The only wide release this weekend is Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Age of Ultron written and directed by Joss Whedon and starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johannson, Jeremy Renner, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany and Cobie Smulders. The film’s original music is composed by Brian Tyler (Iron Man 3, Thor: The Dark World, Furious 7) and Danny Elfman (Spider-Man, Batman). Hollywood Records has released a soundtrack album featuring the composers’ score earlier this week. Check out our previous article for the full album details. Also visit Film Music Magazine and Philharmonia’s Soundcloud channel for audio interviews with Tyler about his work on the project.
Opening in limited release is the period drama Far from the Madding Crowd directed by Thomas Vinterberg and starring Carey Mulligan, Matthias Schoenaerts, Tom Sturridge and Michael Sheen. Craig Armstrong (Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo & Juliet, Moulin Rouge!, The Great Gatsby, Love Actually) has composed the film’s original music. Sony Classical has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s music. Check out our soundtrack announcement for the full album details and to learn about the Fox Searchlight release and click here to listen to audio samples from the score.
Opening in Los Angeles and New York before expanding to more cities next weekend is the indie comedy Welcome to Me directed by Shira Piven and starring Kristen Wiig, Wes Bentley, James Marsden, Tim Robbins, Joan Cusack, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Linda Cardellini. The film’s original music is composed by David Robbins (Dead Man Walking, Bob Roberts, Cradle WilL Rock). No word on a soundtrack album. Welcome to Me follows a woman who wins the lottery, quits her psychiatric meds and buys her own talk show. The comedy premiered at last year’s Toronto Film Festival and is being released by Alchemy. To learn more about the film, visit the official movie website.
Also opening in limited release is the indie comedy Ride written and directed by Helen Hunt who also stars in the movie alongside Luke Wilson, Brenton Thwaites and David Zayas. Julian Wass (Hit & Run, Noah’s Ark: Jumping the Broom, The Pretty One) has composed the film’s original music. No soundtrack album has been announced. Ride follows an editor from The New Yorker who follows her son to LA after he drops out of college to surf and find himself and ends up being the one thrust into a sea change of self-discovery. The comedy is being released by Screen Media Films. Visit the official Facebook movie page for more information.
Also opening in select theaters is the indie drama Any Day written and directed by Rustram Branaman and starring Sean Bean, Kate Walsh, Eva Longoria, Shane Black and Tom Arnold. The film’s original music is composed by Elia Cmiral (Ronin, Battlefield: Earth, Atlas Shrugged, Wrong Turn). No word on a soundtrack release, but check out a couple of tracks from the score on the composer’s official website. Any Day follows an ex-fighter who is transformed by the love and forgiveness he experiences through his 11-year-old nephew. The movie is being released by Gravitas Ventures.
Finally opening in the U.S. after an international release a few years ago is the Mexican thriller Days of Grace directed by Everardo Gout. A couple of composers have scored the different segments of the film including Nick Cave & Warren Ellis (The Proposition, Lawless), Atticus Ross (The Social Network, Gone Girl), Leopold Ross & Claudia Sarne (The Book of Eli) and Shigeru Umebayashi (House of Flying Daggers). Lakeshore Records has released a soundtrack album back in 2012, which also includes a cover version of the classic song Summertime performed by actress Scarlett Johansson. Check out our soundtrack announcement for the full album details and to listen to audio samples. Days of Grace is being released by Cinema Libre Studio.
Also opening in the U.S. is the French drama Far from Men (Loin des hommes) written and directed by David Oelhoffen and starring Viggo Mortensen and Reda Kateb. The film’s original music is composed by Nick Cave &Warren Ellis (The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford). Goliath Entertainment will release a soundtrack album featuring the composers’ music on May 19. Check out our previous news article for the full album details and to learn more about the film, which is being released stateside by Tribeca Film.
Also opening in limited release is the indie comedy Cas & Dylan, which marks the directorial debut of actor Jason Priestley and starring Richard Dreyfuss and Tatiana Maslany. Michael Brook (Into the Wild, The Fighter, The Perks of Being a Wallflower) has composed the film’s original score. No soundtrack album has been announced. Cas & Dylan follows a dying doctor whose plans to check out on his own terms take a reluctant detour when he inadvertently winds up on the lam with a 22-year-old girl. The comedy is being released by Entertainment One.
