East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, October 06, 2018, Image 21

East Oregonian : E.O., October 06, 2018, Page Page 3C, Image 21

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Newspaper Page TextENTERTAINMENT Saturday, October 6, 2018 East Oregonian Page 3C FILM REVIEW ‘A Star Is Born’ is dizzyingly wonderful By LINDSEY BAHR AP Film Writer “A Star Is Born” I t’s hard not to go into “A Star Is Born “ without a lot of prejudg- ments. Even if you haven’t seen the other three versions, the mere fact that they exist, and with such formidable talent, is enough to make anyone scoff at the fact that Hollywood keeps dusting off this well-worn story about fame and love and addiction. And then you throw in the fact that it was made by a first-time director, who also happens to be a movie star, no less, and the whole thing seems even more dubious. Leave that all at the door, though, because “A Star Is Born,” is simply terrific — a big- scale cinematic delight that will have the masses singing, swooning and sobbing along with it. It’s quite a feat from Bradley Cooper, who directed, co-wrote, produced and stars in the film. Cooper plays Jackson Maine, a massively popular singer-song- writer whose path intersects with an unknown and overlooked talent named Ally (a magnificent Lady Gaga) and the two become entan- gled as his star fades and hers rises. When the film starts, Jack- son is at the height of his fame, the type of fame where grocery store cashiers take photos of you without asking, where you can send a pri- vate jet to usher a girl you just met to your concert and where you can be an alcoholic teetering on the edge because you’re talented and charis- matic and you make too many peo- ★★★★ PG-13, 93 minutes Clay Enos/Warner Bros. Pictures via AP Lady Gaga, left, and Bradley Cooper perform in a scene from “A Star is Born.” ple too much money and, besides, you’re basically functioning aside from the tinnitus. Cooper puts the viewer right with Jackson as he takes the stage at a big festival. His routine, you imagine, doesn’t alter that much: Pop the pills. Drink the drink. Take the hat off. Play. Sing. Exit stage left to drink some more. Only this night, he ends up somewhere a little off his regular path, at a drag bar where Ally, in full Edith Piaf costume, wakes him out of his ambling stupor with “La Vie En Rose.” And with a star-making close-up of Ally, Jack- son, and the audience, falls in love. Cooper and Gaga have incredi- ble chemistry, the kind that makes you believe that two strangers would know in a night that they’re made for each other. Before you know it, he’s asking her to come up on stage with him to sing her song, “Shallow,” which someone films, puts on YouTube and creates a viral sensation. The first hour of “A Star Is Born” WHAT TO DO MUSIC Festivals Morrow County Harvest Festival •Saturday, Oct. 6; 9 a.m.-4 p.m. •SAGE Center, 101 Olson Road, Boardman Free. Features children’s ac- tivities, wagon rides, artisan ven- dors, and beer/wine tasting. Athena Fall Festival Stamey Stamey rides again DAYTON, Washington — Award-winning cowboy enter- tainer Dave Stamey is returning to the Liberty Theater in Day- ton, Washington. Stamey, who has been a cowboy, mule packer and dude wrangler, was inducted into the Western Music Hall of Fame in 2016. Other notches in his belt include being named Entertainer of the Year by the Western Music Association and receiving the Will Rog- ers Award from the Academy of Western Artists. Also, Cow- boy and Indians Magazine has called him “the Charley Rus- sell of Western Music” and True West Magazine named him Best Living Western Solo Musician. Stamey will perform Thurs- day, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. at the Lib- erty Theater, 344 E. Main St., Dayton. Tickets are $20 each. The last time he performed in Dayton, the show sold out. For more information, con- tact