Movie Review: August Rush (2007)

Nov 162008

I recently watched this movie for the first time. I did not see any previews for this film at all. I found it to be quite unique and brilliant. August Rush tells the story of a boy named Evan (played by Freddie Highmore) who is in an orphanage. He is a musical prodigy and he uses his gift to find his parents, who he believes are alive. He ends up in New York City, where he meets Arthur (played by Leon Thomas III). His mom, Lyla Novacek (a musician who gave up her career, played by Keri Russell) finds out the truth her father (played by William Sadler) has been hiding from her for 11 years, because he thought that it would effect her career, and tries to find her son. His father, Louis Connell, who was part of a band, (played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers) tries to find his long lost love, Lyla Novacek (Evan’s mother). Throughout the film, Evan, later dubbed August by a monger, Wizard (played by Robin Williams) who Arthur lives with, believes that he can find his parents by playing his music, because he feels that music is the bond that binds them with him. No wonder the film’s tagline is “An incredible journey moving at the speed of sound”.

This film has an absolutely brilliant musical score, soundtrack and story and I feel that it was a nice and complete package, a very well made film. I must admit that this is not normally the kind of film that I watch, but this one I’d recommend to everyone who believes in miracles and everyone who loves music (which is quite a considerate part of the population). The film was directed by Kirstin Sheridan. The film was also nominated for an Oscar for Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song (Jamal Joseph and Charles Mack).

Here are a few quotes from the movie:

August Rush (Freddie Highmore): “The music is all around you, all you have to do is listen.”

August Rush (Freddie Highmore): “Sometimes the world tries to knock it out of you. But I believe in music the way some people believe in fairy tales.”

August Rush (Freddie Highmore): [opening voice-over] “Listen. Can you hear it? The music. I can hear it everywhere. In the wind… in the air… in the light. It’s all around us. All you have to do is open yourself up. All you have to do… is listen.”

This is the trailer for the movie: