August Rush

2007, **, PG
Starring: Keri Russell, Terrance Howard, Robin Williams

By Meredith A. Iager


Keri Russell, Jonathan Ryes-Meyers, and Freddie Highmore star in this film about a child that searches for his parents through a musical connection. In 1995, Russell, a cellist, meets Ryes-Meyers a rock singer, on the rooftop of a building, while attending a party after one of her concerts. It is love at first sight, and the pair hookup; she gets pregnant. Eleven years later, we meet Freddie Highmore, an orphan in upstate New York. For 11 years he’d hoped for a day when he could reconnect with his mother and father.

One day, "August," goes on the quest into the city (to get away from the orphange for a day), and instantly becomes overwhelmed with it’s everyday “sounds” and becomes intrigued by a kid playing the guitar, which leads him to find a group of musician orphans. He soon discovers their leader played by Robin Williams’s only wants to use him for cash, when he learns Highmore is a child prodigy.

This film is fantastic and is quite uplifting. It shows the bond between people, even when time spent together has been lost. The film also stars, Alex O’Loughlin (CBS Drama “Moonlight,” “The Invisible,” “The Oyster Farmer”), Robin Williams ("Flubber," "Mrs. Doubtfire"), and Terrance Howard (“The Brave One," "Crash").

I recommend renting or buying this film -- especially if you are a fan of "Felicity."