Review of August Rush (2007) by Matt S — 04 Feb 2011

Lyla Novacek (Keri Russell) is a beautiful cellist, who falls in love with Louis Connelly (Jonathan Rhys Meyers),a bass playing singer in a club. though their diffrent lives separate them, without the possibility of ever seeing each other again. Lyla has their baby Evan (Freddie Highmore), or 'August Rush', but because of career reasons her father hides the baby from her and sends it to an orphanage. Eleven years later Evan is a bit older, and of course fascinated with music, so he heads to New York with the false hope of finding his real parents. But Maxwell 'Wizard' Wallace hears Evan's beautiful playing on the streets, and he tries to take him in and make money off of him. However, when a church first hears Evan's playing, they send him to the best music school around, and this brings Evan one step closer to finally meeting his parents.

Okay, well I understand the most of the critics did not like this film, and that i'm probably going to get some criticism for even writing this review, but I decided to go for it anyways. I feel that August Rush, though as flawed as it is, has enough redeeming qualities to make it a fresh film. But, the flaws are pretty big, and obvious. The main one being in the story. I am not sure exactly how to describe the story to this film, and what is wrong with it, but maybe it is a little...off? The story just didn't seem right to me, which if you are familiar with the writers, that shouldn't come as too big of a surprise. The story was just too far fetched I guess you could say. We take two musically gifted people, and they make an unbelievably gifted son, that is one of the most musically talented people this world has ever seen, even compared to Mozart. Then he uses this wonderful talent to find his lost parents? I'm sorry, but I just can't believe something like that, even if it is fiction.

However, the story was not all bad, in my opinion. Yes, it was mostly bad, as I mentioned, but there were good parts to it. I think a lot of people could actually relate to some of the characters in this story, they are likeable, and their problems in the film are some problems people have in real life. Just not quite to the extreme this film takes everything. Many people could also find it very heartwarming at times. I mean who doesn't want to watch a film where a young, abused child is trying to desperately find his family? That part of the film I did personally enjoy, and I think I am most likely not the only person that feels that way.

Also, the films music is not to be missed. If you know me at all I really love good music in films. I think it helps create a lot of the feeling and emotion, which even though a musical score is an underrated quality in films these days, it is very, very important in my opinion. And I think that is one of the best things about this film, though we have a flawed plot, we do get to listen to beautiful music the entire time. Though many will not find that a very big deal, it was a very important part of the film. Especially considering the entire movie is based around music, so the music needed to be good. And I think because the movie was so much about music, it deserves extra credit because the music was so good.

Now another really bad part to the film was the direction. We have a terrible plot and a terrible screenplay, and now they also have to throw in terrible direction. Kirsten Sheridan was the director of this film, she has only directed one another movie in her career, Disco Pigs. But judging by what I have read it looks like an absolutely terrible film. Obviously, directing films is not Sheridan's strong point here. She takes what could be a very good story, and makes it almost ruin the film. Or at least make it rotten. I have heard good things about In America, so she should probably just go back to writing.

However, I really enjoyed some of the performances in this film. Freddie Highmore plays Evan Taylor, and even though some people might find him too 'cutsie' all the young girls in the world will certainly love him. And considering his age he did a very good job with his part. Still, it was hard to believe anything in this film, but he did a good job either way. August Rush actually had a very talented cast, with a little director and writing change this could have been a much better film. Keri Russell is not someone I have been a big fan of, but I cannot complain here. Jonathan Rhys Meyers wasn't anything special really, but he had a good singing voice. And Robin Williams and Terrance Howard are always a pleasure to watch on screen, Williams being one of my all time favorite actors.

Overall, August Rush was given a lot of bad criticism, and for good reason, as I mentioned above. The story lacked believability, and the direction and writing was pretty bad in my opinion. But I feel that with some great actors, and a bit of a heartwarming tale August Rush overcomes some of the bigger flaws. The music is absolutely beautiful, if you are a big music fan I would suggest this film to you. Though the film was slow, and it may not have been anything special, it was still worth watching, so for me it gets 60%.