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*** Official AUGUST RUSH Review Thread
Look, if you've seen the previews for "August Rush", then you probably won't be too surprised by the ending, but a film like this is more about the journey than the destination. It features the story of "August Rush", a child musical prodigy, who just wants to find his parents after being left at a boy's home at birth. I didn't much enjoy the film's first half as it lays down the events that lead to the improbable convergence of father, mother and child via music, but when the film is about the music, it hits on all cylinders, and soars to a nice finish. If you've ever doubted the power of music in films, I would be hard-pressed to believe that viewers don't fight back tears as the ending unfolds. If you're still dried-eyed at the end, you're emotionally deaf, or I'm becoming a big ol' softie in my advancing years. Is it manipulative, of course, but it earns most of the sentiment, and the use of music as a homing beacom for a separated family is both sublime and earned.
Freddie Highmore (August/Evan) heads a good cast, along with Keri Russell (mom), Jonathan Rhys Meyers (dad), Robin Williams (manager), Terrance Howard (social worker). Highmore has this way of accessing the emotional markers in any of his scenes, even though August is a bit naive to the ways of the world, but doesn't let it get in the ways of his dreams.
I give it 2.75 stars, or a grade of B-.
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There were some nice scenes (like the guitar duet) but man, was Robin Williams annoying.
