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The Student News Site of Stony Brook University

The Statesman

The Student News Site of Stony Brook University

The Statesman

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    August Rush

    The world is alive with music. It is in everything from the softest wind to a screaming jack hammer. And Evan Taylor/ August Rush can hear it all. His gift came from his parents: two talented musicians who met at a party by Washington Square Park and had a romantic one night stand.

    Lyla, played by Keri Russell, was a concert cellist for the New York Philharmonic and Louis, played by Johnathan Rhys-Meyers, was the lead vocalist and guitarist for an Irish rock band. In the morning, they agreed to meet again but she was prevented from doing so by her controlling father. Although Louis’ only reminder of that night was perfect picture of them asleep, Lyla wound up pregnant. The baby was illegally put up for adoption by her father and she didn’t find out the truth for over a decade.

    Their son Evan, played by Freddie Highmore, makes his way to New York city from an upstate orphanage to find his parents. He is supposed to meet up with a kind social worker, played by Terrence Howard, but misses him and ends up in the unfortunate care and crowd of Wizard, played by Robin Williams. It is he who give Evan his street performer name of August Rush and tries to take advantage of the boy’s talent for high profit.

    Evan/August is looking for his mother and father. Lyla is looking for her son. The social worker is helping Lyla. And Louis is looking for Lyla, not knowing he has a son looking for him. All of the characters are connected by fate — whatever mistakes made and bad timing leads to something good.

    However, in one case the switch is so fast there is barely any time to properly adjust your emotion from anger and anxiety to happiness. The film is filled with these bittersweet moments. The hardest of all to accept is the open ending; for the most anticipated scene stops just short of cliche but leaves disappointment. Louis is left in the dark on two important issues and it is up to the audience to imagine what happens next.

    All of the actors gave great performances. The cinematography paralleled the musical movement, especially the opening scene. And the lighting couldn’t have been better by contrasting the stage lights of Lincoln Center versus Irving Plaza, the moonlight, and the grey skies of NYC.

    The film’s soundtrack is supposed to reflect the combination of two different styles. The music for which Lyla and Louis’ separate performances were juxtaposed was done right. Wizard’s guitar and harmonica “Moondance” was nicely different. The diverse sounds of NYC had a good rhythm.

    Not only is Evan/August the product of two talents, he is a prodigy without formal training. His short time at Julliard is even too simple and his compositions are so advanced they have been chosen to be performed for the school’s annual concert in Central Park.

    “August’s Rhapsody” also reflected his parents and his time in the city by including unusual instruments and different sounds. Other pieces went unnoticed for not making the same impression as those above.

    As a whole, “August Rush” is worth seeing but the details leave the storyline with problems that are not ironed out.

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