ENTERTAINMENT
Saturday, November 5, 2016
MOVIE REVIEW
East Oregonian
Page 3C
PENDLETON
Arts center’s gala event gets rockin’
East Oregonian
Jay Maidment/Disney/Marvel via AP
This image released by Disney shows Benedict
Cumberbatch in a scene from “Doctor Strange.”
‘Doctor Strange’ dazzles
with mind-bending visuals
By SANDY COHEN
AP Entertainment Writer
No affinity for
superheroes or familiarity
with Marvel mythology
is required to enjoy the
visual spectacle that is
“Doctor Strange.” Being
open to mysticism and
the possibility of parallel
dimensions might help,
though.
Benedict Cumberbatch
plays the title character in
this origin story, where plot
is secondary to dazzling
special effects that invert
gravity, reverse time and
twist buildings like blocks in
a Rubik’s Cube. It’s worth
it to watch the film in 3-D,
and on an IMAX screen if
possible (as this critic did),
for an immersive, almost
psychedelic experience.
Two spectacular action
sequences in the third act
are enough to justify the
ticket price.
Each of the city
sequences look great,
but the New York scenes
are truly phenomenal.
In the hands of director
Scott Derrickson and the
special-effects artists who
worked on “Guardians of
the Galaxy,” the Big Apple
becomes mesmerizingly
Escher-esque: a disjointed,
gravity-ignorant collection
of streets and buildings.
“Doctor Strange”
★★★☆
PG-13, 115 minutes
While some of the
magical elements may be
far out (a levitating cape, for
example), the Ancient One’s
messages are grounded
in contemporary pop
psychology and spirituality.
She says things like, “We
never lose our demons, we
only learn to live above
them,” and “Silence your
ego and your power will
rise.” Coming from a bald
Tilda Swinton, it sounds
more insightful than
preachy.
The film addresses such
sweeping concepts as death
and time, but only to define
the characters’ motives.
Some of the messages may
be worth contemplating, but
“Doctor Strange” is not a
message movie. It is a visual
delight, where the spiritual
notion that not all can be
explained by science allows
for an “Inception”-like
unraveling of reality.
Be sure to stay through
the credits for two delicious
Marvel “Easter eggs.” One
involves a massive, self-
refilling beer and the other
teases a possible “Strange”
future.
A rockin’ time is planned
during a fundraising event
for Pendleton Center for the
Arts.
The Rockin’ Auction &
Gala features live music
by Robin Barrett & Coyote
Kings with Tiph, who will
cap off the night with a full
set of music. The recom-
mended attire is anything
from red carpet wear to
grunge — and everything
in between. Tickets are $40
each. In addition, business
table sponsorships are
available.
“We’ve outgrown the
capacity of the arts center,
and we’re excited about
the additional activities
that we’ll be able to include
in a larger space,” said
Executive Director Roberta
Lavadour.
The Rockin’ Auction
& Gala is Saturday, Nov.
12 with the silent auction
opening and hors d’oeuvres
being served at 6 p.m. at
the Pendleton Convention
Center, 1601 Westgate. The
live auction starts at 7:45
p.m. and the music kicks off
at 8:30 p.m.
Among the auction
items people can bid on
will be vacation packages,
foodie delights and lots of
other unexpected treasures
in both the live and silent
auction. In addition, the
event provides an opportu-
nity for the community to
pick up artwork by local
favorites, including Hiroko
Cannon, Jenny Morgan,
Lorie Baxter and Shari
Dallas. Also, gift certif-
icates from Pendleton’s
best restaurants and quality
merchandise from local
businesses will be up for
bid.
Every other year, Pend-
leton Center for the Arts
Contributed photo
Bonnie Day, education coordinator, catalogs items for the Rockin’ Auction & Gala,
a Nov. 12 fundraiser for Pendleton Center for the Arts.
Rockin’ Auction
& Gala
WHEN: Nov. 12, 6 p.m.