Mike Ferrians at mike@ libertytheater.org or 509-382- 1380. To purchase tickets in advance, visit www.libertythe- ater.org. is downright electrifying — funny, exciting, sexy and wholly lived-in. Characters you just met feel like old friends, from the drag queens at the club to Ally’s father (Andrew Dice Clay) and his fellow drivers. Sam Elliott, as Jackson’s brother, might only have 15 minutes of screen time, but it’s enough to break your heart (and probably earn him some awards love too). “A Star Is Born” is that rare film that makes you actu- ally feel part of a world, and not just like an observer on the other side of a screen. But like all good things, the engine of that first hour only gets the film so far, and the second half has its shortcomings. Cooper rushes through an enormous amount of story to wrap things up in a reason- able runtime. While he does accom- plish this, it comes at the expense of Ally as a character who goes from earthy singer-songwriter to a Katy Perry-like pop diva in an instant without much inquiry. This film wears its thesis on its sleeve and is trying to make a point about being an artist with “something to say” and making use of the time when people are listening. Jackson values authen- ticity above all else, but we never get to learn what Ally wants out of her career — all we know is that Jackson, and presumably Cooper, disapprove of the artifice. But the actors and the filmmak- ing hold up “A Star Is Born” where the story cannot. Gaga is a gifted actress, natural, vulnerable and strong as she goes toe-to-toe with Cooper in what might be his best performance — the man truly dis- appears into Jackson Maine. And as a director, well, he is the real deal and, with this sort of introduction, definitely far from the shallow now. •Saturday, Oct. 6; 10 a.m.-3 p.m. •Main Street, Athena www.facebook.com Free admission. Includes a classic car show ($10 regis- tration fee), pie baking contest ($5 entry fee), vendors booths, pumpkin patch and kids’ activi- ties. Book Fair •Thursday, Oct. 12; 4:30-7 p.m. •Pilot Rock Elementary School, 200 Vern McGowan Drive Free admission. Book sale, games, gift card raffle from area businesses, fire truck tours and a hot dog dinner (by donation). Boardman Fall Quilt Show •Oct. 12-13; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. •Boardman Senior Center, 100 Tatone St. $3/good for both days. Fea- tures quilt displays, vendors, quilt raffles and featured quilter Kathy Morgan. Register to enter quilts by Oct. 1. (541-571-2576 or 480- 518-2642). Oktoberfest Pendleton •Saturday, Oct. 13; noon- 9p.m. •Pendleton Round-Up Grounds, 1205 S.W. Court Ave. $12/adults, $5/non-drinkers & youths. Features music, food, activities and beer. Art, Museums & Authors Free First Saturday •Saturday, Oct. 6; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. •Heritage Station Museum, 108 S.W. Frazer Ave., Pendleton www.heritagestationmuse- um.org Free. Learn about Umatilla County history in two galleries, then step outside and climb aboard a fully restored 1909 Union Pacific caboose, explore the Pioneer Homestead, stop in at the Fix Family Cabin and check out the Byrd School. Oregon State Archives •Saturday, Oct. 6; 10 a.m.-3 p.m. •800 Summer St. N.E., Sa- lem https://sos.oregon.gov Free. Family-friendly open house features tours, new Or- egon State Fair gallery exhibit, games, puzzles, coloring and trivia. (503-986-2361, debra.roy- al@oregon.gov). “Yellowstone In Winter: Solitude, Struggle, and Surprise” •Friday, Oct. 12; 5-7 p.m., opening reception •Monday-Fridays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturdays; 10 a.m.-2 p.m. •Pendleton Art + Frame, 36 S.W. Court Ave. Free. Features work of Pendleton photographer Debbie McIntosh. A door prize will be given away at reception, which includes an artist talk at 6 p.m. Dia De Los Muertos 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. In recognition of Na- tional Hispanic Heritage Month. Also, a display of handmade jewelry showcases the art of the indigenous natives from Mexico called Huicholes. Runs through Oct. 30. “Playing House” •Monday-Fridays; 11 a.m.