TODAY

“August Rush” wisps you away into the world of music, sound, emotion and truth. I have to say this movie was very different than what I had expected.

The trailer for “August Rush” looks so ridiculously cheesy, I didn’t even want to waste the time watching it, but I was pleasantly surprised.

Lyla (Kerri Russel) and Louie (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) meet at a party, and they are instantly attracted to one another and start talking about music, a common passion between the two. Without wasting any time, after exchanging a maximum of five or 10 sentences, they have a one night stand.

Their demanding lives swept them away from each other, yet both of them clearly feel a sense of yearning once they are separated. This is one part that is ever-so-slightly exaggerated. How much can you really know someone after one wild night that included some small talk about music?

Lyla finds out later that she is pregnant, yet the two are still not in contact with one another. She has a miscarriage and she moves on. What was unknown to Lyla is that the baby survived. The child, “Evan” is played by Freddie Highmore, the adorable kid you might remember from “Finding Neverland” from 2005, also starring Johnny Depp.

At around the age of 12, Evan escapes the adoption center in search of his parents. He goes on a crazy adventure in NYC in a desperate search to find them; he becomes infatuated with learning music, in hopes that it will reunite him and his family. He teaches himself to play instruments and later becomes a musical child prodigy. The plot was something new and different than what has been done before; it focused on music as something that connects all human beings in so many ways.

As far as casting goes, I wouldn’t have changed a thing. I really enjoyed the array and diversity of actors chosen for this film. Louis, the Irish rock/folk singer and guitar player is a truly captivating and interesting character. He is genuinely just a good guy trying to find the right path. He finds himself making changes in his life that just feel right, yet he’s not exactly sure why he is doing them.

Lyla was another story. In the beginning of the film, her acting is a bit fake or rehearsed, yet as the movie progresses, she knocks out some intense scenes, and falls into her character a bit better. Robin William’s character Wizard is the most shocking of the bunch. Williams is the definition of an outstanding actor because he is a chameleon, he adapts to whatever context he is thrown into.

Evan really just captures your heart as you follow him on his amazing journey; he is so innocent and vulnerable, yet always determined and strong.

All of the other major aspects of a good movie are all present. Specifically, the use of sound was very effective. One of the most memorable scenes for me is when Evan first arrives in NYC. He is so hyper and is truly aware of the sound, beats, rhythm and energy; in his mind, he hears the accumulation of these typical city noises, as music.

The soundtrack was pretty impressive, it’s a nice bite-sized sample of several different genres. The cinematography was also consistently good throughout the film. The morning after Lyla and Louis first met, one of Louis’ band mates took a Polaroid picture of them sleeping next to each other, and then sprayed them with champagne.

I really liked how they referred back to this picture throughout the movie, it’s one of those visuals that lingers in your mind, and you remember long after the movie is over.

Kate Jones can be reached at [email protected]