The drama "Last Night," from director Massy Tadjedin, and starring Keira Knightley, Eva Mendes, Sam Worthington and Guillaume Canet, rather came and went last year. No one had paid much attention when it premiered at Toronto in 2010, and no one really paid much attention when it hit theaters last May — the film is a decent enough adultery drama, but pretty unremarkable in every way. Well, in every way but one; a score by one of the best-regarded composers of his generation, Clint Mansell.
The former Pop Will Eat Itself member moved into the film world with Darren Aronofsky's debut "Pi," and has since worked with the director on each of his films, including composing the once-omnipresent theme to "Requiem For A Dream," while also contributing the excellent score for Duncan Jones' "Moon," among many others. "Last Night" marked Mansell's only cinematic score of 2011 (he dropped out of working on "The Iron Lady," while BBC drama "United" was made for TV), but considering the film's small-scale reception, it seemed unlikely that any kind of release would take place for its music.
Fortunately, however, a release is on the way; Film Music Reporter reveal that Mansell's "Last Night" score will come out on Milan Records on March 27th, nearly a year after the film hit theaters. And what's more, Mansell will also be playing his first live shows under his own name, with two performances at LA's Largo on April 4th and 5th, along with the Sonus Quartet, who previously collaborated with the composer on the "Moon" score. The shows will focus on the "Last Night" score, but excerpts from his work with Aronofsky are likely to be featured as well. Tickets are available from Largo's site below.
Good news indeed for Mansell fans; so far, he doesn't have anything lined up for 2012, bar the score for video game "Mass Effect 3," also out in March. But we're sure something will be announced soon. In the meantime, you can listen to "Final Movement" — a collaboration with musician Peter Broderick — from the "Last Night" soundtrack below.
It's a shame that this movie had so little commercial impact. I thought it was great and mature. And the score is one of its highlights. Justice at last!