Film Music Reporter

Guaranteed to top the weekend box office is Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy directed by James Gunn and starring Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Lee Pace, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Djimon Hounsou, John C. Reilly, Glenn Close and Benicio del Toro. The film’s original music is composed by Tyler Bates (300, Watchmen). Hollywood Records has released three different soundtracks for the film, including Awesome Mix Vol. 1 feat. the songs from the film and a score album featuring Bates’ music, as well as a deluxe edition featuring both albums. For recent interviews with Bates about his work on the film, visit Film Music Magazine, We Are Movie Geeks, Hitfix and YouTube.

Also opening wide is the biographical drama Get On Up: The James Brown Story directed by Tate Taylor and stars Chadwick Boseman, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Nelsan Ellis, Lennie James, Tika Sumpter, Jill Scott and Dan Aykroyd. Polydor/Universal Music has released a soundtrack album featuring studio and standout live versions of numerous soul/funk hits by James Brown as featured in the film. Check out our previous news article for the full album details. The movie’s original score is composed by Thomas Newman (American Beauty, The Shawshank Redemption) who previously collaborated with Taylor on 2011’s The Help.

Opening in limited release is the comedy drama Calvary written and directed by John Michael McDonagh and starring Brendan Gleeson, Chris O’Dowd, Kelly Reilly, Aidan Gillen, Dylan Moran, Marie-Josée Croze, Isaach De Bankolé, Pat Shortt, David Wilmot and Domhnall Gleeson. The film’s original music is composed by Patrick Cassidy (Kill the Irishman, Salem’s Lot). Varese Sarabande has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score earlier this summer when the film opened overseas. To learn more about the film, which is being released stateside by Fox Searchlight, and for the full album details, check out our soundtrack announcement.

Also opening in select theaters is the indie drama War Story directed by Mark Jackson and starring Catherine Keener, Hafsia Herzi, Vincenzo Amato, Donatella Finocchiaro and Ben Kingsley. The film’s original score is composed by Evanescence lead vocalist Amy Lee and Dave Eggar who previously scored Jackson’s directorial debut Without. No word yet on a soundtrack release. War Story follows a battle-scarred photojournalist who risks her life to rescue a young refugee. The drama premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and is being released by IFC Films in theaters and on VOD. To learn more about the film, visit the official movie website.

Opening in New York and Los Angeles before expanding to more markets within the next few weeks is the dramatic thriller Child of God directed by James Franco who also stars in the film alongside Scott Haze and Tim Blake Nelson. Singer/songwriter Aaron Embry has composed the film’s original music. No soundtrack album has been announced yet. Child of God based on a novel by Cormac McCarthy (No Country for Old Men, The Road) takes place in 1960s Tennessee and follows a dispossessed, violent man who descends to the level of a cave dweller, falling deeper into a disturbing life of crime and degradation. The drama premiered at last year’s Venice Film Festival and is being released in the U.S. by Well Go USA. Visit the official movie website to learn more about the film.

Another limited release this weekend is the horror thriller Cabin Fever: Patient Zero directed by Kaare Andrews and starring Ryan Donowho, Brando Eaton, Jillian Murray, Mitch Ryan, Lydia Hearst and Sean Astin. The film’s original music is composed by Kevin Riepl (Silent Night, Contracted, Gears of War video game). Sumthing Else Music Works has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score earlier this week. Check out our previous news article for the full album details, to listen to audio clips and to learn more about the project.

Also opening in limited release is the comedy Behaving Badly directed by Tim Garrick and starring Nat Wolff, Selena Gomez, Mary-Louise Parker, Elisabeth Shue, Dylan McDermott, Heather Graham, Ashley Rickards, Cary Elwes, Patrick Warburton and Jason Lee. David Newman (Ice Age, The Flintstones, The Nutty Professor, Serenity) has composed the film’s original score. No word yet on a soundtrack album. Behaving Badly is being released by Vertical Entertainment.

Also opening in select theaters is the documentary Rich Hill directed by Tracy Droz Tragos & Andrew Droz Palermo about the lives of three teenage boys and their families living on the edge of poverty in the town of Rich Hill, Missouri. The film’s original music is composed by Nathan Halpern (Marina Abramovic: The Artist Is Present). Copticon Music has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score today. To check out audio clips and for the full album details, check out our soundtrack announcement. Also click our previous article to watch the film’s trailer and to learn more about the documentary.

Another limited release this weekend is the indie drama Louder Than Words directed by Anthony Fabian and starring David Duchovny, Hope Davis, Timothy Hutton, Olivia Steele-Falconer, Adelaide Kane, Ben Rosenfield and Morgan Griffin. Geoff Zanelli (Disturbia, Hitman, Into the West, The Odd Life of Timothy Green) has composed the film’s original music. No soundtrack album has been announced yet. Louder Than Words follows two grieving parents who used the unexpected death of their young daughter as the impetus to erect a children’s hospital in their daughter’s name. The movie is being released by ARC Entertainment.

Also opening in limited release is the drama 4 Minute Mile directed by Charles-Olivier Michaud and starring Kelly Blatz, Richard Jenkins, Cam Gigandet, Analeigh Tipton, Rhys Coiro and Kim Basinger. The film’s original music is composed by Stephen Barton (Jennifer’s Body, Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont). 4 Minute Mile tells the story of Drew, a high school student struggling to overcome the inner-city surroundings that threaten to imprison him. To drama is being released by Gravitas Ventures and is now also available on VOD.