Oh, yeah, the Oscars.

Hey. Better late than never.

- With the newly added Best Casting category, Sinners is the most nominated (16) movie of all time. It’s very rare that my favorite movie of the year is so honored, so there’s extra reason to celebrate.

- Damn shame that both of DreamWorks' animated features were shut out. Either The Bad Guys 2 or Dog Man would've been a worthy nomination. Arco was fine, but a little too derivative of E.T. and Hayao Miyazaki's oeuvre to really hit the mark.

- After so many potential nominees for horror movies get passed over, Amy Madigan scores one for Supporting Actress for Weapons. I suppose it was asking a little too much to have the film be nominated in categories beyond that, but, hey, it is what it is. Credit where credit is due: it was a terrific performance.

- Though not the lineup I'd have chosen, this year's Original Score category is perfectly cromulent; no Babylons or Social Networks to offend the ear.

- Speaking of music, apparently that is the same Nicholas Pike nominated for Best Original Song that works with Mick Garris. Who knew?

- A whole lot of first-time nominees for acting: Jessie Buckley, Rose Byrne, Jacob Elordi, Elle Fanning, Michael B. Jordan, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Delroy Lindo, Wagner Moura, Wunmi Mosaku, Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgard and Teyana Taylor.

- Some unfortunate snubs to speak of: Highest 2 Lowest, Mickey 17 (yes, I'm serious), The Phoenician Scheme and Rental Family.

- Okay, did Avatar: the Thingy of Whatsis honestly get a nod for Costume Design? A lot of those outfits were created in a computer and this is really in contest with designers and their teams who made outfits by hand? Paul Zastupnevich wept.

- March 15th. Beware the Ides of March.

Deal of the Century (Arthur B. Rubinstein)

Arms dealer Eddie Muntz (Chevy Chase) has been doing pretty well, but an opportunity falls into his lap for the score of a lifetime: a military plane to a South-of-the-border country...with a few bugs. No one seems to like this movie, least of all its star and director (William Friedkin!!!), but while it's unlikely to be confused with Dr. Strangelove, this satire manages some hearty laughs.

Between this, WarGames and Blue Thunder, Arthur B. Rubinstein seemed to be the go-to composer for 1983's ‘military hardware gone berserk’ movies. (Do you think he’d have also done Best Defense if it hadn’t pushed back to 1984?) Rubinstein creates a number of fascinating elements, from a 'doubt' motif for Gregory Hines' born-again pilot (“Hobbling to the Rescue”, “Bickering”) to a slinky love theme (“End Credits”) as well as flavorful, exotic cues (“San Miguel”) and a quietly noble march theme for Chase's Eddie (“Ed's Got a Plan”, “Finale”).

Deal of the Century
composed & conducted

by

Arthur B. Rubinstein

1. Main Title 0.15
2. Tankbuster Ad 0.47
3. San Miguel 1.15
4. “Oh my, oh my.” 1.45
5. Successful Sale 0.28
6. “...a sorry thing.” 0.19
7. Bearing Arms 1.20
8. The Peacemaker 0.50
9. Ed's Got a Plan 0.33
10. The Airport 0.57
11. Babysitting 1.17
12. Not Under Control 0.36
13. Harold's Affairs 1.38
14. “I believe you.” 1.28
15. Ray Reminisces 0.48
16. Bickering 0.26
17. “A little touch-up.” 0.39
18. Regret 0.10
19. Cram Session 0.44
20. Good Night 0.34
21. Beddy-Bombs 1.00
22. Re-Gifting 0.21
23. Arms for Peace ‘84 0.20
24. “Shine” 2.50
25. A Gift to Kathy 0.50
26. Making a Date 1.26
27. Baptism 0.33
28. Hobbling to the Rescue 1.06
29. Peacemaker Chase 2.34
30. Planes in Flames/Finale 1.29
31. End Credits 1.51

Here's the “End Credits” cue: