Four new movies are opening wide this weekend:
Expected to top the weekend box office is the action film sequel The Expendables 2 directed by Simon West and starring Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Chuck Norris, Randy Couture, Terry Crews, Liam Hemsworth, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger. The film’s music is composed by Brian Tyler who previously scored the 2010 original film. Lionsgate Records has released a soundtrack album featuring Tyler’s music. For the full album details, visit our previous article. Also check out Tyler’s recent appearance on the Weekly Comet and click here for a video interview with the composer from the film’s red carpet premiere in Hollywood this past Wednesday.
Also opening wide is the stop-motion animated film ParaNorman directed by Sam Fell and Chris Butler and featuring the voice talent of Kodi Smit-McPhee, Casey Affleck, Tempestt Bledsoe, Jeff Garlin, John Goodman, Bernard Hill, Anna Kendrick, Leslie Mann and Christopher Mintz-Plasse. Jon Brion has composed the film’s music. Relativity Music Group has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score earlier this week. Check out our soundtrack announcement for the full album details and audio clips.
Already in theaters since Wednesday is the family fantasy drama The Odd Life of Timothy Green directed by Peter Hedges and starring Jennifer Garner, Joel Edgerton, Ron Livingston, Dianne Wiest, Odeya Rush, Rosemarie DeWitt and CJ Adams. Geoff Zanelli (Disturbia, The Pacific) has composed the film’s score. Walt Disney Records has released a soundtrack album featuring Zanelli’s music. Visit our previous news article for more information about the release. Video interviews with the composer from the Hollywood red carpet premiere can be checked out on the YouTube channels of TimeTelevision, ScreenTeam Media, as well as Trailer Addict. Also visit ASCAP’s website, Film School Rejects, Examiner, DisZine and Beatweek for more interviews.
The final wide release of the week is the musical drama Sparkle directed by Salim Akil (Jumping The Broom) and starring Jordin Sparks, Whitney Houston, Derek Luke, Mike Epps and CeeLo Green. RCA Records has released a soundtrack album featuring recorded performances from the late Whitney Houston, as well as tracks from Jordin Sparks and CeeLo Green including I’m A Man, Hooked On Your Love and Look Into Your Heart, as well as the original song Celebrate produced by R. Kelly featuring Sparks and Houston. None of the film’s score composed by Salaam Remi is included on the album. Visit our soundtrack announcement for the full album details.
Opening in limited release is the drama Cosmopolis directed by David Cronenberg, based on the novel by Don DeLillo and starring Robert Pattinson, Juliette Binoche and Paul Giamatti. The film’s music is composed by Howard Shore and is performed by the indie rock band Metric. Howe Records has released a soundtrack album featuring the film’s score, as well as three original songs co-written by Shore and the Canadian band and the song Mecca by Somali singer/rapper K’NAAN. Check out our previous article for more information including audio clips.
Also opening in select cities is the supernatural thriller The Awakening directed by Nick Murphy and starring Rebecca Hall, Dominic West and Imelda Staunton. Daniel Pemberton has composed the film’s original score. MovieScore Media’s Screamworks Records and 1812 Recording have released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score. Check out out our soundtrack announcement article for the full details about the release. To learn more about the film, visit Cohen Media Group’s official movie website.
Opening in New York before expanding to other cities over the next couple weeks is the indie drama Compliance written and directed by Craig Zobel and starring Ann Dowd and Dreama Walker. The film’s music is composed by Heather McIntosh. Milan Records has released a soundtrack album featuring McIntosh’s music. Check out our previous article for the track list and audio clips, as well as more more information about the film which premiered at Sundance earlier this year and is being released by Magnolia Pictures.
Another limited release this week is the indie sci-fi comedy drama Robot & Frank directed by Jake Schreier and starring Frank Langella, Susan Sarandon, James Marsden, Liv Tyler, Jeremy Sisto and Jeremy Strong. Francis and the Lights (aka Francis Farewell Starlit) who makes his films scoring debut on the project has composed the film’s score. No soundtrack album is currently available. The movie about an elderly ex-jewel thief who leads a lonely life until his grown children install a robot (voiced by Peter Saarsgard) to care for him premiered at Sundance this year. Samuel Goldwyn Films has picked up US distribution rights. To learn more about the comedy drama, visit the official movie website.
The final limited release of the week is the indie dramedy Why Stop Now? (previously entitled Predisposed) directed by Phil Dorling and Ron Nyswaner (screenwriter of Philadelphia) and starring Jesse Eisenberg, Melissa Leo, Tracy Morgan, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Sarah Ramos and Emma Rayne Lyle. The film’s music is composed by Spencer David Hutchings (Peace, Love and Misunderstanding). No soundtrack album has been announced. The movie about a drug addict mother and her piano prodigy son premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and has been picked up by IFC Films for US distribution. To learn more about the film, which also available on VOD, visit IFC’s official movie website.
