taken-3Opening nationwide today is the action thriller sequel Taken 3 directed by Olivier Megaton, produced by Luc Besson and starring Liam Neeson, Forest Whitaker, Famke Janssen, Maggie Grace, Dogray Scott, Sam Spruell and Leland Orser. The film’s original music is composed by Nathaniel Mechaly (Colombiana, Taxi Brooklyn) who previously scored the first two movies in the series. EuropaCorp has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score, as well as songs by Glass Animals, Olafur Arnalds & Arnor Dan and The XX earlier this week. Check out our soundtrack announcement for the full album details, to listen to audio clips and to learn more about the film.

predestinationOpening in select cities this week is the sci-fi thriller Predestination written and directed by Peter & Michael Spierig and starring Ethan Hawke, Sarah Snook and Noah Taylor. Peter Spierig has also written the film’s original music. No word on a soundtrack album. Predestination follows a Temporal Agent who is sent on an intricate series of time-travel journeys designed to prevent future killers from committing their crimes and must stop the one criminal that has eluded him throughout time and prevent a devastating attack. The thriller premiered at last year’s SXSW Film Festival and is being released by Vertical Entertainment. Read the rest of this entry »

mark-ishamMark Isham is composing the music for the upcoming thriller Septembers of Shiraz. The film is directed by Wayne Blair (The Sapphires) and stars Salma Hayek, Adrien Brody and Shoreh Aghdashloo. The movie is based on the New York Times bestseller of the same title by Dalia Sofer and centers on a secular Jewish family caught in the Islamic revolution in Iran, and their journey to overcome and escape from the deadly tyranny that swept their country. Hanna Weg has adapted the material for the screen. Gerard Butler & Alan Siegel (Olympus Has Fallen, Law Abiding Citizen) and Danielle Robinson are producing the Millennium Entertainment and Eclectic Pictures production with Heidi Jo Markel (Lovelace, Trust) and Weg. Read the rest of this entry »

2015 BAFTA Nominations Announced

Posted: January 8, 2015 by filmmusicreporter in Film Music News
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bafta1 The British Academy of Film and Television has announced the nominations for the 2015 Orange British Academy Film Awards. Here are the nominations in the ‘Original Music’ category:

Birdman – Antonio Sanchez
The Grand Budapest Hotel – Alexandre Desplat
Interstellar – Hans Zimmer
The Theory of Everything – Johann Johannsson
Under the Skin – Mica Levi Read the rest of this entry »

‘Selma’ Soundtrack Released

Posted: January 8, 2015 by filmmusicreporter in Film Music Albums
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selmaParamount Pictures has released a soundtrack album for the biographical drama Selma. The album features the original song Glory performed by Common & John Legend, as well as songs by Otis Redding, Sister Gertrude Morgan, The Impressions, J.B. Lenoir, Fink, Ledisi, Martha Bass & more. Also included are three tracks from the film’s original score composed by Jason Moran. The soundtrack is now available to download on Amazon. Check out audio clips after the jump. Selma is directed by Ava DuVernay and stars David Oyelowo, Tom Wilkinson, Cuba Gooding Jr, Alessandro Nivola, Giovanni Ribisi, Common, Carmen Ejogo, Lorraine Toussaint, Tim Roth and Oprah Winfrey. The movie chronicles the tumultuous three-month period in 1965, when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led a dangerous campaign to secure equal voting rights in the face of violent opposition. Read the rest of this entry »

age-of-adalineRob Simonsen is scoring the upcoming romantic drama The Age of Adaline. The film is directed by Lee Toland Krieger (Celeste and Jesse Forever) and stars Blake Lively, Michiel Huisman, Kathy Baker, Amanda Crew, Harrison Ford and Ellen Burstyn. The movie follows a woman who ceases to age following an accident one icy night, but keeps her condition a closely guarded secret while embarking on a number of incredible adventures throughout the 20th Century. J. Mills Goodloe (The Best of Me, Pride) and Salvador Paskowitz have written the screenplay. Sidney Kimmel (The Lincoln Lawyer, The Place Beyond the Pines, Lars and the Real Girl), Tom Rosenberg & Gary Lucchesi (Million Dollar Baby, Underworld, Crank) are producing the Sidney Kimmel and Lakeshore Entertainment production. Read the rest of this entry »

