August Rush is an enchanting upbeat tale about a young boy who is separated from his parents at birth and his arduous search to be reunited with them.
The opening scene is a stunner.
The young lad stands in a cornfield captivated by the sighs and whispers of the wind as it rustles gloriously through the reeds all around him.
The filmmakers quickly establish that the boy has a sixth sense when it comes to sound (no doubt) inherited by virtue of the fact both his parents are musical geniuses.
In a moment of crisis, he flees from an orphanage, only to find himself stumbling along the dirty mean streets of the big bad city with no particular place to go.
Suddenly, in a flash of inspiration, he bolts up onto a concrete cinder block and begins to orchestrate the harsh incongruous sounds of the city's bustle - blaring car horns, the jarring smacks of a rusty jackhammer, the disgruntled wheezings of an old dumptruck lumbering by - into a captivating new-age symphony that resonates with amazing grace and integrity.
The celluloid moment is an inspiring, touching one, that elevates!
Within a few hours, the boy-wonder strikes up a friendship with a street-wise musician; then, with the boy's jazzy guitar in hand, explores his marvelous creative gift for the first time in a controlled musical environment.
To the wonder of passers-by, the sounds he conjures up are not only lively and toe-tapping, but remarkably distinctive.
When he journies back to a run-down building with his new-found friend - he encounters an edgy street type (Robin Williams) - who hastens to take the musical whiz under his wing.
The man not only understands the gift, but astutely perceives a rare talent he can tap into for ready cash and instant fame, if nurtured right.With great gusto, he crowns the young urchin with a catchy stage name.
August Rush.
In one of few tender moments between the two - the Williams' character enchants the lad with lofty ideas about the mysterious "hum of the universe" (an angelic sound) he alleges emanates from the galactic heavens - capable of touching and invoking magical possiblities given the chance.
When August is mistreated by the seasoned pro, he bolts.
At a church shelter, an introduction to the organ, uncovers his God-given gift.
"Yes, he's a child prodigy," the Minister enthuses!
Of course, it's evident at this juncture that the screenwriters of "August Rush" have lifted some ideas from other sources.
For example - the "hum" of the Universe is the "innaudible life stream" that mystics in the east have turned a captive ear to for centuries, the Williams' character is straight out of "Dickens", and the prodigy angle - well, it smacks of Amadeus - yes, Mozart.
Here, the snatches of each are revamped cleverly.
In fact, each idea has been woven into the fabric of a spell-binding magical tale, that uplifts.
But, is not immune from the tendency to get a bit mushy and sentimental, at times.Freddie Highmore (August Rush) is outstanding in the role; each magical moment on screen resonates in a truthful honest way that warms the heart.
Jonathan Rhys Meyers is okay as Louis - but clearly - has wasted his talent on an emotional piece of pap for a stab at mainstream roles.
Keri Russell inhabits the role of the Mother a little too steadfastly, though; her performance - while engaging for the most part - tends to strain a little at the edges to her disadvantage.
For those who lean towards - optimism, hold true to the concepts of synchronicity, and romanticize that destinies are often fulfilled according to a cosmic plan - August Rush will not disappoint.
By the way, take a box of tissues.
Yes, at times, the musical is a tear-jerker to reckon with.
