Two new movies are opening nationwide this weekend:

prisonersExpected to top the weekend box office is the dramatic thriller Prisoners directed by Denis Villeneuve and starring Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Maria Bello, Terrance Howard, Viola Davis, Melissa Leo and Paul Dano. Jóhann Jóhannsson (Personal Effects, For Ellen) has composed the film’s score. WaterTower Music has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s music earlier this week. To listen to audio clips and to check out the full album details, check out our soundtrack announcement, which also features a video interview with Johannsson. Also check out another interview with the composer on Billboard.

battle-of-the-yearAlso opening wide is the dance drama Battle of the Year directed by Benson Lee and starring Josh Holloway, Laz Alonso, Josh Peck, Caity Lotz and Chris Brown. The film’s original score is composed by Christopher Lennertz (Horrible Bosses, Revolution, Identity Thief). Madison Gate Records has released a soundtrack album for the film earlier this week. The album features a suite from the composer’s score, as well as the songs featured in the movie by such artists as The Roots, Chubb Rock, Kool Kojak, Speedometer, Digital Underground and PC’s Ltd. To check out the full soundtrack details, visit our previous news article.

rushOpening in limited release this weekend before expanding nationwide next week is the racing drama Rush directed by Ron Howard and starring Chris Hemsworth, Daniel Brühl, Olivia Wilde and Alexandra Maria Lara. Hans Zimmer composed the film’s score. WaterTower Music has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s music, as well as the songs featured in the film by artists including Dave Edmund, Steve Winwood, Mud, Thin Lizzyand David Bowie. Check out our soundtrack announcement for the full details and click here to listen to audio clips. Also visit our previous article for a couple of interviews with Zimmer from the film’s world premiere and check out a lengthy video interview with the composer about his work on the film on DP/30.

enough-saidAlso opening in New York and Los Angeles before adding additional markets within the next couple of weeks is the comedy drama Enough Said written and directed by Nicole Holofcener and starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus, James Gandolfini, Caherine Keener, Toni Collette and Ben Falcone. Marcelo Zarvos (The Good Shepherd, The Door in the Floor) who previously scored Holofcener’s Please Give has composed the film’s score. No word yet on a soundtrack release. Check out our previous article to learn more about the film and also check out two recent interviews with the composer about his work on the film with Katie Chats and 680News. For more information about the Fox Searchlight release, visit the official movie website.

thanks-for-sharingAlso opening in select markets is the indie comedy drama Thanks for Sharing directed by Stuart Blumberg and starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Mark Ruffalo, Tim Robbins, Josh Gad, Joely Richardson, Patrick Fugit and Alecia Moore. Milan Records has released two soundtrack albums for the film, including an album featuring the film’s songs by artists including Elvis Costello, St. Vincent and The Antlers, as well as a track from composer Craig Wedren. Also available now is a score album featuring the film’s original music composed by Christopher Lennertz. Also check out our previous article featuring a video interview with the composer and visit AfterBuzz TV for an interview with Lennertz at the film’s red carpet premiere in Hollywood.

hautecuisinesoundtrackAlso opening in limited release is the French comedy Haute Cuisine directed by Christian Vincent and starring Catherine Frot and Jean D’Ormesson about a renowned chef who is appointed by President François Mitterrand as his personal cook. The film’s original score is written by Academy Award-winning composer Gabriel Yared (The English Patient, The Talented Mr. Ripley). Sony Music has released a soundtrack featuring the composer’s music overseas last year when the film opened in France. Check out our soundtrack announcement for the full album details and audio clips. To learn more about the comedy, which is being released in the U.S. by the Weinstein Company, visit the official movie website.

plus-oneAnother limited release this weekend is the supernatural thriller +1 (aka Plus One) directed by Dennis Iliadis (The Last House on the Left) and starring Ashley Hinshaw, Rhys Wakefield, Logan Miller and Natalie Hall. Nathan Larson (Boy’s Don’t Cry, Margin Call, The Messenger) has composed the film’s original score. No word on a soundtrack release. Plus One centers on a mysterious phenomenon that disrupts the party of the decade, with the evening quickly descending into violent chaos. The film premiered at this year’s SXSW Film Festival and was picked up by IFC Films for domestic distribution. To learn more about the thriller, which is also available on VOD, visit the official movie website.

