August Rush (2007)
Posted by Heather on May 2, 2008
Rated PG for some thematic elements, mild violence and language.
114 Minutes
You know what music is? God’s little reminder that there’s something else besides us in this universe; harmonic connection between all living beings, every where, even the stars. -Wizard
Synopsis
A young orphan boy believes he’s connected to the world and his birth parents through music. For eleven years he’s been ridiculed and picked on for his eccentric behavior. The day comes where he can wait no longer and decides to “follow the music”, in the hopes it will bring him to his parents. Evan Taylor leaves the home and begins a journey full of ups and downs, surprises, joys, and miseries, with twists and turns no one would expect.
Review
August Rush was one of those feel good movies about hopes, dreams, and love. The over sentimentalism of these types of films can be excruciating to sit through at times, but August Rush managed to avoid that for the most part. It’s focus on music’s place in the world and how it can unite people, make them fall in love, and bring them together is metaphoric thoughout the story. The theme of music felt very authentic and will be touching to anyone who is moved by the soul of music. This orphan child’s hopes, love, and dreams stayed alive even in his darkest moments as he had his music to guide him.
There were awkward moments where the child savant felt compelled to pick up a guitar and play, that even in this fantasy story seemed a bit out of place. Most of the scenes between Highmore and Robbin Williams had an almost creepy feel to it. While Williams as “The Wizard” was played very well, he often came off as a child molester or abuser more than a man sick in love with music and trying to live his dreams through another talented child. The whole set-up felt almost out of place, though the antagonist character was a necessary barrier for Evan to overcome.
The motivators for Lyla and Louis worked to an extent. The chemistry the two had in the one night spent together had real quality, and the repercussions of Lyla’s father, the pregnancy, and the adoption were tragic and made sense to how she chose to live her life afterwards. They went beyond the one night of love shared with Louis. Louis’s motivation was a little less easy to stomach. Sure, he fell in love and it ripped him to pieces. I could see how it might affect him for awhile, but to quit music all together and become a rich suit was stretching the situation a bit. It was necessary for him to be that love sick for the end of the film to make sense with his return to New York It worked to tie the entire story together, I just wished he had something a little more to push him on.
Cast
- Freddie Highmore as Evan Taylor
- Keri Russell as Lyla
- Jonathon Rhyes Myers as Louis Connelly
- Robin Williams as Maxwell “Wizard” Wallace
Frankly, I’ve never seen Keri Russell look so beautiful. She was absolutely breath-taking. Her tears could break hearts and her smile melt them. She was the perfect choice to play Lyla. Her counter part, Jonathon Rhyes Myers, I’ve never seen before, but had a real charisma onscreen. His charm and likability coupled with Russell’s insatiable smile made them a stunning pair. Robin Williams as the scary “Wizard” man was played almost too well. His performance went past threatening and right into the universe of creepy. The desperate broken man he played was so immoral and twisted it was difficult at times to watch him at times. It was a very solid performance from Williams, that is, if he was trying to creep us out. Freddie Highmore is a brilliant child-actor with a bright future ahead of him. His innocent face, lovely timing, and excellent delivery of dialogue ensures him a career for many years to come.
Ratings and Suggestions
This was a pretty decent movie that makes a good film for adults to enjoy and for older kids as well. It’s not something that will stick with me, or is anything above and beyond special, but was an enjoyable way to pass the time and certainly worth a rental. For music lovers, it’s inspiring. For romantics, it’s infectious and endearing. For the hopeful optimists, it’s sincere and bright. It was a pleasurable viewing. Two Out Of Four Stars.
