Shigeru Umebayashi has composed the music for the martial arts epic Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny. The composer of such films as House of Flying Daggers, The Grandmaster and In the Mood for Love collaborated with Lang Lang who performs piano solos on the score. The pianist was previously featured soloist on such movies as The Painted Veil, My Week with Marilyn and this year’s Kung Fu Panda 3. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny is directed by Yuen Wo-Ping (Tai Chi Master) and stars Michelle Yeoh who returns as Yu Shu-Lien, as well as Donnie Yen, Harry Shum, Jr., Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Jason Scott Lee, Eugenia Yuan and Roger Yuan.
Tag: Shigeru Umebayashi
Shigeru Umebayashi’s ‘The Bride’ (‘La Novia’) Soundtrack Released
A soundtrack EP has been released for the Spanish drama The Bride (La Novia). The EP features the film’s original music composed by Shigeru Umebayashi (House of Flying Daggers, The Grandmaster, In the Mood for Love, Hannibal Rising). The soundtrack is now available to download on Amazon, where you can also listen to audio samples. The Bride is written and directed by Paul Ortiz and stars Inma Cuesta, Alex García, Asier Etxeandía, Leticia Dolera, Luisa Gavasa, Carlos Álvarez-Novoa, Consuelo Trujillo and Manuela Vellés. The movie is based on the play Bodas de sangre by Federico García Lorca and tells the story of a love triangle between two men and a woman.
Mychael Danna’s ‘Devil’s Knot’ Soundtrack to Be Released
Varese Sarabande has announced a soundtrack album for Atom Egoyan’s 2013 thriller Devil’s Knot. The album features the film’s original music composed and conducted by Academy Award winner Mychael Danna (Life of Pi, The Good Dinosaur, Moneyball, Capote, The Ice Storm). To pre-order the limited edition CD and to check out audio clips, visit the label’s official website. Devil’s Knot is directed by Egoyan and stars Colin Firth, Reese Witherspoon, Amy Ryan, Mireille Enos, Stephen Moyer, Alessandro Nivola and Dane DeHaan. The movie is based on Mara Leveritt’s bestselling book West Memphis Three and tells the true story of three teenagers who were wrongly convicted of murdering three boys in 1993 in West Memphis, Arkansas.
‘Trishna’ Soundtrack Announced
Caldera Records has announced the world premiere soundtrack release for the 2011 drama Trishna. The album features the film’s original music composed by Shigeru Umebayashi (House of Flying Daggers, In the Mood for Love, 2046). Check back on this page for the soundtrack pre-order link. Trishna is directed by Michael Winterbottom and stars Freida Pinto and Riz Ahmed.The movie based on the novel Tess of the d’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy follows the tragic relationship between the son of a property developer and the daughter of an auto rickshaw owner.
Weekly Film Music Roundup (May 1, 2015)
The only wide release this weekend is Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Age of Ultron written and directed by Joss Whedon and starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johannson, Jeremy Renner, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany and Cobie Smulders. The film’s original music is composed by Brian Tyler (Iron Man 3, Thor: The Dark World, Furious 7) and Danny Elfman (Spider-Man, Batman). Hollywood Records has released a soundtrack album featuring the composers’ score earlier this week. Check out our previous article for the full album details. Also visit Film Music Magazine and Philharmonia’s Soundcloud channel for audio interviews with Tyler about his work on the project.
Opening in limited release is the period drama Far from the Madding Crowd directed by Thomas Vinterberg and starring Carey Mulligan, Matthias Schoenaerts, Tom Sturridge and Michael Sheen. Craig Armstrong (Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo & Juliet, Moulin Rouge!, The Great Gatsby, Love Actually) has composed the film’s original music. Sony Classical has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s music. Check out our soundtrack announcement for the full album details and to learn about the Fox Searchlight release and click here to listen to audio samples from the score.
Weekly Film Music Roundup (August 23, 2013)
Three new movies are opening nationwide this week:
Already in theaters since this past Wednesday is the fantasy adventure The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones directed by Harald Zwart and starring Lily Collins, Jamie Campbell Bower, Lena Headey, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Aidan Turner, Robert Sheehan, Kevin Durand and Jared Harris. Republic Records has released a soundtrack featuring the film’s songs by artists including Zedd, Jessie J, AFI and Demi Lovato. Check out our previous article for the full details. The film’s original score is composed by Atli Orvarsson (Vantage Point, Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters). A soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score has been released on Milan Records. Click here to learn more about the score release. Check out a video featurette about the score, including footage from the recording sessions at ET Online. Also visit CNN iReport, The Hollywood Reporter and Young Adult Hollywood’s YouTube channel for more interviews with Orvarsson about his work on the film.
