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| |  | DVDs | Home » » August Rush | | | | | | | Description: | | There's music in the wind and sky. Can you hear it? And there's hope. Can you feel it? The boy called August Rush can. The music mysteriously draws him, penniless and alone, to New York City in a quest to find - somehow, someway - the parents separated from him years earlier. And along the way he may also find the musical genius hidden within him. Experience the magic of this rhapsodic epic of the heart starring Freddie Highmore (as August), Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Terrence Howard and Robin Williams. "I believe in music the way some people believe in fairy tales," August says. Open your heart and listen. You'll believe, too. | | | Features: | |
• There?s music in the wind and sky. Can you hear it? And there?s hope. Can you feel it? The boy called August Rush can. The music mysteriously draws him, penniless and alone, to New York City in a quest to find ? somehow, someway ? the parents separated from him years earlier. And along the way he may also find the musical genius hidden within him.Experience the magic of this rhapsodic epic of the
| | | Product Details: | | | Actors:
| Freddie Highmore, Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Robin Williams, Terrence Howard | | Director:
| Kristen Sheridan | | Format:
| AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen | | Language:
| English | | Subtitle:
| English, Spanish, French | | Number of Discs:
| 2 | | Studio:
| Warner Home Video | | Run Time:
| 114 minutes | | DVD Release Date:
| March 11, 2008 | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 415 reviews |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
 ( 415 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
123 of 131 found the following review helpful:
 Music and the Harmony of the Universe: A Film for DreamersMar 20, 2008
By Grady Harp
AUGUST RUSH will not go down in history as a profound film: many will even go so far as to dismiss it as kitsch, maudlin, and a simpleton take off on 'Oliver Twist', and other pejoratives. For this viewer the little film is tender and frequently requires suspension of belief, but in the end the idea of the story does indeed bring a tear to the eye.
Based on a story by Paul Castro and Nick Castle and transformed for the screen by Castle and James V. Hart, the premise is that of a fairytale, but an unusual fairytale built around the impact of music. On one magic night in New York City classical cellist Lyla Novacek (Keri Russell) and popular Irish guitarist/singer Louis Connelly (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) meet on a rooftop, languishing in their own disappointments with life and finding solace in each other's arms, and that night Lyla becomes pregnant, never to see Louis again, and struggling to keep her baby despite her father's demands to abort. Lyla delivers her baby boy, but the child is immediately taken away (Lyla is told the child was stillborn). 'Evan Taylor' AKA August Rush (Freddie Highmore) is placed in an orphanage, longing for parents he believes he can 'hear' in the music of the spheres. Compelled to find his parents he escapes the orphanage after eleven years and is taken in by Faginesque Maxwell 'Wizard' Wallace (Robin Williams) who teaches his street urchins the fine art of pick pocketing and playing music on the streets as buskers. Renamed August Rush, Evan has uncommon musical talents and rapidly becomes a big money maker for Wizard while at the same time being discovered as a potential pupil for Juilliard by Reverend James (Mykelti Williamson) and his girl singer Hope (Jamia Simone Nash) with assistance from kindly social worker Richard Jefferies (Terrence Howard). August Rush composes a rhapsody that is to be played in Central Park, a chance to place his music before the world and attract his parents, both of whom have returned to music careers after eleven years absence and learn of the existence of August Rush, their 'unknown son'. And yes, the ending is a happily ever after one...
Kirsten Sheridan directs with a sure hand and a keen eye toward make believe. The cast is strong, especially Jonathan Rhys Meyers, and the musical score, a very mixed bag, provides a suitable background for the story. This is one of those movies that asks us to go along with a lot of improbable events, but the pleasure of the experience is worth the journey. Grady Harp, March 08
15 of 16 found the following review helpful:
 Music and Love in Superb Dramatic Fantasy...Jul 06, 2008
By Benjamin J Burgraff
It's easy to point out the incongruities of Kirsten Sheridan's magical "August Rush"...an 11-year-old who learns guitar in one night, and piano and musical composition in another...but this is not a movie for nitpickers, but for dreamers, and all of us who hear music in everything we experience. And boy, does this film deliver!
I wasn't surprised to see Nick Castle's hand in the screenplay, as he is an old hand at finding magic in our cynical world (he wrote and directed "The Boy Who Could Fly"); here, we have the story of two incredibly gifted musicians, a Julliard-trained cellist (Keri Russell), and a self-taught Irish rock singer/composer (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), who bond under the stars in New York City, then are torn apart by families with their own agendas. She carries his child, but after an accident, her ambitious father (William Sadler) steals the newborn, dumps the baby into social services, and announces to the daughter that the child had died. What is MEANT to be, never happens, the lives of both musicians unravel, and they soon give up their gifts, for mundane careers...as their unknown child (the remarkable Freddie Highmore) grows into a musical prodigy, on a mission to find them.
The bulk of the film deals with the child's search, and the remarkable people he meets along the way, from a sympathetic welfare worker (Terrence Howard), to a gifted child guitarist and his Fagin-like mentor (Leon Thomas III and Robin Williams, who is creepy, but excellent), and finally, a powerful child gospel singer, and her pastor (Jamia Simone Nash and Mykelti Williamson). Dubbed 'August Rush' by Williams, the boy harnesses his prodigious musical talents, even as his parents individually renew their own musical careers, and are drawn back to New York City, and a tear-inducing, spectacular climax. Predictable? You bet, but I dare you not to be moved, anyway!
The performances are first-rate, particularly from the child actors, and the music is awesome. This is unabashedly a 'feel-good' movie, the perfect flick to pop into the DVD player when you're feeling down.
My only real quibble is the lack of Special Features; extended scenes are all that are offered, and this is a film I'd have loved learning more about...
"August Rush" is a wonderful film that shouldn't be missed!
22 of 25 found the following review helpful:
The Fantasy of a Child ProdigyMar 19, 2008
By Michelaneous
"www.michelecozzens.com"
And the language is music. Beautiful music. A seamless combination of classical and rock-n-roll music lies behind the tale. It's the love story of two musicians as dreamed by a lost child, who discovers his musical gifts through everything and everyone around him. The lesson is about listening to your heart and staying true to your dream. There's no room for greed and disingenuous intentions. Mistakes can be forgiven and lessons learned.
Every actor in this film is as lovely as the fanciful story, and love oozes from every note. I've watched it twice and both times, my heart was filled with joy. August Rush is one for the ages and excellent viewing for the entire family. My highest recommendation.
Michele Cozzens, Author of A Line Between Friends and The Things I Wish I'd Said.
14 of 15 found the following review helpful:
Quietly FabulousFeb 15, 2008
By Chuckie McDonald
"dreaming"
I didn't know what to expect with this movie. I really believed it to be a "chick-flick". I was wrong. This is an awe-inspiring movie that, I believe, most people just glossed over...a huge mistake. The critics didn't give this much of a chance...too bad for them. I found this movie to be incredible from the story line to the music to the development of the plot line. The climax was a tear jerker even though you knew all along he was going to be reunited with his parents but the process by which this happens just keeps you filled with hope. And that is the message of the movie, hope kept alive by a dream. As the song lyrics say,"Hold on tight to your dreams". Watch the movie and be throughly entertained.
11 of 12 found the following review helpful:
AugustJul 12, 2008
By Buyer
August Rush is an exciting and deeply moving story. The music is wonderful--combining rock and classical. The story line is spiritual and thought provoking. It is a story to be viewed several times. The desire to slow down, be still, and see what is around you is penetrating.
I can say, it is one of the best films I have seen in years.
See all 415 customer reviews on Amazon.com
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