Three new movies are opening nationwide this weekend:
Opening in most theaters is the final installment in The Hunger Games series, Mockingjay: Part 2 directed by Francis Lawrence and stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Julianne Moore, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jeffrey Wright, Sam Claflin and Jena Malone. The film’s original music is composed by James Newton Howard (Maleficent, King Kong, The Sixth Sense, The Village). Republic Records will release a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score digitally on Monday and physically the following week. Check out our soundtrack announcement for the full album details.
Also opening wide is the comedy The Night Before directed by Jonathan Levine and starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anthony Mackie, Lizzy Caplan, Julian Bell, Mindy Kaling and Michael Shannon. Marco Beltrami (Scream, World War Z, 3:10 to Yuma, The Wolverine, Warm Bodies) and Miles Hankins have composed the film’s original score. No soundtrack album has been announced. To learn more about the movie, which is being released by Sony Pictures, visit our scoring assignment announcement.
The third wide release this week is the thriller Secret in Their Eyes directed by Billy Ray and starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Julia Roberts, Nicole Kidman and Dean Norris. The film’s original original music is composed by Emilio Kauderer (Underdogs) who previously co-scored the Argentinian original version of the movie. IM Global has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score, as well as the original end credits song Haunted by Maty Noyes. Check out our previous news article for the full album details and to learn more about the STX Entertainment release.
Opening in limited release is the drama Carol directed by Todd Haynes and stars Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara and Kyle Chandler. Carter Burwell (Fargo, Twilight, True Grit) who previously scored Haynes’ Velvet Goldmine and Mildred Pierces has composed the film’s original music. Varese Sarabande has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score, as well as songs by Billie Holliday, Les Paul, The Clovers & more. Click here for the full album details and also visit SoundWorks Collections and Film Music Magazine for recent interviews with Burwell about his work on the project.
Also opening in limited release is the crime drama Legend directed by Brian Helgeland and starring Tom Hardy, Emily Browning, David Thewlis, Aneurin Barnard, Colin Morgan, Paul Anderson, Christopher Eccleston, Chazz Palminteri and Tara Fitzgerald. The movie marks Carter Burwell‘s second film opening this weekend. Universal/Island Records has released a soundtrack album featuring songs from and inspired by the film, as well as a couple of tracks from Burwell’s score. Check out our soundtrack announcement for the full album announced. Also visit Universal Pictures’ Awards page to listen to the composer’s full score.
Also opening in select cities is the Turkish-language drama Mustang directed by Deniz Gamze Erguven and starring Gunes Nezihe Sensoy, Doga Zeynep Doguslu, Tugba Sunguroglu, Elit Iscan, Ilayda Akdogan and Nihal Koldas. Warren Ellis (The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, The Proposition, Lawless) has composed the film’s original music. Milan Records has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score earlier this year when the movie opened in France. Check out our previous article for the full album details and to learn more about the Cohen Media Group release, which is France’s submission in the Best Foreign Film category at the Academy Awards.
Also opening in select theaters is the thriller Criminal Activities directed by Jackie Earle Haley and starring Michael Pitt, Dan Stevens, John Travolta, Christopher Abbott, Rob Brown, Edi Gathegi and Haley himself. The film’s original music is composed by Keefus Ciancia (Nashville, Diana, The Motel Life). No word on a soundtrack release. Criminal Activities follows a group of four friends who make a risky investment together that puts them in trouble with the mob. The thriller is being released in theaters and on VOD by RLJ Entertainment.
Another limited release this week is the Italian drama Mediterranea directed by Jonas Carpignano and starring Koudous Seihon and Alassane Sy. Benh Zeitlin (Beasts of the Southern Wild) and Dan Romer (Beasts of No Nation, Digging for Fire) have composed the film’s original music. No soundtrack album has been announced. Mediterranea follows two friends who cross the Mediterranean Sea to immigrate to Italy, where they experience unexpected hostility from locals. The drama premiered at this year’s Cannes Film Festival and is being released by IFC Films/Sundance Selects. Visit the official movie website for more information.
