August Rush
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Movie Reviews of August Rush
Movie Review: Music and Love in Superb Dramatic Fantasy...
Summary: 5 Stars
It's easy to point out the incongruities of Kirsten Sheridan's magical "August Rush"...an 11-year-old who learns guitar in one night, and piano and musical composition in another...but this is not a movie for nitpickers, but for dreamers, and all of us who hear music in everything we experience. And boy, does this film deliver!
I wasn't surprised to see Nick Castle's hand in the screenplay, as he is an old hand at finding magic in our cynical world (he wrote and directed "The Boy Who Could Fly"); here, we have the story of two incredibly gifted musicians, a Julliard-trained cellist (Keri Russell), and a self-taught Irish rock singer/composer (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), who bond under the stars in New York City, then are torn apart by families with their own agendas. She carries his child, but after an accident, her ambitious father (William Sadler) steals the newborn, dumps the baby into social services, and announces to the daughter that the child had died. What is MEANT to be, never happens, the lives of both musicians unravel, and they soon give up their gifts, for mundane careers...as their unknown child (the remarkable Freddie Highmore) grows into a musical prodigy, on a mission to find them.
The bulk of the film deals with the child's search, and the remarkable people he meets along the way, from a sympathetic welfare worker (Terrence Howard), to a gifted child guitarist and his Fagin-like mentor (Leon Thomas III and Robin Williams, who is creepy, but excellent), and finally, a powerful child gospel singer, and her pastor (Jamia Simone Nash and Mykelti Williamson). Dubbed 'August Rush' by Williams, the boy harnesses his prodigious musical talents, even as his parents individually renew their own musical careers, and are drawn back to New York City, and a tear-inducing, spectacular climax. Predictable? You bet, but I dare you not to be moved, anyway!
The performances are first-rate, particularly from the child actors, and the music is awesome. This is unabashedly a 'feel-good' movie, the perfect flick to pop into the DVD player when you're feeling down.
My only real quibble is the lack of Special Features; extended scenes are all that are offered, and this is a film I'd have loved learning more about...
"August Rush" is a wonderful film that shouldn't be missed!
Movie Review: A Tear-Jerking Musical Prodigy/Oliver Twist Story
Summary: 5 Stars
A young boy (Freddie Highmore) growing up in an orphanage dreams of being found by his parents and survives by his innate gift for and love of music. When he runs away to New York to find them, he takes up with a group of kid street musicians led by the sometimes nurturing, sometimes dangerous, and always exploitative Wizard (Robin Williams). Under Wizard's guidance, the boy takes on the name August Rush, and while in New York he hones his skills at a genius's pace in the hopes that his long lost parents will follow the music to find him. Meanwhile, only just discovering that her son did not die at birth, August's mother (Keri Russell) is already on the search with the help of a caring social worker (Terence Howard), while August's father (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) is seeking to find her, the lost love he has never forgotten.
When I first saw trailers for "August Rush", I had no idea that it was based on "Oliver Twist", something that quickly became obvious when watching it. However, I also underestimated how touching it would be, and that's even though I expected it to be very good from the get-go. Regardless of the fact that its story is predictable (if you know Oliver Twist at all) and slightly sappy (not as sappy as I was afraid it might be, though), this is one heck of a movie! It'll bring you to tears a lot. In fact, it'll send you up and down throughout as you root for August and his family to finally come together. But what makes this one so different than just being a modern-day Oliver Twist is the fact that August Rush is a musical prodigy, and this is well woven into the story and a huge part of it. It's significant enough to make the film as much about the love and magic of music as it is about modernizing a classic. So, don't be put off by the fact that the tale is an old one. The brilliant cast, music, and engaging story will soon have you forgetting that you're on a journey you've been through before.
The DVD is double-sided for widescreen and fullscreen and comes with a selection of deleted scenes as the only bonus features. Definitely a must-see, and for many, a must-own.
Movie Review: One of the best of 2007...
Summary: 5 Stars
It is a rare movie that can be predictable and sentimental, but still be heartwarming and touching, but that is exactly what August Rush is. August Rush has an amazing cast including Freddie Highmore from "The Spiderwick Chronicles" and "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", he has proven to be one of the most intriguing young actors of this generation. He has yet to degrade himself as other young actors like Dakota Fanning have, he sees no need to prove his artistic creditbility, because he is just great as he is. It is his performance as the orphaned child August Rush that elevates this film to a whole new level that it would not be at with an actor of lesser capabilities.
