Four new movies are opening nationwide this weekend:
Opening in most theaters is the sci-fi action adventure Independence Day: Resurgence directed by Roland Emmerich and starring Liam Hemsworth, Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman, Judd Hirsch, Vivica A. Fox, Brent Spiner, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Jessie Usher, Maika Monroe and Sela Ward. The film’s original music is composed by Thomas Wander & Harald Kloser (2012, White House Down, The Day After Tomorrow, 10’000 BC). Sony Classical has released a soundtrack album featuring the composers’ music. Check out our previous news article for the full album details and to learn more about the 20th Century Fox release.
Also opening wide is the historical drama Free State of Jones directed by Gary Ross and starring Matthew McConaughey, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Mahershala Ali and Keri Russell. Nicholas Britell (The Big Short, A Tale of Love and Darkness) has composed the film’s original music. Sony Classical has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score, as well as the original song I’m Crying by Lucinda Williams. Check out our soundtrack announcement for the full album details and to find out more information about the STX Entertainment release.
Also opening wide is the horror thriller The Shallows directed by Jaume Collet-Serra and starring Blake Lively and Oscar Jaenada. The film’s original music is composed by Marco Beltrami (3:10 to Yuma, The Wolverine, Scream, World War Z, The Hurt Locker). No word yet on a soundtrack album. The Shallows follows a young woman who is grieving the loss her mother and surfing in an isolated area when she gets stranded on a buoy and a gigantic great white shark comes between her and the shore. The thriller is being released by Sony Pictures. Visit the official movie website for more information
Opening in around 800 theaters is the horror thriller The Neon Demon directed by Nicolas Winding-Refn and starring Elle Fanning, Keanu Reeves, Christina Hendricks and Jena Malone. Cliff Martinez (Traffic, Drive, Contagion, The Knick) has composed the film’s original music. Milan Records has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score, as well as the original track Waving Goodbye performed by Sia, and two songs by Julian Winding. Click here for the full album details. Also visit Film Music Magazine, DP/30, Indiewire, SoundWorks Collection and Vanity Fair for recent interviews with Martinez about his work on the project.
Opening in limited release is the comedy Swiss Army Man directed by Daniel Scheinert & Daniel Kwan and starring Paul Dano, Daniel Radcliffe and Mary Elizabeth Winstead. The film’s original music is composed by Andy Hull and Robert McDowell of the indie rock band Manchester Orchestra. Lakeshore Records has released a soundtrack album featuring the score, which also includes vocal performances by Dano and Radcliffe. Check out our previous news article for the full album details and to learn more about the A24 Films release.
Also opening in limited release is the indie comedy Wiener-Dog written and directed by Todd Solondz and starring Ellen Burstyn, Kieran Culkin, Julie Delpy, Danny DeVito, Greta Gerwig, Tracy Letts and Zosia Mamet. Nathan Larson (Boys Don’t Cry, Margin Call, Show Me a Hero) who previously scored the director’s Palindromes and Storytelling and James Lavino (Unlocking the Cage) have composed the film’s original score. Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman contributed the original song The Ballad of Wiener-Dog to the project. No soundtrack album has been announced yet. Wiener-Dog premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and is being released by IFC Films before premiering on Amazon in a couple of months. Visit the official movie website for more information.
Also opening in select theaters is the comedy drama Hunt for the Wilderpeople directed by Taika Waititi and starring Julian Dennison, Sam Neill, Rima Te Wiata, Rachel House and Oscar Kightley. The film’s original music is composed by Moniker aka Luke Buda, Sam Scott and Conrad Wedde. The Orchard has released a soundtrack album featuring Moniker’s music. Check out our soundtrack announcement for the full album details and to learn more about the movie, which is being released by The Orchard.
Also opening in select cities is the dramatic thriller Septembers of Shiraz directed by Wayne Blair and starring Adrien Brody, Salma Hayak-Pinault, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Alon Aboutboul, Ariana Molkara, Jamie Ward and Wadih Dona. Mark Isham (Crash, A River Runs Through It, Once Upon a Time, Quiz Show, American Crime) has composed the film’s original music. Lakeshore Records will release a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score in a couple of weeks. Check back on this page for the full album details. Septembers of Shiraz premiered at last year’s Toronto Film Festival and is being released in theaters and on VOD by Momentum Pictures/eOne.
Opening in limited release and also premiering on Netflix today is the indie comedy drama The Fundamentals of Caring written and directed by Rob Burnett and starring Paul Rudd, Selena Gomez, Jennifer Ehle, Bobby Cannavale and Craig Roberts. The film’s original music is composed by Guster frontman Ryan Miller (Safety Not Guaranteed, In a World…, The Kings of Summer). No word yet on a soundtrack release. The Fundamentals of Caring centers on the friendship between a caregiver and a frustrated teenager who is the advance stages with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. The dramedy is now available to stream on Netflix.
Another limited release this weekend is the indie drama The Phenom written and directed by Noah Buschel and starring Johnny Simmons, Paul Giamatti and Ethan Hawke. Aleks de Carvalho (Amnesiac, Loitering with Intent) has composed the film’s original music. No soundtrack album has been announced. The Phenom follows a major-league rookie pitcher who is sent down to the minor leagues and begins sessions with an unorthodox sports psychologist. The drama premiered at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival and is being released in theaters and on VOD by RLJ Entertainment.
Also premiering in limited release this week is the French drama Les Cowboys co-written and directed by Thomas Bidegain and starring Francois Damiens, Finnegan Oldfield, Agathe Dronne, Ellora Torchia, John C. Reilly, Antonia Campbell-Hughes. The film’s original music is composed by singer/songwriter Raphaël (aka Raphaël Haroche). L’R Du Tresor has released a soundtrack album featuring the score, as well as songs by Connie Francis and Patsy Cline. Check out our previous news article for the full album details. The drama is being released in the U.S. by Cohen Media Group. Click here to learn more about the film.
