Cinema Society

AUGUST RUSH

Average
Rating

2.6

Tuesday, November 13, 2007, AMC La Jolla 12 Theatres

Invited Guest: John Michael Brooks, Child Music Prodigy

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13

7:00pm: Cinema Chat with Andy, Auditorium 4

7:10PM: Introduction, Auditorium 4

7:20PM: Introduction, Auditorium 5

7:30PM: AUGUST RUSH, Auditoriums 4 & 5

Discussion will follow screening in Auditorium 4

AMC La Jolla 12 Theatres

AUGUST RUSH

AUGUST RUSH tells the story of a charismatic young Irish guitarist (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) and a sheltered young cellist (Keri Russell) who have a chance encounter one magical night above New York's Washington Square, but are soon torn apart, leaving in their wake an infant, August Rush, orphaned by circumstance. Now performing on the streets of New York and cared for by a mysterious stranger (Robin Williams), August (Freddie Highmore) uses his remarkable musical talent to seek the parents from whom he was separated at birth.

Directed by Kirsten Sheridan, the daughter of famed director Jim Sheridan (IN AMERICA), AUGUST RUSH is a Warner Brothers Release. It opens commercially in San Diego on November 21st.

Running Time: 114 Minutes

Rated PG for some thematic elements, mild violence and language.

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15-Nov-07: Milt Woolf - Rating: 3

The movie was a light piece of fluff, to be enjoyed but not analyzed. As you said it was definitely a fairy tale so you just accept it for what it is. The music was interesting especially the rock music over the classical. The guitar duet was great. I doubt that it will win any awards, but it was a pleasant evening.

14-Nov-07: Diane R. - Rating: 2

I enjoyed viewing these actors in other movies but felt they were limited by a contrived plot in August Rush.

A number of us joined Cinema Society to see provocative, imaginative, and magical films; are there any of these films this year? In past years, you have been able to show us incredible independent and foreign films and documentaries that we might not get an opportunity to see because most distributed films are geared toward the mass market. Bring on films at the top of their craft!

14-Nov-07: Jeri Feldman - Rating: 2

I'm giving it a 2 for Terrance and Freddy, I appreciated both performances. Otherwise I found this movie to be derivative, predictable, not whimsical or creative enough to be a fairy tale yet totally implausable. Andy, I know you have a lot of people to please, and would be happy if this type of film was balanced out by also screening more edgy, provocative, difficult and/or sophisticated films (such as Eastern Promises or Gone Baby Gone). Perhaps this will insult the sensibilities of some, but we love it when CS thinks out of the box!

14-Nov-07: DAG - Rating: 3

Andy - It's important these days to have an opportunity to lose yourself in a small fantasy and enjoy the moment. Music was outstanding, performances were average. Thanks for showing it.

14-Nov-07: M. Roe - Rating: 3

I think one can consider this film a “musical” but not one of those over-the-top-replacing-dialogue type but rather beautiful listening music for everyone to enjoy. Though Andy did describe this as a fairytale-esque movie it was and that meant there are going to be points when one has to suspend belief to enjoy the movie. I did see the resemblance to “Oliver!” and definitely saw the resemblance of “The Wizard” to “Fagan” (though I don’t get the Bono similarity...the hat? or is Bono that mean?) however, I felt Robin Williams played the character too hard and maybe if he had sung or shown more of his old Peter Pan character or even his Fisher King character (or any of his softer childlike characters) I might have liked “The Wizard”. I still haven’t seen “Waitress” and though I have heard great things about it and Andy mentioning Oscar-Buzz for her in that role, I do not feel her performance in this movie is of that caliber. She was good but it wasn’t anything so good that no other actress could have played it. Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Terrance Howard were fine in what screen time they had and as always ya just can’t help but want to put Freddie Highmore in your pocket and have him tell you stories of far away places. I really enjoyed the little boy “Arthur” (Artful Dodger?) and the little girl “Hope”, I thought they really jumped off the screen with talent and charisma, I hope to see more of them……I also concur that the child prodigy of last night was "VERY 16" and I too enjoyed and appreciated him sharing with us his gift.

14-Nov-07: SM - Rating: 2

I so wanted to love this movie! I thought the previews were great, but sadly, I didn't like it at all. I thought the dialog was terrible, and most of the relationships completely unconvincing. It showed so much promise given such a great cast and an intriguing storyline, but I would tell my friends to wait for the DVD or avoid altogether! I love music and I'm a sucker for romance, but it just didn't work for me. But thank you, Andy, I did want to see it!

14-Nov-07: BK - Rating: 2

Sadly, after the opening shot of the boy in the wheat field, it went all downhill except for the music. The "Charles Dicken's" touch of the children under the spell of Fagan didn't ring true. I would have rather seen the Robin Williams character just be a sleaze who tried to take advantage of the kid and not involve all the other children. Can Keri Russell make a movie where she's not pregnant?

14-Nov-07: KS - Rating: 4

I loved the whole movie except for the role of The Wizzard....

His role was too "over the top" to be believable.

Our own San Diego child prodigy was adorable. He was "so 16."

A talented, talented young man.