Daily Film Music News
The British Academy of Film and Television has announced the nominations for the 2016 Orange British Academy Film Awards. The winners will be announced at the Orange British Academy Film Awards ceremony at the Royal Opera House in London on Sunday, February 14. For a full list of nominations, click here.
Here are the nominations in the ‘Original Music’ category:
Bridge of Spies – Thomas Newman
The Hateful Eight – Ennio Morricone
The Revenant – Ryuichi Sakamoto & Alva Noto
Film Music Reporter’s Top Original Film Songs of 2015:
Ryan Coogler‘s Creed not only features one of our favorite scores of the year, but is also easily our top choice for best use of original songs in a movie in 2015. The way Ludwig Goransson‘s score is integrated into the film’s songs and vice versa makes this a standout example of how a unified musical concept can shape a film’s narrative and help the overall quality. In addition to co-writing the tracks for Tessa Thompson’s character’s band in the film, the composer co-wrote the song Waiting for My Moment with Coogler, as well as Vince Staples and Donald Glover (aka Childish Gambino) who are performing the track with Jhene Aiko. Goransson and Coogler also co-wrote the song Fighting Strong, which is performed by Aiko. All original songs are featured on the Creed soundtrack album available on Republic Records.
Justin Timberlake will serve as the executive music producer on DreamWorks Animation’s upcoming feature Trolls. He will oversee the creative direction for the film’s music and write and perform several songs on the soundtrack. The movie is directed by Mike Mitchell (Shrek Forever After) & Walt Dohrn and features the voice talent of Anna Kendrick and Timberlake. The film is based on the Troll dolls – created by Danish woodcutter Thomas Dam in 1959 based on the legendary Scandinavian troll.
Film Music Reporter’s Top 5 Original Scores of 2015 (in alphabetical order):
Thomas Newman collaborated with Steven Spielberg for the first time on the spy drama Bridge of Spies and delivered our favorite score of the composer in several years. Staying true to his signature sound while introducing some unfamiliar elements to his oeuvre including Russian choir, Newman’s music perfectly complements the movie’s period setting and Capra-esque storyline. The director and composer decided to use music very sparingly in the first half of the film and when the score finally gets its moments to shine in the final half hour of the movie, it is all the more effective. A soundtrack album featuring Newman’s music is available on Hollywood Records. (Standout cues on soundtrack album: Homecoming, Bridge of Spies (End Title))
Ludwig Goransson, whose music first caught our attention when he first broke into the scoring scene with NBC’s Community in 2009, scored the biggest production of his career yet with Ryan Coogler’s Creed. The composer not only delivered on his early promise with his first major Hollywood drama, he surpassed our expectations of what a modern sports movie score could sound like. While tipping his hat to Bill Conti’s original Rocky score, Goransson came up with a unique combination of orchestral and modern elements such as hip hop beats and electronics to give the film a contemporary vibe and to underscore the title character’s underdog journey. Special mention goes to the excellent mix of the music in the film, which allows the score to standout in several key scenes of the movie. A soundtrack album featuring the Goransson’s score is available on WaterTower Music. (Standout tracks: You’re a Creed, If I Fight, You Fight – Training Montage)
The Los Angeles Italia Film Fashion and Art Fest has announced today that Ennio Morricone will be honored at the 11th edition of the festival, which takes place from February 21 – 27 at the TCL Chinese 6 Theaters in Hollywood. The composer of such films as The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, The Mission, Once Upon a Time in the West, Days of Heaven and The Untouchables is nominated for a Golden Globe Award this year for his work on Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight and is considered to be a front winner to receive an Academy Award nomination for his original score to the film.
Except for the nationwide expansion of Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight, which opened in limited release last week, no other movies are opening nationwide this weekend.
Opening in select theaters in New York and Los Angeles this week before expanding nationwide later this month is the animated feature Anomalisa directed by Duke Johnson & Charlie Kaufman and featuring the voices of Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tom Noonan and David Thewlis. The film’s original music is composed by Carter Burwell (Fargo, Carol, Twilight, True Grit, Being John Malkovich). Lakeshore Records has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score, as well as the original songs None of them Are You (feat. lyrics by Kaufman) and Goddess of Heaven. Check out our soundtrack announcement for the full album details and to learn more about the Paramount Pictures release.
The 21st Century Symphony Orchestra has announced a concert featuring the world premiere performance of composer Danny Elfman‘s original score for Tim Burton’s 1989 movie Batman starring Michael Keaton & Jack Nicholson performed live to projection. The Academy Award-nominated composer is scheduled to attend the event in person. Batman – Live in Concert will be held on May 20 & 21, 2016 at the KKL Luzern Concert Hall in Lucerne, Switzerland. The music will be performed by the 21st Century Symphony Orchestra & Choir under the baton of Ludwig Wicki.
Four new movies are opening nationwide this weekend:
Opening in most theaters is the comedy Daddy’s Home directed by Sean Anders and starring Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Linda Cardellini, Thomas Haden Church and Hannibal Buress. The film’s original music is composed by Michael Andrews (Donnie Darko, Bridesmaids, Neighbors, Freaks & Geeks, Funny People). No soundtrack album has been announced. Daddy’s Home follows a mild-mannered radio executive who strives to become the best stepdad to his wife’s two kids, but complications ensue when their freeloading real father arrives.. To learn more about the Paramount Pictures release, visit the official movie website.
Also opening wide is the drama Concussion written and directed by Peter Landesman and starring Will Smith, Alec Baldwin, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Paul Reiser, Luke Wilson, Arliss Howard and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje. James Newton Howard (The Hunger Games, Maleficent, King Kong, Signs, The Sixth Sense) has composed the film’s original music. Sony Classical has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score. Visit our previous article for the full album details. Leon Bridges has contributed an original end titles song for the film. Click here for more information.
Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke has published an unused title song for the latest James Bond film, Spectre. The singer/songwriter announced on Twitter today: “Last year we were asked to write a tune for Bond movie Spectre. Yes we were…it didn’t work out…but became something of our own which we love very much…As the year closes we thought you might like to hear it. Merry Christmas. May the force be with you.” The track is available to stream after the jump. Sam Smith performed the song Writing’s On the Wall, which was ultimately chosen as the title track for Spectre.
Singer Carly Rae Jespen has announced on Twitter (via Variety) that she has teamed up with record producer Butch Walker to record a new version of the Full House theme song Everywhere You Look for the upcoming Netflix original series Fuller House. The song is written by Jesse Frederick and Bennett Salvay and was featured in the ABC show, which ran from 1987 to 1995. Fuller House is created by Jeff Franklin and stars Candace Cameron-Bure, Jodie Sweetin, Andrea Barber and John Stamos.