The story story takes cues from Oliver Twist, but don't expect a straight-ahead modern adaptation, but the elements of Oliver Twist are there if you have read the book or are familiar with the story. In August Rush, a young celloist named Lyla whose father keeps her on a short leash, falls in love with an Irish musician Louis, and has a one-night stand. Through events that neither of the characters wanted they are seperated, but Lyla has become pregnant from the encounter, and "loses" the child.
If I tell you anymore it will ruin the story, but the bulk of the story revolves around Evan Taylor AKA August Rush, who is on a quest to find his parents by following the music. The movie is rich with excellent music, it is a rare film that can utilize music in such a poignant way. Music is a universal language, and this music shows us how music speaks to us and is used to communicate. As a musician, I found this movie absolutely enthralling, but even my tone-deaf buddies loved the music and the story and heart behind the movie.
Don't be turned off of this movie because of its lack of promotion or critical hype, it is one of the best movies to come out in the last year and is a welcome departure from the confusing arthouse movies and bloody horror movies that litter the market today.
God Bless ~Amy
Movie Review: For the ones with imagination
Summary: 5 Stars
I have read some 1 star reviews saying this is in no way a 5 star movie. These reviewers, if you read them are obviously music teachers or musicians that are the epitome of the bully in the orphanage. They have issues and can't accept that it's a movie and is fantasy. It is not based off real people. These people would try to force anyone with talent better than themselves to deny that talent out of jealousy. Fine, it is very exagerated that our boy can pick up sheet music and just know how to read it and compose a song in less than 1 day but like I said. It's a movie.
On to the review:
I love this movie. I am not going to start flashing names of artists they were copying for Freddie Highmore's style of playing but there are originators of it out there for longer than you think.
As we begin, we have Evan - Aka August Rush (Freddie Highmore) in an orphanage and he is bullied for being different. Flash to 11 yrs earlier to Keri Russell (Celebrated Julliard celloist) and Jonathan Rhys Meyers (budding Rock star) meeting and having a one night stand. Keri is controlled by her father William Sadler so the relationship doesn't take off.
Back to Evan in the present - He leaves to find his parents by "following" the music.
Terence Howard is the child services rep trying to find him.
Robin Williams is the person who takes him in which is the "Oliver Twist" part. He gives Evan the name August Rush as a stage name but also to hide him from the authorities in order to use his talents. Not his best work but the character was not supposed to be outright violent or dangerous. He is a guy that you just don't know how off his rocker he is or how violent he COULD be.
The rest of the movie is a show of the close calls of the father, mother and Evan coming so close to meeting it will make you almost cry. You spend the movie beginning to believe that as long as Evan is playing, his mother and father will find him.
If you have no hope, don't watch it. Or, better yet, you should be watching it.
Movie Review: A Modern Day Oliver Twist
Summary: 5 Stars
Evan Taylor is an orphan who knows his parents are out there looking for him. He hears music in everything. He is convinced that if he can play music, his parents will find him.
Evan's father, an Irish musician met Evan's mother, a cello player in a chance encounter. His mother, Lyla is told that her baby has died. His father, Louis was unaware that there ever was a child. Louis and Lyla long for each other. They both give up their music and can't find true happiness.
Evan runs away from the orphanage, saying he is following the music. He goes home with a street musician about his age, who plays for donations. Evan finds himself in a run down theatre, living with many other runaways. The leader, a man called the Wizard, discovers Evans talents, and gives him the choice spot as a street performer. He also names him August Rush, which sounds more like a performer's name.
August Rush follows the music he hears and walks into a church with a choir practicing. Evan can play the piano on his first try. His music leads him to perform his own symphany, in Central Park. August Rush is sure that if his music can be presented to a larger audience he will find his parents.
This is a sweet and happy film. The music is delightful. You will find yourself anxiously hoping for Evan to find his parents. You will also long for Lyla and Louis, who have both turned back to their music after eleven years, to find each other again.
I highly recommend this movie for children and adults. I have seen it two times and hope to watch it again. There are very few movies I will watch twice.
Jill Ammon Vanderwood
Author:Through the Rug
Through The Rug: Follow That Dog (Through the Rug)
Look for my Through the Rug 2: Follow that Dog
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