Johnson Thomas

August Rush
Cast: Freddie Highmore, Keri Russell,
Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Robin Williams,
Terrence Howard, Leon G. Thomas III, Jamia
Simone Nash, William Sadler
Director: Kirsten Sheridan
Rating: ★½

In this lack-a-daisical ode to Valentine, fate, mystical magical realism, manipulative narration and loop-hole ridden scripting contrive to bring three people together.

Lyla (Keri Russell), a solist musician in a Philharmonic orchestra meets up with Louis (Jonathan Rhys Meters) a singer cum guitarist in a rock band and director Kirsten Sheridan and scriptwriters Nick Castle and James Hart force them into having a magical night of love.

This results in the birth of August (Freddie Highmore) who is subsequently given up for adoption because the two lovers were forced to part. The rest of the film revolves around August’s travails while attempting to forge a connection with his parents by means of some prodigious music.

The film, loosely based on Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist, really has nothing credible to show for such illustrious connection. The scripting is excessively loose with gaps in the story—the size of craters on the moon, and forced plotting of events, obviously manipulated to suit the eventual outcome of happily ever after.

The film has a line-up of absurd events, lacking in logical flow and seemingly ludicrous. The plotting is unimaginative, the accents and dialogues sound terrible and the performances lack suitable expression.

The orchestral music is the only silver lining in this tedium inducing drama though it’s also a distinct possibility that the sugary sweet tone employed, might also be of interest to some.