August Rush (2007)

A drama with fairy tale elements, where an orphaned musical prodigy uses his gift as a clue to finding his birth parents.

Director:

Kirsten Sheridan

Writers:

Nick Castle (screenplay), James V. Hart (screenplay)

Stars:

Freddie Highmore, Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 4 wins & 10 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Freddie Highmore	...	August Rush
Keri Russell	...	Lyla Novacek
Jonathan Rhys Meyers	...	Louis Connelly
Terrence Howard	...	Richard Jeffries
Robin Williams	...	Maxwell 'Wizard' Wallace
William Sadler	...	Thomas Novacek
Marian Seldes	...	The Dean
Mykelti Williamson	...	Reverend James
Leon Thomas III	...	Arthur
Aaron Staton	...	Nick
Alex O'Loughlin	...	Marshall
Jamia Simone Nash	...	Hope
Ronald Guttman	...	Professor
Bonnie McKee	...	Lizzy
Michael Drayer	...	Mannix

Storyline

Lyla Novacek (Keri Russell) is a cellist studying at the Juilliard School and living under strict rule of her father (William Sadler). Louis Connelly (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) is the lead singer of "The Connelly Brothers", an Irish rock band. Lyla and Louis meet at a party after their respective concerts, and have a sexual encounter on the rooftop. The day after, they separate in a hurry, and are unable to maintain contact as Lyla is ushered away by her father to Chicago. Lyla is also aware that she is pregnant. Later, when in New York City, after an argument with her father over her unborn child, she is struck by a car. Due to the accident trauma, she gives birth prematurely, and her father secretly puts the baby boy up for adoption under her name, allowing Lyla to believe that her son died. Eleven years later, Evan Taylor (Freddie Highmore) is living in a boys' orphanage outside New York City, where he meets Richard Jeffries (Terrence Howard), a social worker with Child and Family ...

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Plot Keywords:

baby | cellist | prodigy | rhapsody | genius | 

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Taglines:

An incredible journey moving at the speed of sound

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Genres:

Drama | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for some thematic elements, mild violence and language

Details

Official Sites:

Europa Corp. [France] Official site [Germany]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 November 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

El triunfo de un sueño

Filming Locations:

Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$9,421,369, 24 November 2007, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$31,655,091, 24 February 2008

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.,Southpaw Entertainment (I),CJ Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

114 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The story is based on the plot of Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens. In addition to the main characters (August/Oliver, Wizard/Fagin, Arthur/The Artful Dodger) it also includes some of the more obscure characters from the book, such as Oliver's friend Dick from the workhouse/August's friend in the orphanage, Hope/Rose Maylie, Rev. James/Mr. Brownlow, and Lyla's Father/Monks.

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Goofs

One of the signs that the Wizard tears down (we see a close-up of it as he rips it off a pole) says Evan Grady - Missing, not Evan Taylor. This is not long before the police raid the place where the Wizard and all the kids stay.

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Quotes

August Rush: [opening voice-over] Listen. Can you hear it? The music. I can hear it everywhere. In the wind... in the air... in the light. It's all around us. All you have to do is open yourself up. All you have to do... is listen.

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Connections

Featured in Siskel & Ebert: The Mist/This Christmas/August Rush/I'm Not There/Purple Violets (2007)

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Soundtracks

Magic Time
Written by Van Morrison
Performed by Van Morrison
Courtesy of Exile Productions / Polydor Ltd. (U.K.)
Under License from Universal Music Enterprises

User Reviews

Cynics Need Not Apply

This is an urban fairy tale. If you go to AUGUST RUSH with the intention of poking holes in it, you can find little glitches and logic flaws. On the other hand, if you are looking for a movie that will sing to your soul (and show you some beautiful eye candy as a bonus), look no farther. The casting director and cinematographer should each get an award. This gem of a movie takes us on a journey, and the people we meet along the way are well worth the ticket price.

A trio of beautiful performances form the heart of this film, although the secondary characters are also crisply compelling. A day after seeing it, I find that specific shots of their faces still glow in mind like pieces of a mosaic. And the music is a genuine addition, as it should be in a film of this kind. I was genuinely moved.