‘Old Fashioned’ Soundtrack Details

Posted: January 8, 2015 by filmmusicreporter in Film Music Albums
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old-fashionedMilan Records will release a soundtrack album for the faith-based romance Old Fashioned. The album features the film’s original music composed by Kazimir Boyle. The soundtrack will be released on February 10, 2015 and is now available for pre-order on AmazonOld Fashioned is written and directed by Rik Swartzwelder who also stars in the film alongside Elizabeth Ann Roberts, Dorothy Silver, Tyler Hollinger, Lejon Woods, Nini Hadjis, Maryann Nagel and Joseph Bonamico. The movie follows Clay Walsh, a former frat boy who gives up his reckless carousing and now runs an antique shop in a small Midwestern college town, where has become notorious for his lofty and outdated theories on love and romance as well as for his devout belief in God. Read the rest of this entry »

redoneMusic producer/songwriter RedOne is making his scoring debut on the Lifetime original movie Whitney. The film is directed by actress Angela Bassett and stars Yaya DaCosta as Whitney Houston and Arlen Escarpeta as Bobby Brown. Houston’s vocal performances in the film are performed by Grammy nominee Deborah Cox. The movie chronicles the relationship between the iconic singer, actress, producer and model Whitney Houston and singer and songwriter Bobby Brown from the time they first met at the very height of their celebrity to their courtship and tumultuous marriage. Shem Bitterman has written the script and Larry Sanitsky (Betty & Coretta) is executive producing the project. Read the rest of this entry »

Top Original Film Scores & Songs of 2014

Posted: January 7, 2015 by filmmusicreporter in Film Music News

Film Music Reporter’s Top 3 Original Scores of 2014:

how-to-train-your-dragon-2-300x300John Powell delivered a perfect sequel score for How to Train Your Dragon 2, developing themes and musical material introduced in the 2010 original film, while adding a number of new themes and reaching a level of sophistication in his orchestral writing that he rarely achieved before. The score, which at times even surpasses his Oscar-nominated music for the first movie, also includes our favorite and most memorable new theme of the year, receiving our favorite treatments in the standout cues Flying with Mother and Toothless Found on the soundtrack album. The soundtrack featuring Powell’s music is available on Relativity Music.

maleficentJames Newton Howard reportedly worked almost a year on Disney’s Maleficent starring Angelina Jolie & Elle Fanning and the effort showed in the result of his score, which has to be considered one of the composer’s career-best scores. Written for big orchestra and choir, the music features numerous highlights, including some of the year’s best action cues and most impressive choral and orchestral writing. A soundtrack album featuring the score is available on Walt Disney Records. (Standout tracks on soundtrack album: Maleficent SuiteMaleficent is Captured) Read the rest of this entry »

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montageHarmonia Mundi has announced the release of Montage – Great Film Composers and the Piano. The album features the piano works composed by six major film composers and performed by pianist Gloria Cheng. Among the pieces are original compositions by John Williams (Star Wars, E.T.), Michael Giacchino (Up, Lost) and Randy Newman (Toy Story, The Natural) who composed a piece in homage to Alfred, Emil and Lionel Newman, as well as Bruce Broughton (Silverado) and Don Davis (The Matrix). Also included is a piece from Alexandre Desplat‘s Trois Études (originally written for pianist Lang Lang). The album will be released on February 10, 2015 and is now available for pre-order on Amazon. Check out a teaser trailer for the release featuring interviews with all composers after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »

ant-manChristophe Beck has been hired to score Marvel Studios’ upcoming feature Ant-Man. The film is directed by Peyton Reed (The Break-UpYes Man) and stars Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Corey Stoll, Bobby Cannavale, Michael Pena, Judy Greer, Tip Harris, David Oastmalchian, Wood Harris, Jordi Molla and Michael Douglas. The movie follows master thief Scott Lang who must embrace his inner-hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym protect the secret behind his spectacular Ant-Man suit from a new generation of towering threats. Adam McKay (AnchormanTalladega NightsThe Other Guys) has written the screenplay with Rudd based on on a story by Edgar Wright (Shaun of the DeadHot Fuzz) and Joe Cornish (Attack the Block). Kevin Feige (The AvengersIron ManCaptain AmericaGuardians of the Galaxy) is producing the project.  Read the rest of this entry »