Creative quotient
August Rush is a musical about the life of a young boy named ‘August’ Evan Taylor (Freddie Highmore) and his search for his lost parents.
The story starts with Lyla Novacek (Keri Russell) who is August’s mother and a brilliant cellist by profession. On a trip after performing a concert in New York City, Lyla meets Louis Connelly (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) at the Washington Square in NY City. An Irish guitar player, Louis’ tunes mesmerise Lyla and the two fall in love. Their love and passion for music binds them together.
Although Lyla promises to meet Louis at the same place, her father takes her away on a trip and the two lovers never meet again. Lyla gives birth to Louis’ child, but her father tells her that her then unborn son, had died in a car accident. August her child, is born with a special gift of hearing music all around him. August Rush, the film is a beautiful musical journey of this young boy whose ‘never say die’ attitude is fuelled by his inherent gift and passion for music.
Technical expertise
Two words that best describe August Rush as a film are ‘feel good’. The film is melodious and innocent enough to remind one of classics like Wizard Of Oz and The Sound Of Music, but the film is also packaged in a wonderful contemporary tale making it a complete entertainer.
The music is the film’s soul and it is incredible to say the least. The songs are mostly original scores made solely for the film and they are just as good as last heard in Jack Black’s School Of Rock.
The acting, direction and writing of the film is par excellence as it satiates all three senses of sight, sound and touch with sheer brilliance.
Rating
August Rush is a must watch. It’s not a piece of intelligent cinema but it is pure vanity encompassed in some great tunes. It deserves three stars, all for its heartwarming music.
