Movie Review: August Rush by ME

Title: August Rush
Starring: Freddie Highmore, Robin Williams, Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Terrence Howard
Directed By: Kirsten Sheridan
Produced By: Ralph Kamp, Louise Goodsill, Robert Greenhut
Genre: Comedy and Musical/Performing Arts
Release Date: November 21st, 2007 (wide)
MPAA Rating: PG for some thematic elements, mild violence and language.
Distributors: Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution

Convinced that music is the key to finding his parents (Keri Russell and Jonathan Rhys Meyers), 11 year old Evan (Freddie Highmore) leaves the orphanage and ventures out into the world. He discovers an awe inspiring talent for music within himself that he uses to help his parents find him. Along the way he meets people who wish to help him find his way, those who wish to exploit his musical talent for their own gains, and some who just want to help him realize his full musical potential.

August Rush could almost be considered a fairy tale. You have the little boy searching for his lost parents using an almost magical talent, the mother, all in white searching for her lost son, the father looking for his long lost love, the helpful fairy (Terrence Howard's character), and the bad guy trying to keep August and his talent all to himself.

Being a musician myself, I seem to have an affinity for movies about musicians. Especially films that portray music in a new and interesting way. August Rush is one of those films. Taking environmental noise and creating music from city sounds like traffic, footsteps and cars to show how a prodigy can find music in everyday sounds is expressed very well. Relatively new Director Kirsten Sheridan knows how to pull the heartstrings, only falling into the sappy section once or twice.

Freddie Highmore, Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers , Terence Howard and Robin Williams are all on the ball here. Highmore exudes such joy at making music that every time he played, I couldn't help but smile. Russell and Rhys Meyers seem to be a big part of the story without really being a big part of the story. It's all about Highmore, not even Robin Williams, who by the way looks like he raided Bono's garbage for his wardrobe, can't even outshine him. Williams himself continues his streak of playing roles that are a little different for him. His turn as Wizard is a blend of all of his talent, humor and drama with a little craziness thrown in for good measure. Terrence Howard's part, although small, gives him another opportunity to prove that he will be a big name in the future. The first time he meets Evan/August, you can see in his eyes how much he cares.

The look and feel of the film are appropriate for each part of the story. You have a slightly gritty feel for rock and roller, a lighter feel when telling Lyla's side of the story and the best example is Wizards condemned theater, home to a group of children that he trains musically to panhandle. That set looks remarkably like the Lost Boys village in Hook, coincidently starring Robin Williams as well. Speaking of coincidences, there are way too many in the film, everybody crosses paths in there journeys or just misses them, which gets overused and seems a little hokey at times.

August Rush may be predictable, but the music, cast and emotion make up for the predictability and the sometimes ridiculous coincidences that pepper the film. This movie will appeal to a wide audience, from music aficionados to kids, romantics to couples and anybody who just wants to feel good. I highly recommend August Rush to the masses.

8 out of 10

Official Site - www.augustrushmovie.warnerbros.com

Until Robin wins a Bono look alike contest,
keep reading

Mitch Emerson
mitchemerson@hotmail.com

DVD Review: Stranger Than Fiction by CD

Title: Stranger Than Fiction
Starring: Will Ferrell, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Queen Latifah, Emma Thompson, Dustin Hoffman
Directed By: Marc Forster
Produced By: Nathan Kahane, Joe Drake, Eric Kopeloff
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance and Science Fiction/Fantasy
Release Date: November 10th, 2006
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some disturbing images, sexuality, brief language and nudity.
Distributors: Sony Pictures Releasing, Mandate Pictures, Sony Pictures International



One morning, a seemingly average and generally solitary I.R.S. agent named Harold Crick begins to hear a female voice narrating his every action, thought and feeling in alarmingly precise detail. Harold's carefully controlled life is turned upside down by this narration only he can hear, and when the voice declares that Harold Crick is facing imminent death, he realizes he must find out who is writing his story and persuade her to change the ending.-Yahoo Movies


Let me first start off by saying I am not a Will Ferrell fan. I think 90% of his work is pure and total crap. He just isn't funny, I think he tries way to hard and forces the comedy. That being said, I really enjoyed this film. It was nice to see him not going over the top. He plays Harold Crick brilliantly, the seemingly solemn but rather complacent cubicle captive.

