Try to imagine a world where musical notes and songs can carry a deeper and more meaningful message than the images you see every day. If you can imagine that, you might be better equipped to understand the moving message of the film “August Rush.” Directed by Kristen Sheridan, “August Rush” imagines a tale that is told through the sounds of our world rather than its sights. That may be a hard thing to do when dealing with a predominantly visual medium like film.
“The music is all around you, all you have to do is listen.” This is the claim made by the title character, “August Rush,” played by the young and talented Freddie Highmore. Orphaned at birth, August believes his parents, two gifted musicians (Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers), are communicating to him through the sounds he hears in the winds. In return, he believes that the only way to find them is with the expression of himself through music. Longing in fairy tale aspirations, August wishes to be reunited with his family in true harmonic connection.
For a movie focused on the narrative techniques of sound, “August Rush” has skillfully mastered the proper way to convey a message through music. On its visual storytelling side, “August Rush” has minor problems in getting the story to keep the audience interested. Young August moves from place to place so fast, that it becomes impossible to understand the importance of some sections of his travels. During the time it spends making itself harder for the audience to enjoy, “August Rush” is still spiritedly working to connect its characters in unique ways.
Tugging and plucking at all the right emotional strings, “August Rush” brilliantly creates emotions through its ingenious use of music. Not many movies can bring its characters together in such creative poetic ways. When “August Rush” stops trying so hard to fill a storyline and lets the music do the talking, it becomes a triumph of imagination and spiritual connectedness. Underneath all the misguided story paths, “August Rush” is a skillfully crafted tear-jerker that proves it is impossible to escape the power of music.
Letter Grade: B
Rated PG for some thematic elements, mild violence and language.
Runtime: 100 min.
Starring Freddie Highmore, Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, and Robin Williams
Directed by Kristen Sheridan
