Expected to top the weekend box office is the sci-fi action adventure The Martian directed by Ridley Scott and starring Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Jeff Daniels, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Pena, Kate Mara, Sean Bean, Kristen Wiig, Mackenzie Davis and Donald Glover. The film’s original music is composed by Harry Gregson-Williams (Kingdom of Heaven, The Chronicles of Narnia). Columbia Records has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score. Click here for the full album details. The label has also released a soundtrack featuring the songs from the movie and will release a deluxe 2-CD soundtrack featuring both songs and score in November. Visit our previous article for more information. Also check out interviews with Gregson-Williams about his work on the project on Soundworks Collection, Film Music Magazine, Den of Geek, HeyUGuys and GoSeeTalk.
Opening in around 350 IMAX theaters before expanding nationwide on October 9 is the drama The Walk directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ben Kingsley, Charlotte Le Bon and James Badge Dale. Alan Silvestri (Back to the Future, Forrest Gump, The Avengers, Cast Away, Captain America: The First Avenger) has composed the film’s original music. Sony Classical has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score. Check out our soundtrack announcement for the full album details and to learn more about the Sony Pictures release.
Opening in limited release is the drama Freeheld directed by Peter Sollett and starring Julianne Moore, Ellen Page, Michael Shannon and Steve Carell. The film’s original music is composed by Hans Zimmer (The Dark Knight, The Lion King, Gladiator, Inception) and The Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr. WaterTower Music has released a soundtrack album featuring the composers’ score. Check out our previous news article for full album details and for more information about the Lionsgate release.
Also opening in select cities before expanding to more markets over the next couple of weeks is the documentary He Named Me Malala directed by Davis Guggenheim about Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani teenager who has become an outspoken, globally recognized advocate for girl’s rights. Thomas Newman (American Beauty, Finding Nemo, The Shawkshank Redemption) has composed the film’s original music. Sony Classical has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score. Check out our soundtrack announcement for the full album details and to learn more about the Fox Searchlight release.
Also opening in select theaters is the animated feature Hell and Back directed by Tom Gianas & Ross Shuman and starring Mila Kunis, Nick Swardson, Bob Odenkirk, TJ Miller, Danny McBride and Susan Sarandon. The film’s original music is composed by Ryan Franks and Scott Nickoley. No soundtrack album has been announced. Hell and Back follows three friends who embark on a wayward journey into the deepest, darkest depths of hell to rescue one of their own. The animated comedy is being released by Freestyle Releasing.
Another limited release this week is the indie comedy directed by Jamie Babitt and starring Judy Greer, Natasha Lyonne, Aubrey Plaza, Fred Armisen, Jessica St. Clair, Molly Shannon, Clea Duvall, Ron Livingston, Allison Tolman and Malcolm Barrett. Nathan Matthew David (Satisfaction, No Cameras Allowed). No soundtrack album has been announced. Addicted to Fresno follows two co-dependent sisters who work as hotel maids in Fresno and go to ludicrous lengths to cover up an accidental crime. The comedy premiered at this year’s SXSW Film Festival and is being released by Gravitas Ventures.
Finally opening in the U.S. after several being released in several international territories over the last five years is the historical drama Shanghai directed by Mikael Hafstrom and starring John Cusack, Gong Li, Chow Yun-fat, Ken Watanabe, David Morse, Franka Potente, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Rinko Kikuchi, Hugh Bonneville, Benedict Wong and Christopher Buchholz. The film’s original music is composed by Klaus Badelt (Pirates of the Caribbean, Constantine, Rescue Dawn, The Time Machine). No soundtrack album has been released, but several tracks from the composer’s score are available on YouTube. The movie is being released in the U.S. by the Weinstein Company.
Also opening in limited release is the dramatic thriller Partisan co-written and directed by Ariel Kleiman and starring Vincent Cassel, Jeremy Chabriel and Florence Mezzara. Daniel Lopatin (The Bling Ring) has composed the film’s original music. Partisan is set at an isolated compound where children are being trained to kill and follows a boy who begins to think for himself at the age of 11. The drama premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and is being released by Well Go USA Entertainment. Visit the official movie website for more information.
