It was announced today that Alexandre Desplat is the recipient of this year’s Max Steiner Film Music Achievement Award, which will be presented at the annual Hollywood in Vienna Concert Gala at Vienna Concert Hall on October 14, 2016. The Max Steiner Award honors extraordinary achievements within the genre of film music by the musical capital of Austria, Vienna. Previous recipients of the honor include James Horner, Alan Silvestri, James Newton Howard, Howard Shore, Randy Newman, Lalo Schifrin and John Barry. Desplat has written numerous scores for films such as The King’s Speech, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Godzilla, The Imitation Game, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, The Queen, Philomena and is set to compose the music for the upcoming Star Wars spin-off Rogue One.
Tag: Alexandre Desplat
Weekly Film Music Roundup (April 22, 2016)
Opening nationwide this week is the fantasy adventure The Huntsman: Winter’s War directed by Cedric Nicolas-Troyan and starring Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron, Emily Blunt, Nick Frost, Sam Claflin, Rob Brydon and Jessica Chastain. The film’s original music is composed by James Newton Howard (The Hunger Games, King Kong, Maleficent, The Sixth Sense). Back Lot Music has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score, as well as a new version of the song Castle by Halsey arranged by the Howard. Check out our soundtrack announcement for the full album details and to learn more about the Universal Pictures release.
Opening in around 400 theaters is the comedy drama A Hologram for the King written and directed by Tom Tykwer and starring Tom Hanks, Alexander Black, Sarita Choudhury, Ben Winshaw, Tom Skerritt, Sidse Babett Knudsen and Jay Abdo. Tykwer (The International, Cloud Atlas, Run Lola Run) has also written the film’s original music with Johnny Klimek (One Hour Photo, Sense8). Lakeshore Records has released a soundtrack album featuring the composers’ score. Check out our previous news article for the full album details and for more information about the Roadside Attractions release.
Netflix’s ‘Marseille’ to Feature Music by Alexandre Desplat
Alexandre Desplat has composed the music for the upcoming Netflix original series Marseille. The show is created by Dan Franck and stars Gérard Depardieu, Benoît Magimel, Géraldine Pailhas, Nadia Farès, Gérard Meylan, Nassim Si Ahmed, Antoine Coesens, Nozha Khouadra and Maruschka Detmers. The 8-parter centers around the city election between the long-time mayor Robert Taro and a younger ambitious candidate. Franck is also executive producing the political drama with Florent-Emilio Siri (My Way) who also directed the first four episodes.
‘Florence Foster Jenkins’ Soundtrack Announced
Decca Records will release the official soundtrack album for Stephen Frears’ comedy drama Florence Foster Jenkins. The album features the film’s original music composed by Alexandre Desplat (The King’s Speech, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Godzilla, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows) who previously collaborated with the director on such movies as The Queen and Philomena. Also included are the opera performances from the film by Meryl Streep and Aida Garifullina. The soundtrack will be released overseas on May 6, 2016 and is now available for pre-order as an import on Amazon. No word yet on a domestic release date. Florence Foster Jenkins stars Meryl Streep, Hugh Grant, Simon Helberg, Rebecca Ferguson and Nina Arianda. The movie tells the true story of the legendary New York heiress and socialite who obsessively pursued her dream of becoming a great opera singer despite having a terrible voice.
Alexandre Desplat to Score Ewan McGregor’s ‘American Pastoral’
Ewan McGregor revealed in a recent interview with Collider that Alexandre Desplat will score the actor’s feature directorial debut American Pastoral. The film also stars McGregor, alongside Uzo Aduba, David Strathairn, Jennifer Connelly, Rupert Evans and Dakota Fanning. The movie is based on Philip Roth’s novel of the same title and follows a legendary high school athlete whose seemingly perfect life shatters when his daughter rebels by committing a deadly act of terrorism during the Vietnam War. John Romano (The Lincoln Lawyer) has written the screenplay.
Alexandre Desplat Scoring Vincent Perez’s ‘Alone in Berlin’
Alexandre Desplat has composed the music for the upcoming drama Alone in Berlin. The film is directed by Vincent Perez and stars Brendan Gleeson, Emma Thompson, Daniel Brühl and Mikael Persbrandt. The movie is based on Hans Fallada’s bestselling novel and follows an ordinary couple living in a shabby apartment block in Berlin during World War II. When their child is killed fighting at the front, their loss propels them into an extraordinary act of resistance. Perez has also written the screenplay with Achim von Borries (Good Bye Lenin!, Love in Thoughts) and Bettine von Borries.
