Three new movies are opening nationwide this weekend:
Expected to top the weekend box office is the animated feature Wreck-It-Ralph directed by Rich Moore and featuring the voice talent of John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Jack McBrayer and Jane Lynch. The film’s score is composed by Henry Jackman (X-Men: First Class). Walt Disney Records has released a soundtrack album featuring the score, as well as one track by Skrillex who wrote some of the in-game music and other songs featured in the film. Check out our soundtrack announcement for the full details. Also click here for a number of video interviews with Jackman about his work on the project. Attached to the film is the animated short Paperman, which features an original score by Christophe Beck.
Also opening wide is the drama director Robert Zemeckis and starring Denzel Washington, Kelly Reilly, Don Cheadle, Bruce Greenwood, John Goodman, Melissa Leo and James Badge Dale. The director’s regular musical collaborator Alan Silvestri (Back to the Future, The Avengers) has composed the film’s original score. No soundtrack album has been released yet, but the score is available to listen to on Paramount Pictures’ Awards website. For more information about the film, visit our previous article. Also check out a short interview with the composer in Beatweek about his latest project.
The third wide release is the action adventure The Man With the Iron Fists presented by Quentin Tarantino, directed by RZA and Eli Roth and starring Russell Crowe and Lucy Liu. RZA has also co-written the screenplay with Eli Roth and has written the film’s original score with Howard Drossin. Soul Temple Records has released a soundtrack album featuring the film’s songs. Check out our soundtrack announcement for the full track list. The label has released a separate soundtrack featuring RZA’s and Drossin’s score. Click here to listen to audio clips and to check out the full details.
Opening in limited release is the indie drama A Late Quartet directed by Yaron Zilberman and starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Catherine Keener, Mark Ivanir and Christopher Walken. The film’s music is composed by Angelo Badalamenti (Twin Peaks, Blue Velvet). Decca Records has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score, as well as Beethoven’s Opus 131 performed by the Brentano String Quartet, which plays a key part in the film. Check out our previous news article for audio clips and more information about the film and soundtrack.
Receiving a release is select cities is the horror film The Bay directed by Barry Levinson and starring Will Rogers and Christopher Denham. Marcelo Zarvos (The Good Shepherd, The Words) who has previously collaborated with the director on the comedy What Just Happened? and HBO’s You Don’t Know Jack has composed the film’s score. No word yet on a soundtrack release. The film premiered at the Toronto Film Festival and is being released by Roadside Attractions. Check out Apple’s trailer website to watch the film’s trailer.
Opening in two theaters is the crime thriller This Must Be the Place. The film directed by Paolo Sorrentino (Il Divo) stars Sean Penn, Eve Hewson, Frances McDormand and Judd Hirsch. David Byrne (The Last Emperor) and Will Oldham have composed the film’s music. A soundtrack album featuring music by Byrne, Oldham, The Pieces Of Shit, Mantovani and others has been released overseas by EMI Music. To order the album as an import, click here. The movie premiered at last year’s Cannes Film Festival and was picked up by the Weinstein Company for domestic distribution. The film’s trailer can be checked out here.
Also opening in limited release is the comedy drama The Details written and directed by Jacob Aaron Estes (Mean Creek) and starring Tobey Maguire, Elizabeth Banks, Laura Linney, Ray Liotta, Dennis Haysbert and Kerry Washington. The film’s score is composed by tomandandy (Resident Evil: Afterlife & Retribution, The Strangers). No soundtrack album has been announced yet. The film is being released through the Weinstein Company’s new Radius label and is also available on VOD. To check out the trailer, visit Apple’s trailer site.
Another movie to receive a limited release is the indie drama Jack and Diane written and directed by Bradley Rust Gray (The Exploding Girl) and starring Juno Temple, Riley Keough, Cara Seymour and Kylie Minogue. The film’s music is composed by the Icelandic experimental music band Mum. No soundtrack album has been announced yet. The movie follows a teenage girl whose feelings for her friend begin to manifest themselves in terrifying ways when she learns that her friend will soon be moving away. To find out more about the Magnolia Pictures release, which is also available on VOD, visit the official movie website.
Also opening in select cities is the documentary High Ground directed by Michael Brown and produced by Don Hahn (The Lion King). Cris Bacon (Source Code), Gnomeo & Juliet) has composed the film’s music. Varese Sarabande has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score. Check out our soundtrack announcement for the full album details and audio clips. Also visit the official movie website to learn more about the film.
The final limited release of the week is the romantic horror comedy Vamps written and directed by Amy Heckerling and starring Alicia Silverstone, Krysten Ritter, Sigourney Weaver and Malcolm McDowell. The film’s music is composed by David Kitay who has worked with Heckerling on most of her movies since the late 80’s including Look Who’s Talking and Clueless. The comedy centers on two beautiful young vampires who are living the good nightlife in New York until love enters the picture and each has to make a choice that will jeopardize their immortality. Vamps is being released by Anchor Bay and is also available on VOD. Check out the official movie website to learn more about the film.