August Rush

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Listening to the impressionistic universe, 2009-01-09
This is a different sort of movie for me. I tend to prefer movies with great dialogue and watertight plots - and this movie, although it has some important dialogue, is also significant for the dialogue that it leaves out. It also has a plot that is so surrealistic that it requires suspension of belief. And the montages, as everyone is rushing towards the concert in Central Park, are beautiful but I can't help asking things like, "How did Mr. Jeffries get there in time? Where was August's tuxedo?" br / br /It was also interesting to watch the scenes which were deleted. They contained talk and exposition - but the movie is a fairytale which requires faith rather than logic. Another missing scene (not one of the deleted) why didn't Lyla, Louis and August say anything to each other at the end? The answer was that words were insufficient - music and video had to capture what could not be expressed in words. br / br /I recommend that watchers put aside their attachment to wit and logical consistency and pay attention to what works in the film. The film has the interesting premise that the universe is connected to each other through sound and music. (I think it might be connected on other dimensions as well.) We just need to listen, and we might become aware. br / br /And, if you watch the movie carefully, you will pick up certain gems. For example, it is Wiz playing down below when Lyla and Louis spend their only night together. The expressiveness of the faces of the actors who play Louis and August are absolutley fabulous. The one real musician - the girl who plays Hope - makes our spirits soar when she sings. br / br /Appreciating this film requires a different approach. It's like having to stand back when looking at paintings by Monet and Renoir. It's not the same as appreciating the work of a photographer - but the film is beautiful and can give you a rewarding and illuminating experience. br /

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#1 movie !!!!, 2009-01-07
This is one of the best movies I've ever seen. br /The music is incredible !!!!!!!!!!!

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

Quite possibly the worst movie I've ever seen, 2009-01-03
So, so bad. Sort of a "Oliver Twist" - boy deprived of his rightful destiny, in this case musical genius; and his misadventures while "following the music". The film had so many plot holes that made it absolutely impossible to buy into the story. I never believed from the get go that the two musicians fell in love, that they could never have found each other earlier, that a baby could be born and given to an orphanage without the mother's consent or even knowing what really happended, etc. etc. br /The dialouge was insipid and contrived; the dialouge during the scene where the two musicians have their once in life time one night stand;actually made me cringe it was so melodramatic and stupid. br /This movie is quite possibly the worst movie I've ever seen because of it's pretentiousness while it actually insults the intelligence of its audience.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

Completely Unbelievable!, 2009-01-02
We rented this movie after my sister said it was her favorite movie of '08. I found it completely unrealistic. I wonder if anyone really musical was involved in creating the storyline of this movie. br /One major flaw was Lyla's special invitation to be a featured performer after 11 years of not really playing the cello. Is there a Julliard graduate out there who can confirm that after such a long lapse in practicing, there is any way that Lyla can brush up in (what appeared to be) a week, and give a stunning performance to a discerning audience? br /Another impossibility is Evan/August's theory progress in one day. It doesn't matter how amazing your genes are, you will not be writing 16th notes and more in your first day of composing if you've only been introduced to basic quarter notes in a beginner piano book. How absurd! And speaking of genes, although his parents were gifted musicians, Evan had ZERO exposure to music except in-utero and out in nature(??) until he was 11. A musical prodigy may have musical genes, but is also heavily exposed to music. Mozart began playing the harpsichord at age 3 and didn't begin composing until about 6. He did not hop on the piano the first day and compose. br /Just two examples of many absurdities. Perhaps the greatest is the idea of two people pining after each other for 11 years after a one-night-stand. Is this really "great for the whole family?" I found myself relating to Lyla's dad (being protective after the party-not forging signatures and lying), who was made out to be a villain in the movie. br /I do think the boy did a great job acting.

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This movie is wonderful, 2008-12-29
I love this film. It's so good. It's a fairy tale story and a beautiful one and a musical one. It's about a little boy named August Rush who dreams of finding his parents. He's an orphan but he runs away from where he lives in order to find them. He ends up in New York City, my favorite city in the whole world. He meets a colored boy named Arthur who becomes his friend. They both run off to a building where homeless children live who play music for a man named Wizard a creepy guy played by Robin Williams. Wizard thinks August is very talented and decides to use him for that purpose. August is amazing at music, he is gifted. He can play guiatar and piano and hears music through the wind and sky and to him it's like life itself. He believes in music the way some people believe in fairy tales. August finds himself in Julliard after running into a local priest of a church who discovers his talent. August goes to Julliard and because of his talent is able to help the students there and become one himself. August's parents were Lela and Johanthan Rhys Meyers who is so hot and handsome and a good actor and perfect for this role. His parents are both musicans who play music. His father is a hot Irish guy in a band and his mother went to Julliard and plays the harp. They both meet one night at a party, sleep together and fall in love. She runs away the next day and he never sees her again. She gets pregant and into a accident and then her father thinking of what's best for her gives the baby away. She doesn't know he's still alive. 11 years later, she finds out what her father did and is not amused. She tries to find her son again and goes to a smypanthic social worker who tries to help her. His father meanwhile his living in San Fransocio and gets back together with his band and goes looking for Lila again because he feels he must find her. His father goes back to New York City, where he meets his son at a park playing guitar. Jonthan and Freddie Highmore are amazing in this one scene and they don't even know they're father and son. Jonathan Phys Meyers hontesly deserves an Oscar for this scene. It's so beautiful and well-done and he has such great chemsitry with Freddie. He tells Freddie never to give up on his music, and that he didn't and look what happened to him. Freddie listens and tells him he has a concert tonight in Central Park because he goes to Julliard and Jonathan tells him that if he had a concert tonight he wouldn't miss it. He tells Freddie that music is the one place you can escape to when you feel that nothing makes sense. He trades guitars with Freddie and plays with him. It's a really wonderful scene. The scenery is beautiful, Jonathan Rhys Meyers is a hunk and handsome as hell and Freddie Highmore is an amazing actor and divine and is a handsome young man himself. Freddie has to run away from the evil Wizard though in order to find his parents and play in the concert that night. The evil bastard tells Freddie that his parents are dead and that he'll never see them again. Freddie ignores him and runs away. He goes to the concert and plays there, with both his parents watching him under a moon-lit sky and stars are hanging above and it's in the moonlight. It's a beautiful, emotional and wonderful movie and it's amazing film. Anyone who says it's clichie or cheesy or corny is wrong and a fool because this movie is the best I've ever seen and the best film of 2007. I love this movie. it changed my life and I'm happy I watched it and took the time to really understand and enjoy it. It's very wholesome and a wonderful film about love and hope. I recemond this movie to anyone. And Jonathan Rhys Meyers plays the best character in the whole movie and so does his brother. His brother is amazing actor and the guy who plays him is amazing. And he's HOT!!! And Keri Russel is good too and a beautiful and talented actress. And Robin Williams is fantasic and a decent actor but his character is a loser and don't you forget it.