Three new movies are opening nationwide this weekend:
Expected to top the weekend box office is the thriller The Accountant directed by Gary O’Connor and starring Ben Affleck, Anna Kendrick, J.K. Simmons, Jon Bernthal, Jean Smart, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Jeffrey Tambor and John Lithgow. The film’s original music is composed by Mark Isham (Crash, A River Runs Through It, Once Upon a Time, 42, American Crime). WaterTower Music has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score, as well as a song by Sean Rowe. Click here for the full album details. Also visit Film Music Magazine and GoldDerby for recent interviews with Isham about his work on the project.
Also opening nationwide is the concert movie Kevin Hart: What Now? directed by Leslie Small. Motown Records has released a soundtrack album featuring songs performed by Hart and guest artists such as Nick Jonas, Trey Songz, Joelle James, Akon,Think, Clinton Sparks, BJ The Chicago Kid & more, as well as a new track by Big Sean & 2 Chainz. Check out our previous article for the full album details. The movie doesn’t feature a full original score, but Christopher Lennertz (Ride Along, Bad Moms) and Todd Bozung have composed music for the Casino segment of the film and Philip White also contributed additional music.
Also opening wide is the sci-fi superhero film Max Steel directed by Stewart Hendler and starring Ben Winchell, Maria Bello, Ana Villafane, Josh Brener and Andy Garcia. The film’s original music is composed by Nathan Lanier (Jem and the Holograms, Justin Bieber’s Believe, High Strung). No word on a soundtrack album. Max Steel follows teenager Max McGrath and his alien companion, Steel, who must harness and combine their tremendous new powers to evolve into the turbo-charged superhero Max Steel. The movie is being released by Open Road Films. Visit the official movie website for more information.
Opening in limited release is the thriller Desierto directed by Jonas Cuaron and starring Gael Garcia Bernal, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Alondra Hidalgo, Diego Catano, Marco Perez, Oscar Flores Guerrero and David Peralt Arreola. French singer/songwriter Woodkid has composed the film’s original music. Green United Music has released a soundtrack album featuring the score earlier this year when the movie opened overseas. Check out our soundtrack announcement for the album details and to learn more about the STX Entertainment release.
Also opening in limited release is the indie drama Certain Women written and directed by Kelly Reichardt and starring Laura Dern, Kristen Stewart, Michelle Williams, James Le Gros, Jared Harris and Lily Gladstone. The film’s original music is composed by Jeff Grace (Hap and Leonard, Stake Land, In a Valley of Violence) who previously scored the director’s Meek’s Cutoff and Night Moves. No soundtrack album has been announced. The movie, which centers on the lives of three women in small-town America, premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and is being released by IFC Films. Visit the official movie website for more information.
Opening in New York before expanding to more cities next week is the indie drama Christine directed by Antonio Campos and starring Rebecca Hall, Michael C. Hall, Tracy Letts, Maria Dizzia, Timothy Simons, J. Smith-Cameron and Kim Shaw. Danny Bensi & Saunder Jurriaans (The Gift, Enemy, The One I Love, Martha Marcy May Marlene) have composed the film’s original score. The Orchard has released a soundtrack album featuring the songs from the movie by artists including John Denver, Sonny & Cher, Dave Loggins, Spooner Oldham, The Guess Who, Tommy James & more. Check out our previous news article for the full album details.
Also opening in select theaters is the indie comedy drama Ordinary World written and directed by Lee Kirk and starring Billie Joe Armstrong, Fred Armisen, Judy Greer, Selma Blair, Chris Messina, Brian Baumgartner, John Doman, Madisyn Shipman, Kevin Corrigan and Mia Dillon. The film’s original score is composed by Dickon Hinchliffe (Out of the Furnace, Winter’s Bone, Last Chance Harvey, Locke, Peaky Blinders). No word on a soundtrack release. The movie follows a happily married father of two who seeks to revisit his former life as the lead singer in a popular punk band. The dramedy premiered at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival (under the title Geezer) and is being released in theaters on and VOD by Universal Pictures Home Entertainment Content Group.
Also opening in select cities, simultaneous to its premiere on Netflix, is the documentary Sky Ladder: The Art of Cai Guo-Qiang directed by Kevin Macdonald about the rise of contemporary artist Cai Guo-Qiang from childhood in Mao’s China to global art world superstar. Alex Heffes (Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, State of Play, Queen of Katwe, The Last King of Scotland, Roots, 11.22.63) has composed the film’s original music. No soundtrack album has been announced yet. The documentary premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and is now available to stream on Netflix.
Another Netflix original movie, which is also opening in select theaters this week, is the comedy Mascots written and directed by Christopher Guest and starring Jane Lynch, Parker Posey, Tom Bennett, Chris O’Dowd, Susan Yeagley, Fred Willard, Ed Begley Jr., Christopher Moynihan, Bob Balaban, Jennifer Coolidge, Jim Piddock and John Michael Higgins. The film’s original music is composed by C.J. Vanston who previously scored the director’s Best in Show and For Your Consideration. The movie, which takes a look into the world of competitive mascots, premiered at this year’s Toronto Film Festival and is now available to stream on Netflix.
