Movie Review: August Rush
Basic premise here is concert cellist with domineering father has one night stand with Irish guitar player and lead singer in a band. It’s love at first site. Girl’s father presses her on, lovers miss each other at rendesvous point, girl is pregnant, has child, father tells her still born, child winds up in orphanage for 11 years and “hears the music in the universe.” Child runs away from orphanage, hooks up with Oliver Twist-like street musician, can play any instrument on cue, continues to wander around, winds up as child prodigy at Julliard, and writes rhapsody to be performed at annual concert in the park. Mother finds out, starts searching for child, winds up as guest cellist at same annual concert. Father’s current girlfriend leaves him, he reunites with brothers and they crank their band back up, he winds up also in New York while searching for lost love. You get the picture to the ending. One of those “Ultimate Gift” happy endings. Nonetheless, worth the price of admission. In the beginning, you wonder if this kid is a few cards short of a full deck – maybe autistic or idiot savant. Well, he winds up just being gifted and a little bit naive for today’s 12 yr olds. Jonathan Rhys-Myers does a great job as the Irish musician a la the same brooding shown as King Henry in the Tudors. Freddie Highmore does a great job as the run away prodigy looking for parents. Although in the final scenes when conducting his Rhapsody, one would expect him to be a little more in musical beat rather than looking like a flapping penguin. Obviously a bad bit of dubbing. Robin Williams is the Oliver Twist Fagin and although good hearted at times is typically mercenary, and typically overacted. He is the character you love to hate and cheer when he gets bashed with a guitar. Keri Russell plays the cellist mom and does a good job. She is the new Meryl Streep looking frazzled and like she is going to burst into tears every time the camera shows her. She could have done something with her hair other than just sticking her finger in a lamp socket. Anyway once you cut through the schmultz, the movie has its moments and if you are truly moved by the power of music, then this movie will speak to you. EW gave it a D+, I would give it a C, and it is certainly better than watching stale reruns on TV. Don’t buy any concessions and you will then feel better about the price of admissions.