August Rush (2007)

This is a story of a music prodigy named Evan. Lyla (Keri Russell) a renowned and beautiful cellist and Louis (Johnathan Rhys Myers) a bass player in club meet at a party and fall in love on a beautiful night under the stars. Hilarity esues as circustances keep them apart. Lyla has an accident and thinks she loses the baby but Lyla's father gives the baby to an orphanage without telling her for the sake of her career. Both Louis and Lyla give up their music career. Eleven years later, poor little Evan (Freddie Highmore) believes that their parents are waiting for him and goes to New York to find them. In New York, his music gift leads him to success but also gives him some trouble. A monger (Robin Williams) uses Evan to make money by playing on the sidewalk and working for handouts. Meanwhile, Lyla's father tells her the truth and Lyla heads to New York to find Evan. Lious decides to find Lyla and eventaully makes it to New York. Evan eventaully is given a chance to study at Julliard and he is granted an opportunity to play his music in the central park in front of thousands of people. Evan, going by the name of August Rush is the headliner. The beginning act is a guest cellist named Lyla Novacek.

Trivia: James Morrison was offered the part of Louis Connelly and turned it down to concentrate on his music. Liv Tyler and Claire Danes were each considered for the role of Lyla Novacek before Keri Russell was cast. Robin Williams' performance as "Wizard" was reportedly inspired by rock star Bono.

Over all it was a good movie but I do have some issues with it. I know he is a prodigy and all but you would think that living in a boys home for 11 years would have prepared him at least a little for a life on the streets. Also Freddie Highmore seems to sleepwalk through this movie. He's just there, nothing special. The music is great all around and is what made it a good movie. I love the way Evan heard music everywhere in life and his guitar solos were totally awesome. It has gotten to the point in recent years where I am really skeptical about a movie that has Robin Williams in it. He isn't the same as he used to be like in Dead Poet's Society and Good Morning Vietnam. He seems to be at his best playing serious characters that have a lot of humor in them. I hope I am not letting the cat out of the back now but Keri Russell is beautiful.