East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, October 06, 2018, Page Page 3C, Image 21

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    ENTERTAINMENT
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.