August Rush
DIR: Kirsten Sheridan • WRI: Nick Castle, James V. Hart • PROD: Richard Barton Lewis • DOP: John Mathieson • ED: William Steinkamp • DES: Michael Shaw • CAST: Freddie Highmore, Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Robin Williams, Leon G. Thomas III Terrence, Howard Jamia, Simone Nash, William Sadler, Alex O'Loughlin, Aaron Staton, Jamie O'Keefe, Emelie Jeffries

Take two star-crossed lovers whose orphaned child is searching for parents who don’t realise he is alive, throw in Robin Williams channelling Fagan out of Oliver Twist and stir it all up with a rousing and impassioned classical score. I give you August Rush – this film defines schmaltzy. It’s a shame we had to wait six years for Kirsten Sheridan’s first directorial outing since the hugely popular and stylish Disco Pigs, it’s a greater shame that she has chosen a hugely insipid and frankly ridiculous story.

To be fair, the plot rests on some sort of musical magical realism which, if we suspend our scepticism and accept, excuses the coincidence laden plot. Our young hero, August Rush (Freddie Highmore) is the orphaned child of two musical talents. Lyla Novacek (Keri Russell) is a classical cellist whose one night stand with rock musician Louis Connelly (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), is so powerful that their resulting offspring is destined to be a musical prodigy.

Now, I like a bit of magical realism as much as the next man, but this is such a literal and boring idea that it really doesn't work. Where, for instance is the random beautiful chance and surprise in the idea of two musicians spawning a musician? Will there be a sequel with two painters begetting a painter? This is not the worst of it, the autistic, expressionless and emotionless acting of Freddie Highmore is as dire as the equally histrionic and highly strung performances of Russell and Rhys Meyers. Robin Williams phones in a mixture of the previously mentioned Fagan mixed up with some pseudo-philosophical ramblings not unfamiliar to anyone who saw him in The Fisher King. Kirsten Sheridan has already proven she can direct competently, hopefully her next film will be based on stronger material.

Conor O'Kelly
(Read biog here)

Rated PG (see IFCO website for details)
August Rush is released on 23rd November 2007
August Rush – Official website