Also opening wide is the comedy The World’s End directed by Edgar Wright and starring Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Rosamund Pike, Martin Freeman, Paddy Considine and Eddie Marsan. ABKCO Records has released a soundtrack album featuring the songs from the film by artists including Primal Scream, Blur, The Doors, Kylie Minogue, Soup Dragons, Suede, Pulp, The Stone Roses, Happy Mondays and Soul II Soul (click here for the full details). Steven Price (Gravity, Attack the Block) has composed the film’s score. Back Lot Music has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score earlier this week. Check out our soundtrack announcement to find out more.
‘The Grandmaster’ to Feature Music by Nathaniel Mechaly
Nathaniel Mechaly has composed a new score for the international version of the martial arts epic The Grandmaster. The film is directed by Wong Kar-Wai (In the Mood for Love, My Blueberry Nights) and stars Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Zhang Ziyi, Chang Chen, Wang Qingxiang, Zhang Jin, Zhao Benshan and Song Hye-kyo. The movie is a biopic of martial artist Ip Man, who practiced the art of Wing Chun and is best known as the man who taught Bruce Lee. Kar-Wai is producing the Jet Tone Films and Sil-Metropole Organization production with Jacky Pang Yee-wah. Shigeru Umebayashi composed a score for the version that was released in China last month.
Weekly Film Music Roundup (July 13, 2012)
Only one movie is opening wide this weekend:
Opening in almost 4000 theaters is the animated feature sequel Ice Age: Continental Drift directed by Steve Martino & Mike Thurmeier and featuring the voice talent of Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary, Queen Latifah, Seann William Scott, Josh Peck, Jennifer Lopez, Peter Dinklage, Wanda Sykes and Aziz Ansari. John Powell who has scored the previous two films in the series is returning for the fourth installment. A soundtrack album featuring the composer’s music has been released on Varese Sarabande. For the full details and audio clips, visit our previous article. Also check out a short interview with Powell about his work on the movie on ASCAP’s website. The end credits song We Are performed by Keke Palmer is available to download separately on Amazon.
Opening in limited release is the psychological thriller Red Lights directed by Rodrigo Cortéz and starring Robert De Niro, Cillian Murphy, Sigourney Weaver, Joely Richardson, Toby Jones and Elizabeth Olsen. The film’s score is composed by Victor Reyes who previously scored the director’s 2010 thriller Buried. A soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score has been released earlier this year on Lakeshore Records when the film premiered in Europe. Check out our soundtrack announcement for the full details and audio clips. To learn more about the thriller, visit the official movie website.
‘Days of Grace’ Soundtrack Details
Lakeshore Records has announced a soundtrack album for the Mexican thriller Days of Grace (Dias de gracia). The album features the film’s music by a number of top composers, including Nick Cave & Warren Ellis, Atticus Ross (The Social Network) and Shigeru Umebayashi (House of Flying Daggers). Also included is a cover version of the classic song Summertime performed by actress Scarlett Johansson and produced and arranged by Robert Del Naja of Massive Attack fame and Tim Goldsworthy. The soundtrack will be released digitally on April 10, 2012. The CD version will be coming out on May 8 and is now available for pre-order on Amazon. Days of Grace directed by Everardo Gout is set in Mexico City and weaves together three kidnappings that take place during the soccer World Cup tournaments in 2002, ’06 and ’10. The 2002 segment is scored by Cave & Warren, the 2006 segment by Atticus & Leopold Ross and Claudia Sarne (The Book of Eli) and the 2010 segment features music by Umebayashi.
Nick Cave, Warren Ellis, Atticus Ross & Shigeru Umebayashi Scoring ‘Days of Grace’
The Mexican thriller Days of Grace (Dias de gracia) premiered at the Cannes Film Festival last week and features music by some prominent composers. The movie directed by Everardo Gout is set in Mexico City and weaves together three kidnappings that take place during the soccer World Cup tournaments in 2002, ’06 and ’10. The film’s press material (via The Playlist) reveals that different composers have worked on the three segments of the film. According to an interview with Gout, the 2002 segment is scored by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis (The Proposition, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford), whose music integrates sounds, noises, urban and animal backgrounds. The 2006 segment features music by recent Academy Award winner Atticus Ross (The Social Network), who has worked on the project before his win. The 2010 segment is scored by Shigeru Umebayashi (In the Mood for Love, 2046), whose music is described as the quietest and the most sophisticated of the three by the director.