Film Music Reporter

Only one new movie is opening nationwide this weekend:

Guaranteed to top the weekend box office is the sci-fi action adventure Transformers: Age of Extinction directed by Michael Bay and starring Mark Wahlberg, Stanley Tucci, Kelsey Grammer, Jack Reynor, Nicola Peltz, Sophia Myles, Bingbing Li, Titus Welliver and TJ Miller. The film’s original music is composed by Steve Jablonsky (Ender’s Game, Battleship) who previously scored Bay’s last five features, including the previous three Transformers movies. A soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score is expected to be announced soon. Imagine Dragons have written the original song Battle Cry for the film, which is now available to download as a single here. Also visit YouTube for a video interview with Jablonsky about his work on the film visit Hitfix for another interview with  the composer. To learn more about the film, visit the official movie website.

Opening in Los Angeles and New York before expanding nationwide is the musical comedy drama Begin Again written and directed by John Carney and starring Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo, Adam Levine, Hailee Steinfeld, James Corden, Ceelo Green and Catherine Keener. 222 Records in partnership with Interscope Records has released a soundtrack album featuring the songs from the film written by Gregg Alexander, who also provided the film’s original score, as well as Danielle Brisebois, Nick Lashley, Nick Southwood, Rick Nowels, John Carney and Glen Hansard and performed by the film’s cast.  For the full album details and to learn more about the film, check out our soundtrack announcement.

Also opening in limited release is the sci-fi thriller Snowpiercer directed by Bong Joon-ho and starring Chris Evans, Jamie Bell, Tilda Swinton, Ed Harris, Octavia Spencer, John Hurt, Allison Pill, Song Kang Ho and Ko Asung. The film’s original music is composed by Marco Beltrami (3:10 to Yuma, World War Z, The Wolverine). Varese Sarabande will release a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score in July. Check out our previous news article for the full album details. Also visit Film Music Magazine for a recent interview with the composer about his work on the project.

Also opening in select cities is the romantic comedy spoof They Came Together directed by David Wain and starring Paul Rudd, Amy Poehler, Cobie Smulders, Christopher Meloni, Max Greenfield, Bill Hader, Ellie Kemper, Jason Mantzoukas, Melanie Lynskey and Ed Helms. The film’s original score is composed by Wain’s regular musical collaborator Craig Wedren (Role Models, The School of Rock) and Matt Novack. Wedren has also written original songs for the project. Lionsgate Records has released a soundtrack EP featuring five songs from the film, including the track It Was the Last Thing On Your Mind performed by Norah Jones. Check out our soundtrack announcement for the full details of the EP.

Another limited release this weekend is the documentary The Internet’s Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz directed by Brian Knappenberger about programming prodigy and information activist Aaron Swartz, the co-founder of Reddit. John Dragonetti (We Are Legions: The Story of the Activists, Father of the Pride) has composed the film’s original music. A soundtrack album featuring the composer’s music has been released earlier this week by Tone Tiger. Check out our previous news article for the full album details, to listen to audio clip and for more information about the documentary.

Also opening in New York before coming to Los Angeles on July 11 is the foreign drama Siddharth written and directed by Richie Mehta and starring Rajesh Tailang and Tannishtha Chatterjee. The film’s original music is composed by Andrew Lockington (Journey to the Center of the Earth, Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters). Ellchris Music has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score last year. Check out our soundtrack announcement for the full information and to check out audio clips. Siddharth is being released in the U.S. by Zeitgeist Films. Visit the official movie website to learn more about the drama.

Already playing in limited release since this past Wednesday is the French biographical drama Yves Saint Laurent directed by Jalil Lespert and starring Pierre Niney, Guillaume Gallienne and Charlotte Le Bon. Ibrahim Maalouf has composed the film’s original music. WY Productions has released a soundtrack featuring the composer’s score, as well as songs by Brisa Roché, Chromatics, The Emotions, The Chamber Brothers, We the People, The Bossmen and Patrick Watson overseas earlier this year. Check out our previous article for the full album details. The biopic is being released stateside by the Weinstein Company.

Opening in select U.S. theaters this weekend is the British animated feature Postman Pat: The Movie directed by Mike Disa and featuring the voices of Ronan Keating, Stephen Mangan, Jim Broadbent, Kate Winslet and David Tennant. The film’s original music is composed by Rupert Gregson-Williams (Over the Hedge, Bee Movie). Polydor has released a soundtrack for the film in the UK. The album features a suite from the composer’s score, the film’s original songs, as well as songs by Peter Gabriel, The Saturdays, Jessie J and The Wanted. Check out our soundtrack announcement for the full details.