Arthur B. Rubinstein (1938-2018)

It was on a Sunday afternoon in 2009 that I met Arthur B. Rubinstein. I had already obtained his soundtracks for Blue Thunder and WarGames (not to mention Whose Life is it Anyway? which had just been released by FSM and was being sold at Dark Delicacies) and I was waiting to have the booklets of the latter two autographed. When my turn came, I introduced myself. He mention that my name was part of a mountain. I had no idea how to respond to that, so in the seconds after I must've seemed like some kind of fool.

Still, his knowledge of that spoke somewhat to the multi-layered methods by which he created his scores. You listen to any cue in WarGames and there is not a note wasted. The various motifs and how they interact with one another are quite impressive. I had (and have) no problem saying that they don't write scores like this anymore. (I already have it, but I do hope that Intrada plans a re-release so that others can hear what I do.)

Based on these scores, I became determined to listen to as much from him as I could. About the only CD of his I don't have in some capacity is the "Observations" concert CD from Intrada. There are a number of film and TV projects he's worked on and, with such a unique compositional voice as his, I'm gonna watch and track-listing-document them all. (I still can't believe he scored three episodes of "Tiny Toon Adventures", but then a lot of 'wait, they worked on this?!' names did this show.)

Some of my favorite musical moments of his:

• The Hard Way - Though I have issues with the Party Crasher, I can't deny that Rubinstein gave him the film's most interesting music, his insistent electronic motif sounding quite effective, especially the synth fiddle added to it in "He Dead/She Dead". I also love the downbeat version of Nick's theme in "Killer Lang" (next to John Scott, Rubinstein was a master at this).
• Fake-Out - One of more forgotten films he's scored, but there's much to recommend it, from the bouzouki and harmonica combination of "Periscope (Ride a Car Top)" to the supposed "Theme from Fake-Out" that was recycled for the short-lived genre series "The Phoenix".
• Another Stakeout - Not much of a movie, but the score is fantastic. I especially love the bluesy/gloomy "Main Titles" and the rollicking "It's a Dirty Job".
• "Scarecrow and Mrs. King" - Honestly, this suite says more than words ever could.
• Blue Thunder - Electronics figure in this score heavily (and appropriately), with the orchestra gradually taking over. Remember what I said earlier about the downbeat version of the main theme? The end of "Thermographics" is another sterling example. Also, "River Chase" may be one of best action cues of the 1980s.
• The Best of Times - A pair of fine themes for this football comedy: a determined one for Jack and a wistful one for Reno. Also, the use of "Pomp and Circumstance", slowed down and slinked up for one scene ("Make-Up Sex"), is quite canny. 
• Nick of Time - A fascinating thriller score, highlighted by its opening cue, a neat mix of strings, percussion, horns and chimes...and the vocals of a little girl.
• WarGames - Perhaps, his magnum opus. The main titles, which shifts from a grim march to something almost parodistically patriotic, the seemingly silly songs which hint at the tension to come, the wandering motif for Joshua, the exciting, "Scarecrow"-like music for David's NORAD escape, the percussive climax...

He will most certainly be missed.

Yesterday's Eat Like Your High (for People Who Don't Get High) Day was splendid. Chocolate Honey Dip donuts, Cheddar Bay Waffle and Lobster (Lobsterfest ends tomorrow!) and fish for dinner.

The less good news is that I'm sick. Honestly, if I had a dollar for every moron I've ever encountered who a) coughed into their hands and touched everything they could with the hands they coughed in or b) just didn't give a shit and coughed into the air without even trying to cover their mouths, I could afford to have all those people killed and get away with it.

Counteracting that unpleasantness is the fact that the dude from Geek Squad sorted out the connection issues and I'm back on my own internet on a brand new laptop! Also, I'm a mere hour away from the Marvel-themed Geeks Who Drink quiz.

Team Justice for Trevor Slattery, ho!

My old router died and a (thankfully concluded) family situation precluded any opportunity to fix it. It's not entirely solved; this post is being created at a library.

Still, I hope it's fixed soon. Between Friday's Eat Like You're High (for People Who Don't Get High) Day*, Saturday's Marvel Quiz and Sunday's birthday, I'd hate for a storm cloud like this to piss all over my parade.

* - A holiday I just made up and may God help you if you steal this idea without giving me due credit.

The Bye Bye Man (shut up): The scene in the classroom when John sees the title character on a train on his phone, who is the redhead in the front row? Just the sort of girl that puts steam in a man's stride.

Happy Film Score Day (which is apparently a thing).

Yep. My endless checking of National Day Calendar's website to check for different foods to eat uncovered this little surprise.

So, what am I doing to celebrate this? Not much. A few YouTube clips and going to see the Lorne Balfe-scored Pacific Rim: Uprising, which is surely the equivalent of handing out dental supplies on Halloween.

I don't have any track listings ready to post, so I'm just gonna list some of my favorite scores, in the style of the coming attractions tags at the end of Scott Bettencourt's 'One Hundred Favorite Scores' articles at Film Score Monthly. Should make for a fun little game, perhaps.

• Pino gets Carried away, again
• Shirley has a pest control problem, as does Jerry...and Alan
• John W.'s thirst for adventure is unquenchable
• Michael goes on a routine expedition
• Daniel loses some weight
• John P. has some fun with his Dick
• Benny dusts for crops where there ain't no crops
• John B. forges one last Bond
• Nino visits the residents of an Italian village
• Elmer searches for munchings and crunchings
• Howard makes sure that the trains run on time
• Richard pledges a sorority

I'll try to find something to listen to. I usually do.