Over the next week, we will be looking at the music and composers of some of the most high profile titles premiering at the Sundance Film Festival that haven’t been covered yet on this page.
One of the best reviewed film so far at the festival is the documentary West of Memphis directed by Amy Berg who had been Academy Award-nominated for the 2006 movie Deliver Us from Evil. West of Memphis produced by Peter Jackson & Fran Walsh (The Lord of the Rings), Lorri Davis and Damien Echols centers on the wrongful conviction case of three Arkansas teenagers (known as the West Memphis Three) who were found guilty in 1994 of the ritual murder of three eight-year-old boy. The film’s music is written by Nick Cave & Warren Ellis (The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, The Road). A distribution deal for the WingNut Films production is expected to be announced soon.
One of the most high profile titles that is almost guaranteed to sell given its cast is the romantic comedy drama Celeste and Jesse Forever directed by Lee Toland Krieger (The Vicious Kind) and written by Rashida Jones and Will McCormack who are also starring in the film alongside Andy Samberg, Chris Messina, Ari Graynor, Emma Roberts and Elijah Wood. The movie follows a young divorcing couple who try to maintain their long-standing friendship while living together and pursuing other relationships. Jennifer Todd & Suzanne Todd (Alice in Wonderland, Austin Powers) and Lee Nelson (Basic) are producing. The film’s score is written by record producer Sunny Levine and DJ Zach Cowie (also known as Turquoise Wisdom). The project marks the duo’s first major film music project.
Another high profile title that premiered on Thursday night is the comedy Hello I Must Be Going directed by Todd Louiso (Love Liza) and written by Sarah Koskoff. The movie stars Melanie Lynskey as a divorced and demoralized woman who is condemned to move back in with her parents and starts a transformative affair with the teenage son of her parents’ business associates. Blythe Danner, Christopher Abbott, John Rubinstein, Julie White and Dan Futterman are co-starring in the film produced by Mary Jane Skalski (Win Win, The Visitor) and Hans Ritter (Mysterious Skin, Hard Candy). American singer and songwriter Laura Veirs has written the film’s music. She has previously scored the 2006 drama We Go Way Back directed by Lynn Shelton. No distribution deal has been announced yet for Hello I Must Be Going.
One of the first titles to sell this year was the documentary The Queen of Versailles directed by Lauren Greenfield (Thin). The film follows a billionaire couple who live in a 90,000-square-foot mansion inspired by Versailles, built on the success of the time-share industry. Greenfield is also producing the film alongside Danielle Renfrew Behrens, Frank Evers and Dan Cogan. The movie is scored by composer Jeff Beal who is best known for his music for the features Appaloosa and Pollock directed by Ed Harris, as well as the TV shows Rome, Monk and Ugly Betty. Magnolia Pictures has picked up domestic rights for The Queen of Versailles and is planning a theatrical release this summer.
Another film that has already been sold is the music-themed documentary Searching for Sugar Man directed by Malik Bendjelloul. The film tells the story of Rodriguez, a 70’s US rock icon whose albums were critically well-received, but never achieved commercial success and faded away into obscurity among rumors of a gruesome death until a record made its way to South Africa, where his music became a phenomenal success. Simon Chinn (Man on Wire, Project Nim) is producing the film. Most of the music in the movie is by its title character Sixto Rodriguez. Sony Pictures Classics has acquired North American rights for Searching for Sugar Man, but no release date has been announced yet.
Another movie that premiered earlier this week and is expected to sell is the Australian drama Wish You Were Here directed by Kieran Darcy-Smith who previously starred in the indie hit Animal Kingdom. He also co-wrote the screenplay for Wish You Were Here with actress Felicity Price who stars in the film alongside Joel Edgerton, Teresa Palmer and Antony Starr. The movie about four friends who lose themselves in a carefree South-East Asian holiday is produced by Angie Fielder. Tim Rogers who is best known as the front man of the Australian rock band You Am I produced the film’s music and newcomer Rosie Chase has written her first major feature score for the project.
Another much talked about movie at the festival is the thriller Simon Killer written and directed by Antonio Campos (Afterschool). The film stars Brady Corbet as a recent college graduate, who, after breaking up with his girlfriend of five years, moves to Paris where he has an affair with a young mysterious prostitute. Mati Diop, Michael Abiteboul, Constance Rousseau, Lila Salet and Solo are co-starring in the movie produced by Josh Mond, Sean Durkin and Matt Palmieri, the team behind last year’s Sundance hit Martha Marcy May Marlene. That movie’s composers Daniel Bensi and Saunder Jurriaans have also written the music for Simon Killer. No distribution deal has been announced yet.
A movie that already had a distribution deal in place going into the festival is the comedy Tim and Eric’s Billion Dollar Movie. The film marks the feature debut of Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim who have been on five seasons of Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim’s Tim and Eric’s Awesome Show, Great Job!. They are also starring in the film with Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Zach Galifianakis and Will Forte. Adam McKay, Will Ferrell & Chris Henchy are producing through Gary Sanchez Productions, alongside Dave Kneebone, Jon Mugar, Ben Cosgrove, Todd Wagner. The composer of the show, Davin Wood, has also written the music for the feature version. Magnolia Pictures/Magnet will be releasing Tim and Eric’s Billion Dollar Movie on VOD on January 27 and in select theaters on March 2, 2012. To watch the film’s trailer and more information, visit the official movie website.
