Aug 13 2008
August Rush
August Rush is a must-see film, pefect for family viewing. Just have plenty of kleenex handy.
Freddie Highmore stars as August Rush, a young boy looking for his parents, Lila and Louis, played by Keri Russell and Jonathan Rhys Meyers. They met, had one night together, and then her father dragged her away. When she is hit by a car in the final days of her pregnancy, her father gives the baby up for adoption and tells Lila that her baby is dead.
Fast-forward eleven years. Evan Taylor is living in a boys’ home, being tormented by the older boys because he believes that he can hear his parents’ music calling to him. He runs away, meets a musical Fagin named Wizard (played by Robin Williams) who uses young street musicians to hustle for him. When Evan’s musical genius becomes evident, Wizard convinces him to change his name to August Rush, and tries to book him some gigs, taking a handsome cut for himself.
When Evan escapes, he finds his way to a church, where the minister recognizes him as a prodigy and takes him to Julliard. From there, Evan composes his Rhapsody in the hope that his parents will hear it and find him.
This is an unabashedly sentimental film. Some may deride it for that reason, but I like sentimental films. Highmore is brilliant - he has a very bright future ahead of him if he keeps his wits about him and doesn’t go the way of other child stars. Russell and Meyers have perfect chemistry, and the ending, while predictable, will take your breath away.
Rated PG
