"August Rush" is about an orphaned boy (Freddie Highmore) who is a musical genius and tries to find his separated parents (Louis and Lila) through the power of music. He believes his keen sense of music will lead him to his parents, who are both skilled musicians. (Musical talent is apparently genetic.)In a prologue, Louis (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), a rocker vocalist, meets Lila (Keri Russell), a Juillard cellist, and they fall in love over a single night. Louis and Lila become separated, but Louis doesn't know that Lila is pregnant and the baby is given to an orphanage without Lila's knowledge by her manipulative father.
August, now almost 11, escapes from his orphanage (after meeting a social worker played by Terrence Howard) and ventures into New York City to find his parents. By using his musical talent, he hopes to reunite with his parents which is his life long dream.
The film has as its basis that being talented (read: good) will bring about good things: the reconciliation with your parents, their rekindled love for each other, the meritocracy of genius. The problem is, the film wants you to be so taken by August that it never sets any obstacles for him. For example, he arrives in New York City and immediately finds shelter and food. His musical talent is never disputed. While many in life see success as a hard climb up, his ascension to fame and glory is an elevator ride, all doe-eyed to the top. To make sure you love August and root for him, the film spends a good time on demonstrating his musical talents. He rocks out to a guitar, even though he's never touched one before. He writes arias minutes (complete with ties and sixteenth rests) after learning the common acronym FACE used for the bottom space notes on sheet music. He succeeds so quickly that it becomes a checklist: escape orphanage, find refuge, learn piano, go to Juillard, write a masterpiece, meet parents.
In following August's journey, poor Lila and Louis are left scrambling to catch up in their stories. Their stories are flat and typical because of two reasons. First, their stories also have no consequences: they leave jobs, they move cities, they change their whole lives - and none of it matters. The world doesn't actually exist in August Rush, just backdrops. Second, they're looking for different things. She is looking for her son. He is looking for her. (Louis never knowing that he has a son until the final frame is a glaring error) Because they actually aren't looking for each other, the story partly fizzles. If only they had found each other first, then went on to look for the son, that would have been powerful. Also, their love is pretty flimsy to begin with since it only went over one night (even Romeo and Juliet gave it a couple of meetings - and they killed themselves). But I have a feeling the story pans out this way because it avoids conflict (how does Louis feel about a son he never knew about? is he still mad that she left him? will they still like each other after a decade?) and the writers want to avoid conflict at all costs. (This is what makes this film a gross feel-good film: a Pizza Pop.)
It's the kind of emotional dullness in the film that is most surprising. It only wants you to feel-good, but it forgets that sometimes the happiest moments come from the saddest moments because we can appreciate them. And the film even misses the happiest moments. The film ends with both parents looking up at their exalted son (wait, is this some kind of Bible thing I don't get?) and then the film fades to black. WHAT? They don't even hug or kiss or play music together? They just stare at each other? Where is the catharsis?. I want to see family stuff. Why did I spend almost two hours if they don't even have a meal together or something?
The actors pull off their roles with dignity, although I wish they were in a better film. They will, likely, be in a successful film though. Although "August Rush" is completely implausible and ridiculous, it's bound to be a hit because it tugs so hard at the heartstrings.
"Lars and the Real Girl" later. And why they are similar.
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