a-single-shotAlso opening in select cities is the A Single Shot directed by David M. Rosenthal and starring Sam Rockwell, William H. Macy, Jeffery Wright, Jason Isaacs and Kelly Reilly. The film’s original music is composed by Atli Orvarsson (Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones). MovieScore Media and Kronos Records have released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score earlier this week. A physical version is set to be released in a couple of weeks. To listen to audio clips and find out more about the film and soundtrack, check out our previous news article.

the-colonyAnother limited release this week is the sci-fi action thriller The Colony directed by Jeff Renfroe and starring Laurence Fishburne, Kevin Zegers and Bill Paxton. Jeff Danna (The Imaginarium of Dr. ParnassusSilent Hill, The Boondock Saints) has composed the film’s original score. No soundtrack album has been announced. The Colony follows a group of underground survivors fighting to survive after the next Ice Age, fending off an invasion of feral cannibals. The film is being released by Image Entertainment and is also available on VOD.

generation-ironAlso opening in limited release this weekend is the documentary Generation Iron directed by Vlad Yudin, narrated by Mickey Rourke and starring Phil Heath, Kai Greene, Branch Warren and Dennis Wolf. Jeff Rona (White SquallChicago Hope, Phantom) has composed the film’s original score. Milan Records will release a soundtrack featuring the composer’s music, as well as the opening and closing title song Never Gonna Stop by Mind the Gap & Quan and Solardrive & TC’s Some Say next Tuesday, September 24. For the full album details and to learn more about the documentary, visit our soundtrack announcement.

the-short-gameAnother documentary to open in limited release this weekend is The Short Game directed by Josh Greenbaum. The film follows the lives of eight of the best 7-year-old golfers in the world as they train for and compete in the World Championships of Junior Golf. Mark Mothersbaugh (Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, The Royal Tennenbaums) has composed the film’s original music. No word on a soundtrack release. The Short Game premiered at this year’s SXSW Film Festival and is being released in theaters by Phase 4 Films and Samuel Goldwyn Films. To learn more about the documentary, visit the official movie website.

my-lucky-starAlso opening in select markets is the romantic comedy My Lucky Star directed by Dennie Gordon (New York Minute, What a Girl Wants) and starring Zhang Ziyi, Wang Leehom, Terri Kwan, Jack Kao, Zheng Kai, Yao Chen, Ruby Lin and Ada Choi. Nathan Wang (The Game Plan, You Again) has written the film’s original music. No word on a soundtrack release. My Lucky Star is set in Beijing, Singapore, Hong Kong and Macau and follows a woman who is caught up in an international diamond heist that draws her towards a spy trying to save the world. The comedy marks the first Chinese market production that was directed by an American woman. The film is being released by China Lion Film Distribution.

jewtopiaNathan Wang (She’s the Man, Rumble in the Bronx) also composed the score for the comedy Jewtopia directed by Bryan Fogel and starring Ivan Sergei, Joel David Moore, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Tom Arnold, Jon Lovitz, Wendie Malick, Nicollette Sheridan, Peter Stormare and Rita Wilson. No soundtrack album has been announced. The film released by Le Petit Canyon Productions follows two childhood friends from very different families who reunite as adults when one asks the other to help him pretend to be Jewish so he can woo a beautiful woman who happens to be a rabbi’s daughter. To learn more about the comedy, which is also being released on VOD, visit the official movie website.

c-o-gFinally, also opening in limited release is the indie comedy  C.O.G. directed by Kyle Patrick Alvarez and starring Jonathan Groff, Corey Stoll, Denis O’Hare, Troian Bellasario and Casey Wilson. Steve Reich and Joe Berry have composed the film’s score. C.O.G. is based on a story by David Sedaris and follows a man who decides to immerse himself in the real world and goes off the grid following his graduation from Yale to work at an apple farm. The comedy premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and was picked up for domestic distribution by Screen Media and Focus World. The film is also available on VOD.