Weekly Film Music Roundup (December 4, 2015)
Opening nationwide this weekend is the horror comedy Krampus written and directed by Michael Dougherty and starring Adam Scott, Toni Collette, David Koechner, Emjay Anthony, Allison Tolman, Conchata Ferrell, Stefania Lavie Owen and Krista Stadler. The film’s original music is composed by Douglas Pipes (Monster House, Trick ‘r Treat). Back Lot Music has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s music. Check out our previous article for the full album details. Also visit Film Music Magazine and Trailer Addict for interviews with the composer about his work on the project.
Opening in around 300 theaters is the comedy drama Chi-Raq directed by Spike Lee and starring Teyohonah Parris, Nick Cannon, Wesley Snipes, Jennifer Hudson, Angela Bassett, La La Anthony, John Cusack, Samuel L. Jackson, D.B. Sweeney, Harry Lennix and Steve Harris. Terence Blanchard (Malcolm X, Inside Man) has composed the film’s original score. RCA Records has released a soundtrack album featuring the songs from the film by artists including Nick Cannon, R. Kelly feat. Tunk, Jennifer Hudson, Sam Dew, The Bruce Hornsby Band & more. Check out our previous news article for more information.
Alexandre Desplat to Score ‘The Secret Life of Pets’
Alexandre Desplat has signed on to score the upcoming animated feature The Secret Life of Pets. The film is directed by Chris Renaud (Despicable Me, Despicable Me 2, The Lorax) & Yarrow Cheney and features the voice talent of Louis C.K., Eric Stonestreet, Kevin Hart, Ellie Kemper, Lake Bell, Jenny Slate, Bobby Moynihan, Hannibal Buress and Albert Brooks. The movie revolves around the lives our pets lead after we leave for work or school each day. Chris Meledandri (Despicable Me series, Minions) is producing the Illumination Entertainment production with Janet Healey. Brian Lynch (Minions, Hop, Puss in Boots) and Cinco Paul & Ken Daurio (Despicable Me, Horton Hears a Who!) have written the screenplay.
Weekly Film Music Roundup (November 27, 2015)
Three new movies opened nationwide this past Wednesday:
Playing in most theaters is the animated feature The Good Dinosaur directed by Peter Sohn and featuring the voices of Raymond Ochoa, Jack Bright, Frances McDormand, Jeffrey Wright, Sam Elliott, Anna Paquin, Marcus Scribner, A.J. Buckley and Steve Zahn. The film’s original music is composed by Mychael Danna (Life of Pi, Capote) and Jeff Danna (The Boondock Saints, Silent Hill). Walt Disney Records has released a soundtrack album featuring the composers’ score. Click here for the full album details. Also visit SoundWorks Collection and Trailer Addict for recent video interviews with the Danna brothers about their work on the project.
Also playing nationwide is the sports drama Creed directed by Ryan Coogler and starring Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone, Tessa Thompson, Phylicia Rashad and Anthony Bellews. Ludwig Goransson (Fruitvale Station, Community, We’re the Millers, 30 Minutes or Less) has composed the film’s original music. WaterTower Music has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score. Check out our previous article for the full album details. In addition, Republic Records has released a soundtrack featuring the songs from the film. Also click here for a video featurette about Goransson’s score.
‘The Danish Girl’ Soundtrack Details
Decca Records will release a soundtrack album for the period drama The Danish Girl. The album features the film’s original music composed and conducted by Academy Award winner Alexandre Desplat (The Grand Budapest Hotel, The King’s Speech, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Godzilla, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button). The soundtrack will be released on December 4, 2015 and is now available for pre-order on Amazon, where you can also listen to audio samples. The Danish Girl is directed by Tom Hooper (The Danish Girl, Les Miserables) and stars Eddie Redmayne, Alicia Vikander, Ben Whishaw, Sebastian Koch, Amber Heard and Matthias Schoenaerts. The movie tells the true story inspired of Lili Elbe and Gerda Wegener whose marriage and work evolve as they navigate Lili’s groundbreaking journey as a transgender pioneer.