stage”
•Saturday, Oct. 29; 3 p.m.
& 6 p.m.
•Wildhorse Resort & Casi-
no, off I-84 Exit 216, Mission.
www.wildhorseresort.com
Must play to win tickets at
Wildhorse. Audience members
have a chance to go on-stage
for a chance to win cast and
free play. CHiPs star Erik Es-
trada is the live host.
Hot tickets
•Central
Washington
State Fair entertainment: (Ya-
kima): Clint Black, $39 (Oct. 1)
via www.statefairpark.org
•Tony Bennett: Nov. 1,
Paramount Theatre, Seattle.
$71-$363 via www.ticketmas-
ter.com
•Amy Grant Holiday Show
(with Michael W. Smith & Jor-
dan Smith): Nov. 17, Toyota
Center, Kennewick. $30-$130
via www.ticketmaster.com
•Trans-Siberian Orches-
tra: The Ghosts of Christmas
Eve: Dec. 30, Moda Center,
Portland; Dec. 31, Key Arena,
Seattle. $41-$76 via www.tick-
etmaster.com
———
Want to get your event list-
ed in our calendar? Send in-
formation to tmalgesini@eas-
toregonian.com, or c/o Tammy
Malgesini, 333 E. Main Street,
Hermiston, OR, 97838.
MOVIE REVIEW
Riveting ‘Deepwater Horizon’ captivates throughout
By LINDSEY BAHR
AP Film Writer
“Deepwater Horizon”
★★★★
W
e all know how
“Deepwater Horizon”
ends. When the BP oil
rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico
in 2010, 11 people died and
millions of gallons of oil spewed
into the waters and up against
the Gulf shores in the worst
environmental disaster in U.S.
history.
The story of the aftermath, even
6 years later, is still being written.
The how-did-it-happen is another
thing, and the point of director
Peter Berg’s intensely thrilling
indictment of the greed and gross
negligence that contributed to the
horriic outcome.
Like the best true stories
translated to ilm, this well-known
ending works for Berg, not against
him. He and writers Matthew Sand
and Matthew Michael Carnahan
know, as Ron Howard did with
“Apollo 13” and James Cameron
knew with “Titanic,” that it’s not
about whether they live or they
die or if the ship goes down or all
are saved. It’s about the process
and those decisions, big or small,
corrupt or well-intentioned, that
made this disaster inevitable.
Based on a New York Times
article, “Deepwater Horizon’s
Final Hours,” the ilm is about
the crew — the men and women
aboard just doing their jobs.
PG-13, 107 minutes
David Lee/Summit via AP
This image released by Summit shows Mark Wahlberg in a
scene from, “Deepwater Horizon.”
Mark Wahlberg anchors as Mike
Williams, a no-nonsense engineer,
who leaves his wife (Kate Hudson)
and precocious daughter at home
for his dangerous job on the rig.
An early scene with a school
science project spells out exactly
what he and his co-workers do and
foreshadows what will go wrong.
It’s the kind of set up that on paper
likely seems too cutesy, but here,
it not only works, it actually builds
tension rather effectively.
“Deepwater Horizon” rises
above expectations of what a
movie like this is capable of at
every turn — restrained where
you think it might go too big
or sentimental, and genuinely
affecting when you think you’re
gearing up for an eye-roll.
Wahlberg may be an easy
punchline, but he’s an underrated
everyman and at his subdued
best here. Even Hudson, in the
generally thankless concerned-
wife role, makes it seem
worthwhile.
When Kurt Russell’s crew
leader Jimmy Harrell gets angry
at the corporate brass for having
neglected to perform some critical
safety tests, you’re angry right
along with him. The execs like
Don Vidrine (a perfectly slimy
John Malkovich) see only that
they’re behind schedule and over
budget and are cutting corners
with abandon even as the rig
seems to be faltering underneath
them.
Jimmy and Mike eventually
convince them to run a few
tests — a white knuckle endeavor
for everyone involved and, well,
you can torture a statistic until it
talks and it seems it might be the
same for a pressure test. So they
proceed, and, of course, things go
spectacularly wrong.
It is a spectacle indeed — a
must-see horror of ire and oil as
this unbelievably massive structure
explodes and crumbles around all
the people we’ve gotten to know.
It’s the rare ilm that can make you
care about, and be able to tell the
difference between, over a dozen
characters.
I would have liked to have seen
more of the rescue efforts from the
Navy, more of the aftermath, but
Berg keeps things focused, and
the movie is likely better off for
it. “Deepwater Horizon” achieves
that impossible balance of being
a tribute to the workers who both
perished and survived that day
and a searing critique of the rotten
system that put them there in the
irst place.
