CriticSociety- film reviews

Review

August Rush

Director

Kristen Sheridan

Year

2007

Rating

Reviewed by

José Ruiloba a.k.a. Morris

Review date

Monday, March 24, 2008

I went into August Rush expecting it to be this year’s inspirational underdog movie that comes out once in a while and knocks your socks off. Unfortunately though, it doesn’t live up to expectations at all. It’s quirky and hard to identify with, and even though I support edgy and original material this flick doesn’t even stand that well on its own terms.

Evan Taylor (Freddie Highmore) was born out of a romantic one night encounter between a promising cellist, Lyla Novacek (Keri Russell), and the lead of a rock band, Louis Connelly (Jonathan Rhys Meyers). But Lyla’s father, Thomas (William Sadler) fooled her into thinking his son died at birth and Evan was sent to an orphanage. Dreaming of finding his parents he escapes and ends up in New York, where he works for a child exploiter known as the Wizard (Robin Williams). As it happens, Evan is a musical prodigy and he soon finds himself working under the name of August Rush, something that makes it more complicated for child’s care official Richard Jeffries (Terrence Howard) to find him.

Kirsten Sheridan directed from a screenplay by Nick Castle and James V. Hart. The main problem with their work is that it suffers from a case of “the weirdness”. The movie opens with a narration from Evan detailing how he can find music in everything he hears; ok, nice concept, fair enough. But then he goes all “if I play enough music my parents will listen and find me”. Innocent lad, ok. But guess what? He was right! So this is a fantasy, ok, I can go with it. And then comes the wacko who wants to profit from August and it’s all pretty bleak and disturbing. Even August’s parents come off as strange folk, although it’s hard not to identify with Lyla’s ordeal; she’s the only character for which I felt anything.

The third act involves August and his parents eventually coming closer and closer together. We all know how the thing’s going to end since the very first scene, but the movie is certainly affecting when it comes to its finale (that’s how it earned the half-star in my grade). An amazing series of coincidences are necessary for it to work, but the suspension of disbelief had kicked in long before so it isn’t that bothersome. Unfortunately when it comes to the very last sequence the movie was screaming for an over-the-top melodramatic encounter filled with slow-mo shots and a big hug. Forget about it, there’s nothing of the sort and even though we are lifted the payoff simply doesn’t deliver; a pity.

Music plays an important role in the movie, as you might imagine, so it’s also a shame that it isn’t memorable. It’s all good enough, whether it’s Louis singing or August playing, but nothing really stands out and I can’t remember a single tune. Mark Mancina’s score is adequate, although nothing to write home about.

Freddie Highmore, a child actor I have always found to be naturally talented, actually disappointed me this time around. He is completely stiff, with no trace of spontaneity and a lot of forced moments. Keri Russell is excellent, the one true standout. And Jonathan Rhys Meyers is also good, although he’s a bit too edgy for this kind of role; it was hard to detach the actor from the character. Terrence Howard is wasted and doesn’t really have anything to do, while Robin Williams is plain weird. I don’t know about you, but the last years I can’t even stand to look at him, that’s how bad it’s gotten.

“The music is all around you, all you have to do is listen.”

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