WHERE: Pendleton
Convention Center
TICKETS: $40 each
Contributed photo
Robin Barrett and Coyote Kings w/Tiph will perform
during the Rockin’ Auction & Gala, a Nov. 12 fundrais-
er for Pendleton Center for the Arts. The event will be
held at the Pendleton Convention Center.
hosts the event to raise
money that supports the
free art and music program-
ming that the nonprofit
organization provides for
the community, including
the popular Rock & Roll
Camp.
“One of the most
frequent comments we get
about Rock & Roll Camp
is that people wish we had
one for adults,” Lavadour
said with a laugh.
With that thought, Lava-
dour and other organizers
decided it would be fun to
feature a rock ‘n’ roll theme
for the gala event. And,
for the first time, the event
WHAT TO DO
Festivals
Whiskey Wednesday
Game Night
Fall Release Weekend
•Wednesdays; 3-7 p.m.
•The Pheasant, 149 E. Main
St., Hermiston
No cover. Xbox 360, Ninten-
do Wii, PlayStation 3 and Nin-
tendo 64.
•Nov. 4-6
•Various wineries in Mil-
ton-Freewater, Walla Walla re-
gion
www.wallawallawine.com
Some events free. Cellar
doors are open and new releas-
es are available for tasting. Cele-
brate the end of harvest season
with special pours, winemaker
dinners, live music and more.
Digital Karaoke
•Thursdays and Fridays, 8
p.m.
•The Pheasant, 149 E. Main
St., Hermiston
Mac’s Trivia Night
Hermiston Festival of
Trees
Mark Rogers/Summit via AP
This image released by Summit shows Andrew
Garfield in a scene from “Hacksaw Ridge.”
Mel Gibson roars back with
bruising ‘Hacksaw Ridge’
By JOCELYN NOVECK
AP National Writer
Is “Hacksaw Ridge” Mel
Gibson’s redemption? Is it
his atonement, or perhaps his
miracle?
Don’t worry, we won’t
be making any such weighty
theological pronouncements
— though these terms have
all been bandied about in
the run-up to Gibson’s first
directorial effort in the 10
years since “Apocalypto.”
That movie came out in
2006, only a few months
after news broke of Gibson’s
drunken anti-Semitic rant,
which has plagued his career
ever since.
But “Hacksaw Ridge,”
the latest contribution to
the canon of big World
War II films, doesn’t need
any redemptive backstory.
Whatever you think of
Gibson, and whatever your
position on the relevance of
his personal flaws to his art,
his filmmaking prowess is
evident. This big, bruising,
viscerally violent yet also
often moving film should be
judged on its merits.
“Hacksaw Ridge,”
starring the goofily appealing
Andrew Garfield as the
real-life character Desmond
Doss, may not be a perfect
movie, but it strikes an
unusual balance. It’s a violent
film whose hero — and
moral core — espouses
non-violence. It’s a war film
that will also appeal to a
faith-based audience. It’s a
film that at moments can feel
“Hacksaw Ridge”
★★★☆
R, 138 minutes
relentlessly corny — and
a second later, painfully,
horribly real.
Doss, a Seventh-day
Adventist, was the first
conscientious objector to be
awarded the Congressional
Medal of Honor. An Army
medic, he refused to touch a
weapon, believing he should
be saving lives and not taking
them. Though his exploits are
a matter of record, we won’t
spill all the details here.
After an early introduction
to Doss as a boy in the Blue
Ridge Mountains of Virginia,
we pick up in young
adulthood. When war breaks
out with Japan, the young
man feels compelled to
enlist, despite the objections
of his loving but abusive
father (an excellent Hugo
Weaving), a World War I
veteran who was ruined by
the experience. Doss is also
going against the wishes of
his new fiancée, Dorothy
(fresh-faced Teresa Palmer),
who begs him to stay.
Many fact-based
movies end with some
real-life footage. It’s always
welcome, but here, it’s truly
exciting to see Doss, alive
and speaking (he died in
2006). His is a story you
probably didn’t know, and
will be glad you did. Gibson
does well by it.
features a live band.
Lavadour stressed the
importance of raising
money to help with things
like paying for lights, heat,
maintenance and staff sala-
ries — something grants
typically restrict. Also,
she said many program
grants require a dollar for
dollar match from the local
community in giving an
award.
