“August Rush” (Warner Brothers)
Straight From the Heart
“August Rush” is a movie that will be too sweetly sentimental for some people, but for those in tune with its fable like story it will be a bonanza of emotional enjoyment. Freddie Highmore, Keri Russell and Jonathan Rhys Meyers pour their hearts into their roles and make each note the screenplay strikes believable and involving.
Lila Novacek (Russell) is a gifted cellist. Her father (William Sadler) has great plans for her career, so he controls her life to the fullest extent possible. Still one night she meets a rock musician named Louis (Rhys Meyers). They fall instantly in love and spend the night together. The next morning when she returns home her father whisks her out of town and doesn’t let her contact Louis, even when she finds out she is pregnant.
When the baby is born her father tells Lila the baby is dead. It isn’t until eleven years later she learns the truth. Her son August Rush (Highmore) has been in an orphanage since his birth. When she tries to find him she learns he has left the orphanage and has been spotted in New York City She enlists the aid of a social worker (Terrence Howard) but has no success in locating him.
Meanwhile August has been taken in by a street musician called “The Wizard” (Robin Williams). The wizard learns August has unnatural musical abilities and works to exploit them for his own gain. August feels if he can make music his parents will hear it and come for him.
The music, the emotions, the acting and the energy of this film are wonderful. Highmore is a sweet-faced young man who can wrench your heart with his tears. Russell is all mother earth trying to locate and protect her son. Rhys Meyers conveys the soul of the musician who has lost his will to play. Each plays a separate role but each is part of a three person team.
The music in the film is heart touching too. When the cellist sounds are juxtaposed and intertwined with the guitar beats it is a magical combination. Both Russell and Rhys Meyer make believable musicians and Highmore is almost convincing.
Howard and Williams give strong support to the story. Howard has a natural goodness in his face that speaks of compassion. Williams’ role is a little more complex and is never completely understandable.
The film is rated PG for mild profanity and some mildly adult themes.
To fully enjoy “August Rush” you need to throw yourself into the complexities and emotions of the story. Do not try to analyze it to death but rather accept it as a fable of sorts. In this way you can surrender to the story and have a wonderful time. I certainly did!
I scored “August Rush” a musical 8 out of 10.
