Forget Mozart - there's a new child prodigy in town.
In August Rush, Evan is a musically gifted adolescent searching for his parents, a privileged cellist (Russell) and a free-spirited rock musician (Rhys Meyers). Along the way, Evan encounters Wizard (Robin Williams), a Fagin-type character who seizes the commercial cache of such a young genius and dubs the boy August Rush.
Each actor's performance capitalizes on the emotional impact of the plotline. Russell and Rhys Meyers have mastered the contemplative look of sorrow and love lost, while Highmore has the ability to charm with just one smile. Although young, he can hold his own against his more accomplished co-stars.
Considering the movie is about music, the score is, thankfully, beautiful, and several sequences do cleverly make orchestrations out of everyday noises. As the film's tagline proclaims, "The music is everywhere. All you have to do is listen."
August Rush is a sappy, tear-inducing journey, but its sentimentality is also what makes this modern-day fairytale so appealing. While other movies at the box office deal with war or crude humor, Rush returns the heart to filmmaking. Certain elements of the story are definitely implausible (it is doubtful that even prodigies can compose an entire orchestral piece within less than six months of learning any music theory), but ultimately, August Rush makes for one sweet and satisfying holiday release.