“The Gala Auction helps
us raise those important
funds while having a great
party in the process,” Lava-
dour said.
For more information
or to reserve a ticket, call
541-278-9201 or stop by
the arts center at 214 N.
Main St., Pendleton.
•Saturday, Dec. 3, 6 p.m.;
dinner, gala event
•Sunday, Dec. 4, noon; Fam-
ily Day
•Hermiston Conference Cen-
ter, 415 S. Highway 395
www.facebook.com/hermis-
tonfestivaloftrees
$35/dinner,
reservations
available for tables of 8 (avail-
able for sale Nov. 1 at the con-
ference center and Good Shep-
herd Medical Center). Features
dinner, tree viewing and live/
silent auction. Family Day is $5
suggested donation per family.
Pendleton Festival of
Trees
•Friday, Dec. 2, 6 p.m.; cele-
bration & auction
•Saturday, Dec. 3, 10 a.m.-2
p.m.; Family Day
•Pendleton Convention Cen-
ter, 1601 Westgate
www.sahpendleton.org
Additional information to fol-
low.
Art & Museums
Contributed photo
The New West Guitar Group, which features Pend-
leton native John Storie, will perform Nov. 11 at
Pendleton Center for the Arts.
New West Guitar Group returns
PENDLETON — One of the nation’s premier guitar
ensembles, which features Pendleton’s own John Storie,
will perform at Pendleton Center for the Arts.
The New West Guitar Group plays recognizable
covers, jazz standards and exciting originals. Their
signature sound comes from an innovative style that
highlights rhythm, beauty and virtuosity through
combining acoustic and electric guitars. The group, which
has played numerous times in Pendleton, also includes
Perry Smith and Will Braham.
The group will perform Friday, Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. at the
arts center, 214 N. Main St., Pendleton. Tickets are $12.
For more information or to reserve a seat, call
541-278-9201. For more about the trio, visit www.
newwestguitar.com.
First Saturday Spin-In
•Saturday, Nov. 5; noon-4
p.m.
•Pendleton Center for the
Arts, 214 N. Main St.
Fiber-obsessed folks can
drop in and bring a project to
work on. Coffee, tea and work
space provided.
“Borderline”
•Thursday, Nov. 10, 4:30-
6:30 p.m. opening reception
•Monday-Thursdays, 9:30
a.m.-1:30 p.m.
•Betty Feves Memorial Gal-
lery, BMCC, 2411 N.W. Carden
Ave., Pendleton.
Free. In conjunction with a
mental health awareness cam-
paign on campus, Michigan art-
ist Jill Miller work examines an
autobiographical understanding
of depression through a series of
figurative paintings. Gallery also
open by appointment by calling
541-278-5952. Runs through
Dec. 8.
“The Infinite Possibilities
in Clay”
•Monday-Saturdays,
10
a.m.-5 p.m.
•Crossroads Carnegie Art
Center, 2020 Auburn St., Baker
City
www.crossroads-arts.org
Free. A handful of clay artists
are featured. Much of the art-
work is for sale. Runs through
Nov. 30.
Batik Convergence
•Tuesday-Sundays, 10 a.m.-
6 p.m.
•Peterson’s Gallery, 1925
Main St., Baker City
www.petersonsgallery.net
Free. Features a collective of
regional batik watercolor artists.
Runs through Nov. 30.
Sandra Spencer
•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 Sandra
Spencer, who won the grand
prize at the 2016 Eastern Ore-
gon Arts Festival, is on display
in October.
Arts Portal Exhibit
•Saturday & Sundays; noon-
5 p.m.
•Arts Portal Gallery, 508 N.
Main St., Milton-Freewater
www.facebook.com/ArtsPor-
talGallery
Free. Exhibit features the
works of David Partridge (oil
paintings) and Nancy Kessler
(fabric art). Runs through Oct.
30.
Music
Brass Fire
•Saturday, Nov. 5; 7-10 p.m.
