When people sit down to watch a movie, it is right for them to expect certain things out of different genres. Horror movies should make people jump out of their seat. Comedies should bring tears to one’s eyes from laughing so hard. Even romance films should make cynical individuals feel the love between characters. However, when it comes to hunkering down to watch a movie that leaves you with a satisfied and warm feeling,August Rushis the best pick.
Freddie Highmore playsEvan Taylor, a young orphaned boy who cannot help but believe his biological parents are searching for him. Little does he know, his parents have not seen one another since their one-night-stand, but they both feel as if something is missing from their lives. Evan runs away from the orphanage to find his parents, and he meets several interesting characters along the way. From the innocent yet determined love Evan has for his birth parents to the way they all have their own unique musical talent,August Rushis the ultimate feel-good movie that makes any fan want to watch this trio come together.
The Innocence of Children
Though Evan grows up in an orphanage surrounded by other boys who feel angry, hurt, and defeated by their situation, he does not allow their bitterness to affect him. When he tells a social worker that he will find his parents simply by “following the music,” Evan is viewed as naive and out of touch with reality. Evan eventually runs away from the orphanage and goes toNew York Citywith just a gut feeling that he will come across his parents.
During his time in the city, Evan meets a young musician, Arthur, in the park. He finds out that Arthur and a dozen other child musicians live in an abandoned theater under the care of a man who goes by “Wizard” (played by Robin Williams). Evan stays the night in the theater, and in the morning, he begins to play Arthur’s guitar. Wizard and the others crowd around Evan to see that he is hitting the strings and strumming the instrument in an unusual fashion, but he is producing incredible music. Wizard calls him a “prodigy,” and Evan begins playing for money in the park. Unfortunately, Evan’s innocence blinds him from the fact that the man is using his talent for selfish and personal gain.
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Star-Crossed Lovers
Two musicians getting together for a romantic night is not uncommon, but when one is a high-end cellist and the other is a grungy lead singer in an Irish rock band, there is bound to be aRomeo and Julietscenario. When Lyla and Louis first meet on a rooftop, there is no doubt that instant chemistry sparks between the two of them. They sit looking out at the city while a musician below, Wizard, walks the street playing his guitar and harmonica. The two share a night together only to be woken up by Louis' band in the morning. Unfortunately, as allstar-crossed lovers storiesgo, Lyla has to rush away to meet with her father before the two are able to exchange information. She ends up pregnant, and after the baby is born, her father gives the boy up for adoption. However, he tells his daughter that her son died during the birth.
Though the couple is not seen together for most of the film, the feeling that each one is missing something during their time apart is very clear. Lyla longs for her son, and when she finds out he is in fact alive, she becomes just as determined as Evan to reunite. Louis, on the other hand, lost his passion for music after losing Lyla the morning after their time together. Eventually, the two meet again in the audience for Evan’s performance, and without exchanging words, the love they have for one another is emphasized through their son’s song.
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Unique Music Style
Even at the boys' orphanage, Evan knew he had a different connection with music. He can hear a song in the way the wind blows tall grass or even the dozens of sounds happening on the streets of New York City. When it came to playing the guitar and conducting an orchestra, Highmorespoke in an interviewabout how he spent time learning these talents to make it appear real in the film. The very first time Evan picks up a guitar, he is not only a natural, but he has a unique twist when using the instrument. His ability to immediately learn music and pick up on sounds and patterns makes him a prodigy.
When Evan is able to get away from his manipulative caretaker, Wizard, Evan meets a pastor who takes him to Julliard. Evan is immediately enrolled into courses, and he thrives as a student. As a side project, Evan begins to create his own rhapsody which is later chosen to be performed in Central Park. During his piece, Evan’s parents meet in the crowd, and the magic that sparks from the looks on their faces along with his intuition that they are together again brings the film to a perfect close.