Harold lives his hum drum life by the numbers, and I mean that quite literally. Right down to how many brush strokes while cleaning his teeth. He very well could be the poster child for O.C.D., but that all changes once he starts hearing a voice narrating his life. Due to the stress from hearing this voice, Harold begins acting out of the norm and is given a puff case to investigate. Personally I would welcome some narration, especially if it led me to meeting Maggie Gyllenhaal.

Emma Thompson plays neurotic writer Kay Eiffel beautifully, the strung out yet still witty creative genius is a hard act to pull off convincingly. Her and Queen Latifah play offer each other very well. Some of the funnier moments are dead panned by these two very talented ladies. Also a quick little fun fact about Emma Thompson, she started as a stand up comic.

Dustin Hoffman plays Dr. Jules Hilbert who Harold goes to in order to try and get a grasp on what is happening to him. Dr. Hilbert is an English professor and has a great understanding of writing and writers, he tells Harold to pay close attention to the details of his life and to those described by his narrator. If he does he just may figure out why he has to die.

This story was a great concept. As a writer myself I felt drawn to this film, my only apprehension was Ferrell. I am glad I was wrong. I have been trying to think since last night, who could have played Crick better and have yet to come up with anyone. I also really enjoyed the open sequence where the Narrator is explain Harold's existence to the viewers. It kind of reminded me of the scenes in Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy when the book was talking. I love movies where you can clearly see the character growth. At the beginning of the film we see Harold as meek and kinda trapped in his own existence, then as the film progresses we see him breaking out of his routines and become more spontaneous and enjoying the new him.

The look of this movie is very different from any other film out there. This is mainly due to the use of G.U.I. (pronounced goo-E), it stands for Graphic User Interface. It is how Harold sees his world, and it really shows the extent of his obsessiveness. From counting the steps it takes to get to the bus stop to plotting out the trajectory of him sliding a coffee cup. The use of this element brings a better understanding of Harold to the viewers.

Special features on this disc, making of featurettes. Two deleted/extended scenes. Nothing all that spectacular, with exception of the “making of” on the G.U.I. Which I found pretty interesting. No commentaries on this film which is a bit odd, but hell I hardly ever listen to it anyways.

Best Lines
Kay Eiffel [narrating] This is a story about a man named Harold Crick and his wristwatch.

Penny Escher: And I suppose you smoked all these cigarettes?
Kay Eiffel: No, they came pre-smoked.

Kay Eiffel: I went out... to buy cigarettes and I figured out how to kill Harold Crick.
Penny Escher: Buying cigarettes?
Kay Eiffel: As I was... when I came out of the store I... it came to me.
Penny Escher: How?
Kay Eiffel: Well, Penny, like anything worth writing, it came inexplicably and without method.

Dr. Jules Hilbert: Aren't you relieved to know that you're not a golem?
Harold Crick: Yes. I am relieved to know that I am not a golem.

Penny Escher: [Seeing Eiffel smoking a lot of cigarettes] You know there's something called a patch.
Kay Eiffel: I don't need a patch. I smoke cigarettes.

Dr. Jules Hilbert: Hell Harold, you could just eat nothing but pancakes if you wanted.
Harold Crick: What is wrong with you? Hey, I don't want to eat nothing but pancakes, I want to live! I mean, who in their right mind, in a choice between pancakes and living.... chooses pancakes?
Dr. Jules Hilbert: Harold, if you pause to think, you'd realize that that answer is inextricably contingent upon the type of life being led... and, of course, the quality of the pancakes.


It's been Odd
Crobertdunham@yahoo.com