•Red Lion, 304 S.E. Nye
Ave., Pendleton
No cover. Features regional
horn band, playing the music of
Santana, Chicago, Elvis, Earth
Wind & Fire.
Carrie Cunningham
•Saturday, Nov. 5; 8 p.m. No
cover
•Wildhorse Sports Bar, Wild-
horse Resort & Casino, off I-84
Exit 216, Mission.
“Worth the Wait”
•Sunday, Nov. 6; 7:30 p.m.
•Vert Auditorium, 480 S.W.
Dorion Ave., Pendleton
www.oregoneastsymphony.
org
$20/adults,
$15/students,
seniors, $45/family. Oregon East
Symphony concert. The pro-
gram includes Rebekah Schaub
as featured soloist on Richard
Strauss’ “Horn Concerto No. 1.”
Willow Creek Symphony
•Saturday, Nov. 5; 4 p.m.
•McNary Heights Elemen-
tary School, 120 Columbia St.
Umatilla
•Sunday, Nov. 6; 4 p.m.
•Ione Community School,
445 Spring St.
www.inlandnorthwestmusi-
cians.com
Free, donations accepted.
Features preparatory orchestra
of Inland Northwest Musicians.
Colt “Elwood” Haney w/
Brent Smith
•Friday, Nov. 11; 7:30-10
p.m. No cover, all ages.
•Great Pacific Wine & Coffee
Co., 403 S. Main St., Pendleton
Hair Nation
•Friday, Nov. 11; Saturday,
Nov. 12; 8 p.m. No cover
•Wildhorse Sports Bar, Wild-
horse Resort & Casino, off I-84
Exit 216, Mission.
Robin Barrett and Coyote
Kings w/Tiph
•Saturday, Nov. 12; 6 p.m.
•Pendleton Convention Cen-
ter, 1601 Westgate
www.pendletonarts.org
$40. The Rockin’ Auction &
Gala features Robin Barrett and
Coyote Kings w/Tiph. Event is a
fundraiser for Pendleton Center
for the Arts. It features live/silent
auction, hors d’oeuvres and live
music.
Night life
DJ music
•Saturdays, 8 p.m.
•The Pheasant, 149 E. Main
St., Hermiston
•Thursdays, 8 p.m. No cover
•Mac’s Bar & Grill, 1400 S.W.
Dorion Ave., Pendleton
21 and older. East. Drink.
Think. Teams of 2-8 compete in
trivia contest with other teams.
Live host and prizes.
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
www.facebook.com/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 & film
“Ravenscroft”
•Nov. 10-12, 17-19; 7:30
p.m.
•Saturdays, Nov. 13, 20; 2
p.m.
•BMCC, Bob Clapp Theatre
2411 N.W. Carden Ave.
$15/adults,
$10/children,
students. College Community
Theatre presents a murder mys-
tery who-done-it gone horribly
awry.
Murder on Sno Mountain
•Saturday, Nov. 5; 7 p.m.
•Sno Road Winery, 111 W.
Main St., Echo
$35/couple. A murder mys-
tery party. For tickets, contact
info@snoroadwinery.com
or
541-376-0421.
“Nutcracker”
•Dec. 11-13
•Richland High School, 930
Long Ave.
www.midcolumbiaballet.org
$27/adults,
$13/children,
$18/students & seniors. The hol-
iday classic is presented by the
Mid-Columbia Ballet. Tickets for
shows, which typically sell-out,
go on sale Nov. 1.
Hot tickets
•Amy Grant Holiday Show
(with Michael W. Smith & Jordan
Smith): Nov. 17, Toyota Center,
Kennewick. $30-$130 via www.
ticketmaster.com
•Trans-Siberian Orchestra:
The Ghosts of Christmas Eve:
Dec. 30, Moda Center, Portland;
Dec. 31, Key Arena, Seattle.
$41-$76 via www.ticketmaster.
com
———
Want to get your event
listed in our calendar? Send
information to tmalgesini@eas-
toregonian.com, or c/o Tammy
Malgesini, 333 E. Main Street,
Hermiston, OR, 97838.