August Rush
August Rush is a sweet, romantic story about a homeless musical prodigy, Evan and his parents. It has a dreamy and almost Dickens-like feel set in modern day New York. Coming to the story, there is a one-night passionate chance encounter between Lyla a gifted cellist played by Keri Russell and Lewis, a rock band member essayed by Jonathan Rhys-Myers. Lyla gets pregnant but her over-protective father keeps her away from Lewis. Some months down the line she meets with an accident and delivers a premature baby. In her interest, the father forges her signaure and puts the baby up for adoption, while telling her that he didn’t survive.
Rating: 2/5
Keri Russell in August Rush
Eleven years pass and we find Evans in a shelter for homeless children. Meanwhile Lewis has split from the band and taken up a job in finance in San Francisco, forgetting about his music. Lyla becomes a music teacher in search of her lost music and soul. Evans runs away from the shelter into the hands of a Wizard played by Robin Williams. He hears music in the mundane sounds of everyday life and Wizard recognizes his latent musical potential and names him August Rush. August meanwhile harbors hopes of meeting his parents, though he has no idea of who they are.
Jonathan Rhys Meyers in August Rush
Meanwhile Lyla’s father owns up to his misdeed and a distraught Lyla starts searching for her lost son. She finds solace in her cello and starts playing again. Lewis too contacts his former band members and teams up with them once again with his soul-stirring Lyla inspired song. Lyla decides to play at a concert in Central Park where coincidentally Lewis and his band will be performing once again. And as fate would conspire the two lovers meet again in Central Park.
Robin Williams in August Rush
August has to contend with Wizard who has him under his spell and convinces him that no one else will care for him better. All along Wizard wants to earn money by exploiting the musical talent of August. However August runs away and lands up in a church wher he secretly plays the organ. But soon he is discovered and lands up in a proper music school. He is to perform soon at Central Park, conducting an orchestra that will play his original symphony. So finally the parents and their lost son meet in Central Park and music gives this movie a fairytale ending.
Freddie Highmore in August Rush
Freddie Highmore as August Rush plays the lost kid perfectly and gives a moving performance displaying a range of emotions from happiness to dismay. Russell renders a touching act as the yearning mother and emotes fabulously with her eyes. She is very talented and charming. Kirsten Sheridan directs August Rush based on a screenplay written by Nick Castle and James V. Hart. She succeeds in creating a surreal and dreamy ambience in this modern day fairytale of chance encounters and fortuitous circumstances. There are songs a plenty in this musical but only the gospel songs stand out.
August Rush is overall worth a watch as it restores your faith in fate.
Rating: 2/5
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