-4 p.m. •Nightingale Gallery in Loso Hall, Eastern Oregon University, La Grande www.eou.edu/art Free. Features installation art by Maria Lux, who also will return for a public talk about her studio practice Wednesday, Oct. 24 at 6 p.m. in Badgley Hall’s Huber Au- ditorium. Runs through Nov. 2. “Votive” •Monday-Thursdays, 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. •Betty Feves Memorial Gal- lery, BMCC, 2411 N.W. Carden Ave., Pendleton. Free. Opening exhibit of 2018-19 season features the wood sculpture work by Laura Burchan of Stevenson, Wash- ington. Gallery also open by appointment by calling 541-278- 5952. Runs through Oct. 25. •Great Pacific Wine & Cof- fee Co., 403 S. Main St., Pend- leton No cover. All ages. The Boi- se-based group offers progres- sive psychobilly folk grass with a bit of gypsy and vaudevillian style. “Beautiful Games: Ameri- can Indian Sport & Art” Nate Botsford •Monday-Saturdays; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. •Tamástslikt Cultural Insti- tute, near Wildhorse Resort & Casino. www.tamastslikt.org $10/adults, $9/senior citi- zens, $6/youths. Exhibit high- lights sports, which have played a pivotal role in American Indian tribal communities. Runs through Oct. 13. Heritage Luncheon 2018 •Saturday, Oct. 6; noon. •Pendleton Convention Cen- ter, 1601 Westgate www.heritagestationmuse- um.org $50/members, $55/gener- al. Umatilla County Historical Society event features keynote speaker Paul B. Green. He will present “Umatilla County Pio- neers: The Audacity of Eastern Oregon Wheat Growers.” In- cludes lunch served by CG Ca- tering. (541-276-0012). New Papercuts •Tuesday-Fridays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturdays, noon-4 p.m. •Pendleton Center for the Arts, 214 N. Main St. www.pendletonarts.org Free. Features the latest papercutting artwork by Pendle- ton artist Jenny Morgan. Runs through Oct. 27. Music Oldies Night in Milton-Free- water •Saturday, Oct. 6; 7 p.m. •Wesley Methodist Church, 816 S. Main St., Milton-Freewa- ter. Free. In celebration of the 150th session of Oldies Night, BJ the DJ spins tunes of the Beat- les, both as a group and as solo artists. Snacks available. Jonathan Warren & the Billy Goats •Saturday, Oct. 6; 7:30 p.m. •Saturday, Oct. 6; 8 p.m. No cover •Wildhorse Sports Bar, Wildhorse Resort & Casino, off I-84 Exit 216, Mission. Sundae + Mr. Goessl •Friday, Oct. 12; 7 p.m. •The Liberty Theater, 344 E. Main St., Dayton, Wash. www.libertytheater.org $20. Described as a “pre- mier vintage jazz duo.” Curtis Moore & the Hon- est Crooks •Friday, Oct. 12; Saturday, Oct. 13; 8 p.m. No cover •Wildhorse Sports Bar, Wildhorse Resort & Casino, off I-84 Exit 216, Mission. Tunesmith Night •Saturday, Oct. 13; 7 p.m. •Sugar Time Bakery, 107 N. River St., Enterprise www.wvmusicalliance.org $10. All ages. Wallowa Valley Music Alliance monthly series features three original songwriters. Food service avail- able; people may bring their own adult beverages. Oregon Music Hall of Fame Induction & Con- cert •Saturday, Oct. 13; 7 p.m. •Aladdin Theater, 3017 S.E. Milwaukie Ave., Portland. www.omhof.org $30/advance, $35/door; $100-$110/VIP. Features per- formances by The Kingsmen, Monti Amundson Trio and Ural Thomas and the Pain. The Mix •Friday, Oct. 19; Saturday, Oct. 20; 8 p.m. No cover •Wildhorse Sports Bar, Wild- horse Resort & Casino, off I-84 Exit 216, Mission. Jilt •Friday, Oct. 26; Saturday, Oct. 27; 8 p.m. •Wildhorse Sports Bar, Wild- horse Resort & Casino, off I-84 Exit 216, Mission. No cover. Saturday night features a Halloween party. Night life Comedy Night •Saturday, Oct. 6; 5-8 p.m. •Sub Zero Restaurant & Lounge, 100 W. Highway 730, Irrigon