Film Music Reporter

Two new movies are opening nationwide this weekend:

Opening in most theaters is the sci-fi action adventure War for the Planet of the Apes directed by Matt Reeves and starring Andy Serkis, Woody Harrelson, Steve Zahn, Amiah Miller, Karin Konoval and Terry Notary. The film’s original music is composed by Michael Giacchino (Up,  Jurassic World, Doctor Strange, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Star Trek) who previously scored Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. Sony Masterworks has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score. Check out our previous article for the full album details.

Also opening wide is the horror thriller Wish Upon directed by John R. Leonetti and starring Joey King, Ryan Phillippe, Ki Hong Lee, Mitchell Slaggert, Shannon Purser, Sydney Park, Kevin Hanchard and Sherilyn Fenn. Lakeshore Records has released a soundtrack album featuring the songs from the movie by Hey Violet, Grace Mitchell, Wayfarers & more (click here for the full details). The label has also released a separate soundtrack featuring the film’s original score composed by tomandandy (The Strangers, 47 Meters Down). Check out the full score album details by clicking here.

Opening in limited release is the British period drama Lady Macbeth directed by William Oldroyd and starring Christopher Fairbank, Florence Pugh, Cosmo Jarvis and Bill Fellows. The film’s original music is composed by Dan Jones (Shadow of the Vampire, Max, My Scientology Movie). No word on a soundtrack release. The movie centers on a young bride who has been sold into marriage to a middle-aged man and enters into an affair with a worker on her estate. The drama premiered at last year’s Toronto Film Festival and is being released by Roadside Attractions. Visit the official movie website for more information.

Also opening in limited release is the romantic drama Blind directed by Michael Mailer and starring Alec Baldwin, Demi Moore and Dylan McDermott. Dave Eggar (War Story, Difret) and Sasha Lazard have composed the film’s original music. No soundtrack album has been released. Blind follows a novelist blinded in a car crash which killed his wife who rediscovers his passion for both life and writing when he embarks on an affair with the neglected wife of an indicted businessman. The drama is being released in theaters and on VOD by Vertical Entertainment.

Opening in select U.S. theaters following a release overseas last year is the family adventure Swallows and Amazons directed by Philippa Lowthorpe and starring Rafe Spall, Andrew Scott, Kelly Macdonald, Orla Hill, Dane Hughes, Bobby McCullock, Teddie-Rose Malleson-Allen, Seren Hawkes and Hannah-Jayne Thorp. The film’s original music is composed by Ilan Eshkeri (Stardust, Layer Cake, Still Alice, Shaun the Sheep Movie). Globe Productions has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score last year. Check out our previous article for the full album details.

Also opening in select cities is the documentary Bronx Gothic directed by Andrew Rossi about actor, dancer, writer, performance artist, singer Okwui Okpokwasili and her final tour for her one-woman show. Ian Hultquist (Animal, My Blind Brother, The Diabolical) who previously co-scored Rossi’s First Monday in May has composed the film’s original music. Little Twig Records has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score. Check out our soundtrack announcement for the full album details.

Opening in select theaters while also premiering on Netflix today is the drama To the Bone written and directed by Marti Noxon and starring Lily Collins, Keanu Reeves, Carrie Preston, Lili Taylor, Alex Sharp and Liana Liberato. The film’s original score is composed by Fil Eisler (Empire, Revenge, How to Be Single, UnReal, CHiPs). No word yet on a soundtrack album. The movie follows a 20-year-old with anorexia nervosa who goes on a journey of self-discovery at a group home run by an unusual doctor. The drama premiered at last year’s Sundance Film Festival and was picked up by Netflix for domestic distribution.

Another limited release this week is Alejandro Jodorowsky’s autobiographical drama Endless Poetry (Poesia sin fin). Alejandro’s son Adan Jodorowsky (aka Adanowsky) who also stars in the movie has composed the film’s original music. ABKCO Records has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score, as well as four songs by multi-instrumentalist composer/arranger Jon Handelsman. Check out our previous article for the full album details and to learn more about the film.

Also opening in select theaters is the documentary Chasing Coral directed by Jeff Orlowski. The movie, which follows team of divers, photographers and scientists who set out to discover why Coral reefs around the world are vanishing at an unprecedented rate, was scored by Dan Romer (Beasts of the Southern Wild, Beasts of No Nation) and Saul Simon MacWilliams (Gleason). Romer also co-wrote an original song with Teddy Geiger (performed by Kristen Bell) for the project. Click here to learn more about the film, which is now also available to stream on Netflix.