By Hannah Gill
If you have retained that childhood appreciation for impossible visionary tales, “August Rush” may cause a relapse into those days of wonderment and escape.Despite the obvious impracticalities of the film, director Kirsten Sheridan’s thematic use of music keeps those eye-rolling moments under wraps. This modern fairy tale begins with a chance encounter in New York City between Irish rocker Louis Connelly (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) and the young sheltered cellist Lyla Novacek (Keri Russell). Fate separates the two young lovers and eventually orphans their son, August Rush (Freddie Highmore). Not touching an instrument until age 11, August hears music in everything and feels that it is what connects him to his parents. Running away to New York City, August discovers his skills as a musical prodigy and hopes that his gift will unite his family.Actor Freddie Highmore, who starred in 2004’s “Finding Neverland” and later in “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” gives a sincere portrayal of the young August. His charismatic and optimistic character parallels that of “Annie,” his musical talents are showcased playing the guitar rather than floor-scrubbing numbers. Robin Williams also makes a notable bad-guy appearance as “The Wizard,” a money grubbing musician who houses young talents with the hopes of bartering them for his own benefit.Acting aside, the film does have its “yeah, right” moments, like when August begins composing unbelievable music 30 minutes after first touching a piano. However, one can’t help but to get carried away with the imagination of the film. Sheridan does a remarkable job visualizing the music that August hears in the wind, power lines, even traffic, by amplifying the world as everyone else sees it. Falling neither in the chick-flick nor in the young fantasy category, this film may not satisfy the pallet of some moviegoers. Keeping in mind that movies are not meant to be restricted by reality, the beautifully shot scenes and child-like imagination of “August Rush” make it a great film for the kid in all of us.
