This Movie is Rated PG – For Some Thematic Elements, Mild Violence and Language
Probably the best way to describe this movie is fairytale-like. The story centers around a boy that was given up for adoption at birth and his search for his parents. We also learn his parent’s story, how they met, how they were separated and their search for each other.
Eleven year old Evan Taylor/August Rush (Freddie Highmore) wants to find his parents and decides to take matters into his own hands. He runs away from the state run facility that he has been at since he was a baby and heads to New York City. Evan has his ups and downs as struggles with the perils of the city. All the while trying to find a way to reconnect with his parents.
His mother, Lyla Novacek (Keri Russell) is a cellist that played for the New York Philharmonic. His father, Louis Connelly (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) was a rock musician. They met at a party and it was love at first sight for both. They had one night together, but then end up being torn away from each other. Lyla believes her son died at birth and Louis didn’t even know that he was a father.
After unsuccessfully trying to re-connect with each other, they both leave their music behind and try to create new lives for themselves. However, neither is happy. Eventually, they are both led back to their music and start to hope that they can find the missing pieces of their lives.
Freddie is wonderful as Evan. He is such a sweet and innocent boy; that was dealt a bad hand in life. However, even when times are hard he never gives up his faith in his parents. That they want him and that he will find them somehow. When Freddie has scenes where he has to cry it never fails to break my heart.
Keri is very believable as Lyla. Even though she loves playing her music, she feels very trapped and manipulated by her father. He definitely runs the show and she doesn’t know how to break away from him. She is such a beautiful and sweet girl that you can see why Louis falls for her.
As I have said in a previous post, I adore Jonathan. Not only is he an extremely talented actor with an incredible screen presence; he is absolutely gorgeous and just oozes sex appeal. Add his wonderful singing and his Irish accent on top of that, and it just makes me melt. By the way, he sings four songs in this movie. When he sings “Moondance” to Lyla it gives me goose bumps and I can totally see why she falls for him.
As I said earlier, think fairytale when you watch this movie. It’s not meant to believable in real life, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a terrific movie. The running theme is music and how it connects people (and may potentially re-unite them). It is beautifully filmed, has great music and characters that you care about. You definitely root for Lyla, Louis and Evan, hoping that they will find each other.
Some of my favorite quotes:
Evan – “I believe that … once upon a time … long ago … they heard the music and followed it.”
Evan – “But I believe in music the way some people believe in fairytales.”
Evan – “Well, if they don’t find us, we’ll just have to go find them.”
Evan – “Somewhere inside me … I know that they always wanted me, maybe they just got lost.”
Louis – “What’s the point in singing, Marshall? She’s not gonna hear me.”
Arthur – “Back off. Away, away. Yo, son, you’re messing with my equilibrium.”
Evan – “I don’t have a place to stay.”
Arthur – “Do I look like a real estate tycoon to you?”
Nick – “So you playing at all?”
Louis – “Nope.”
Nick – “Why the hell not? Your fingers fall off?”
Jen – “Are all Irish people this loud.”
Louis – “Yeah.”
Hope – “Remember you said he was like a musical pod?”
Reverend – “Prodigy.”
Hope – “Exactly. Well, I have one of those and he’s living under my bed.”
Jan
Following is additional information about the movie that contains spoilers. If you don’t want to be spoiled don’t read any further.
I like how at both the beginning and the ending of the movie they have Louis and Lyla performing at the same time (inter-cutting between the two of them). It’s a wonderful full circle moment.
Robin Williams did a great job in his portrayal of Wizard. It was very different from anything I had seen him do before. His character is devious, manipulative, commanding and scary. At times you hope he actually cares about the kids, but then you see all he cares about is what they can do for him. All in all, not a nice man.
The scene in the park between Louis and Evan is just lovely. I like how they seem to have an instant connection, even though they don’t know why. Evan immediately trusts Louis and opens up to him about his concert and how he is afraid something bad will happen if he goes. Louis then gives him advice, which in turn gives Evan the confidence to run away from Wizard. Plus the two of them playing guitar together is adorable.
