American Symphony (Original Song), Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (Original Score)

 

IT NEVER WENT AWAY

from American Symphony; Music and Lyric by Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson

Oh goodness, American Symphony seemed sure to be the Oscar winner for Documentary Feature, for which it was not even nominated. This incredible story of musician Jon Batiste - a homegrown star of New Orleans - while his star is on the rise. He takes the 2022 Grammy for Album of the Year competing with the likes of Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga among other luminaries, while also touring the country performing, while also writing his magnum opus. Sound busy enough for you? Well, in addition to all of that, his wife is fighting a very nasty cancer, ultimately leading to the diagnosis of a chronic cancer that devastates them both. The juxtaposition of the life in which all one's career dreams come true while all of one's personal family dreams become a nightmare emerge in this beautiful, heartbreaking, soul filling documentary. It is on Netflix and totally worth your time. (Enjoy the nominated song below.)

INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY

John Williams

Can we ever get enough of the iconic John Williams and his incredible scores? With his 54th (and seemingly final) Oscars nomination, this is a pretty good one to go out on. Williams is the most nominated LIVING person in history (with only Walt Disney surpassing him with 59 career nominations), and if you listen to this or any of his scores, it is easy to see why.

Another reboot Indiana Jones film, this one shows an aging Indy who must retrieve the Dial of Destiny - a magical artifact that can transport people through time, allowing the carrier to rewrite history. As usual, Indy is racing against Nazi baddies who want to go back in time and help Hitler win the war, but this time, his goddaughter Helena Shaw is on the scene to take the lead.  Far surpassing the more recent Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull reboot, if only for the involvement of his original love interest played by Karen Allen.  This film has everything that a revival should - plenty of Easter Eggs to find, bringing back original cast, and all of the fun and joy that the original set of films offered in the first place. With Williams' score overlaid on this film, it was a nostalgic yet modern treasure.  One certainly worth of Indy's time and bullwhip.