www.eventbrite.com $15-$18/regular, $20-23/ VIP. Three comedians, including headliners Tyler Boeh and BJ Johnson. Live music with Wade Aylett after the laughs (541-922- 4374). Games on the Patio •Saturdays; 7 p.m. •Midway Bar & Grill, 1750 N. First St., Hermiston Free. Join the fun outside on the patio or cornhole, Jenga, horseshoes and more. Then, stick around for trivia inside at 9 p.m. Karaoke w/DJ David •Saturdays; 8 p.m. •Riverside Sports Bar, 1501 Sixth St., Umatilla Wino Wednesdays •Wednesdays, 2-6 p.m. •Echo Ridge Cellars, 551 N. Thielsen St., Echo Karaoke at the Packard •1st/3rd Wednesday, 9 p.m.-midnight •The Packard Tavern, 118 S.E. Court Ave., Pendleton No cover. Wine Wednesday •Wednesday, Oct. 10, 5-7 p.m. •The Gathering Place at Bell- inger’s, 1823 S. Highway 395, Hermiston No cover. Features food spe- cials, wine discounts and music by J.D. Kindle. Thirsty Thursdays •Third Thursday; 6 p.m. •Midway Bar & Grill, 1750 N. First St., Hermiston No cover. Hosts a local brew- ery offering tastings and food pairings. Wine tasting •Fridays, 4-8 p.m. •Sno Road Winery, 111 W. Main St., Echo. Karaoke w/DJ David •Fridays; 8 p.m. •Riverside Sports Bar, 1501 Sixth St., Umatilla DJ and dancing •Fridays, 8 p.m. •The Pheasant, 149 E. Main St., Hermiston FILM REVIEW Redford is wry and charming in his (maybe?) swan song By JOCELYN NOVECK AP National Writer If you’re going to pick some- one to play a man who moves through the world with grace, style and a slight, wry smile, you could hardly do better than Rob- ert Redford. As an actor, Redford broke hearts for decades with his blond good looks, sure, but even more by conveying just a tinge of oth- er-worldliness, no matter if his character was a criminal or a mere cad. When Barbra Strei- sand touched his face at the end of “The Way We Were,” she seemed almost to be encountering a won- drous alien. Well, now Redford is 82, an Oscar-winning director and an elder statesman of American cin- ema, and he’s said “The Old Man & The Gun,” in which he plays real-life bank robber For- Eric Zachanowich/Fox Searchlight via AP Robert Redford acts in a scene from the film, “The Old Man & The Gun.” Redford stars as an aged bank robber in David Lowery’s film based on a true story heist. rest Tucker, is likely his last acting role. Who knows, but if so, how apt that he’s playing a man who achieved his goals with a gentle demeanor and panache. “You’ve got to hand it to the guy — he’s got style,” said one juror who helped convict Tucker. That last quote is from David Grann’s noted 2003 New Yorker piece on Tucker, upon which “The Old Man & The Gun,” written and directed by David Lowery, is based. A disclaimer at the begin- ning says the story is “mostly true,” giving Lowery some narrative lee- way, especially with the ending and with secondary characters including Tucker’s love interest, played by a sweetly moving Sissy Spacek. But the basics are the same. Tucker not only robbed banks across the country in a decades- long career that began at 15; he also escaped from prison some 17 or 18 times, including a spectacu- lar 1979 escape from San Quentin — in full view of prison guards — in a kayak stenciled with the name: “Rub-a-Dub-Dub.” He finally died in prison in 2004, at age 83. The film follows a series of 1981 heists across Texas and nearby states. The modus ope- “The Old Man & The Gun” ★★★☆ PG-13, 93 minutes randi is nearly always the same: Dressed in a proper suit and hat, Tucker strides into a bank, tells a manager or teller he wants to open an account, and when asked what kind, says: “This kind,” opening his coat and flashing the gun he carries, but doesn’t need to touch. Were it not for Redford, the film would be — well, why even ask, because Redford is the point. He chose the role, optioned the New Yorker article, chose the director. It’s a perfect role for his swan song. But hey, Mr. Redford? We won’t hold you to that.