Film Music Reporter

Two new movies are opening nationwide this weekend:

Expected to top the weekend box office is the action movie Need for Speed directed by Scott Waugh and starring Aaron Paul, Dominic Cooper, Imogen Poots, Scott Mescudi, Ramon Rodriguez, Michael Keaton, Rami Malek, Dakota Johnson and Harrison Gilbertson. Interscope Records has released a soundtrack featuring the original song Hero by Kid Cudi feat. Skylar Grey, two new songs by Aloe Blacc and more. Click here for the full details. Nathan Furst (Act of Valor) has composed the film’s original score. Varese Sarabande will release a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s music. Check out our previous article for more information and visit Film Music Magazine for a recent interview with Furst about his work on the project.

Also opening wide is the comedy Tyler Perry’s The Single Moms Club written, directed and produced by Perry who also stars in the film alongside Nia Long, Amy Smart, Cocoa Brown, Terry Crews, William Levy and Wendi McLendon-Covey. Christopher Young (Spider-Man 3, The Shipping News, Sinister) who previously scored Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas for the filmmaker has composed the film’s original score. No word on a soundtrack album. The comedy follows a group of single mothers from different walks of life bond who create a support group after an incident at their children’s school. To learn more about the Lionsgate release, visit the official movie website.

Opening semi-wide in almost 300 theaters is the movie version of the cult TV series Veronica Mars directed by Rob Thomas and starring Kristen Bell, Jason Dohring, Enrico Colantoni, Percy Daggs III, Krysten Ritter, Chris Lowell, Francis Capra, Gaby Hoffmann and Daran Norris. Josh Kramon who also scored the TV show has composed the film’s original score. WaterTower Music has released two soundtrack albums, including a score album and a soundtrack featuring the songs from the film by such artists as Emperor X, Max, Mr. Twin Sister, ZZ Wars, Typhoon, Lou Rawls and Sufjan Stevens, as well as the show’s title song by The Dandy Warhol. Click here for the score album details and audio clips and check out our announcement of the song album by clicking here.

Opening in New York and Los Angeles before expanding to other markets in the next couple of weeks is the indie comedy Bad Words directed by Jason Bateman who also stars in the film alongside Rohan Chand, Kathryn Hahn, Allison Janney and Philip Baker Hall. Rolfe Kent (Election, Sideways, Labor Day) has composed the film’s original score. Back Lot Music will release a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s music next Tuesday, March 18. Check out our soundtrack announcement for the full album details and to listen to audio clips.

Also opening in limited release is the indie thriller Enemy directed by Denis Villeneuve and starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Melanie Laurent and Sarah Gadon. The film’s original music is composed by Danny Bensi & Saunder Jurriaans (Martha Marcy May Marlene, Magic Magic). Milan Records has released a soundtrack album featuring the composers’ score. Check out our previous article for the full album details and to learn more about the movie. Also visit YouTube for a video from the score’s recording sessions.

Another limited release is the romantic drama Le Week-End directed by Roger Michell and starring Jim Broadbent, Lindsay Duncan and Jeff Goldblum. Jeremy Sams who previously scored the director’s features Hyde Park on Hudson, Enduring Love and The Mother has composed the movie’s original music. Milan Records has released a soundtrack featuring the composer’s score, as well as the song Pink Moon by Nick Drake. Check out our soundtrack announcement for the full album details and for more information about the romance.

Also opening in select cities is the romantic comedy The Right Kind of Wrong directed by Jeremiah Chechik and starring Ryan Kwanten, Sara Canning, Will Sasso and Catherine O’Hara. The film’s original music is composed by Academy Award winner Rachel Portman (Emma, Chocolat, The Cider House Rules) who previously scored Checkik’s 1993 feature Benny & Joon. Varese Sarabande has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score, as well as  two songs by Nick Fowler and Mickey Guyton. Visit our previous news article for the full album details.

Also opening in limited release is the crime comedy The Art of the Steal written and directed by Jonathan Sobol and starring Kurt Russell, Matt Dillon, Jay Baruchel, Terence Stamp, Katheryn Winnick, Chris Diamantopoulos, Kenneth Welsh and Jason Jones. Grayson Matthews (A Beginner’s Guide to Endings, The Next Step) has composed the film’s original music. No soundtrack album has been announced. The Art of the Steal follows a third rate motorcycle daredevil and semi-reformed art thief who agrees to get back into the con game and pull off one final lucrative art theft with his untrustworthy brother. The film, which is now also available on VOD, is being released by the Weinstein Company’s Radius label.

Another limited release is the documentary Teenage directed by Matt Wolf and featuring voice over narration by Jena Malone, Ben Whishaw, Julia Hummer, Jessie Usher and Leah Hennessey. Bradford Cox of the indie rock band Deerhunter has composed the film’s original music. Cinereach Music has released a soundtrack album featuring the score, as well as the song Kate by Chandra. Check out our soundtrack announcement for the full album details, to check out audio clips and for more information about the documentary.

Also opening in select theaters is the indie comedy Better Living Through Chemistry written and directed by Geoff Moore & David Posamentier and starring Sam Rockwell, Olivia Wilde, Michelle Monaghan, Norbert Leo Butz, Ben Schwartz, Ken Howard, Ray Liotta and Jane Fonda. The film’s original music is composed by Andrew Feltenstein & John Nau (Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, Casa De Mi Padre, Bachelorette). A soundtrack album featuring the composers’ score is in the works and will be announced soon. The comedy is being released by Samuel Goldwyn Films and is now also available on VOD.

Also opening in limited release is the horror thriller Patrick: Evil Awakens directed by Mark Hartley and starring Charles Dance, Rachel Griffiths and Sharni Vinson. The re-imagining of the 1970’s Australian feature is scored by Pino Donaggio (Dressed to Kill, Carrie, Blow Out). Quartet Records has announced a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s music last fall. Check out our previous news article for the full album details. Patrick: Evil Awakens is being released in the U.S. by Phase 4 Films.