Since I am musician, I have had about five people come up to me and tell me what an amazing movie, August Rush is and that I HAVE to see it. Well, my wife and two girlfriends watched it the other night. Here was their conclusion on the movie: Maybe the cheesiest movie they had ever seen. Super predictable ending. One of her friends said, "At different points in the movie it was kind of like the screenwriter was like, 'What is the cheesiest, most cliche line I could put right here?'"
I was pumped based on all the hype I was getting, but now I think I am going to pass. Predictability and over-the-top cheese is not how I want to spend two hours.
Your take?
8 comments:
Velveeta, but still enjoyable.
I'm not typically a fan of "kid-exalting" movies, but the kid actually seems to be conducting and there were certain parts I found pretty good.
Robin Williams is in it, however, which is a huge detractor for me. Yet, he was subdued for the most part and more creepy than obnoxious.
I saw this early on in the theater before I had several people also hype it to me as well. I think often the 'mindset" going into movies has a lot to do with it.
My take -
First, yes, it's cheesy, filled with cliches etc. However, you sort of have to take this movie for what it is - sheer fantasy - in the manner of older movies. You can't watch it with a whole lot of reality or "real life" in mind. You have to buy into some magic and the fantasy world that it's based in and that this little kid could be this much of a prodigy. It's a "feel good/first date movie" etc.
It DOES have a REALLY good score that I think you would like with some great musicians on it There's also a performance by this little girl - a 12 year old gospel singer (I believe she was younger than that when it was filmed) that is AMAZING and she performed the song, which was nominated for a Grammy (or was it an Oscar or both?) live on TV and was AMAZING. I bought the soundtrack as did many other people I know.
Last, for me, the part of the movie that really hit home was early on when they show how the kid "feels/hears/sees" music in everyday life all around, That's really the most special part of the movie - and how he related to it with a special "sixth sense" almost, amidst being teased among the other orphans for his penchant for music and how he's a "feeler" type and not like the other kids. I TOTALLY related to this part of the movie as this felt so much like me growing up. So that part hit home for me. For me, the movie went downhill the closer it got to the end with the whole part of finding his parents.
Worth seeing for the music and some of the parts that hit home with how we feel and perceive music. But ya - a lot of cheese to have to swallow also.
I had the exact same scenario. People telling me this movie was "FANTASTIC! GREAT! AMAZING! and YOU'LL LOVE IT!" First off, when so many people tell me a movie's that amazing, and I'll love it, I get skeptical. Especially because the people telling me this weren't musicians. That made me even more skeptical.
So is it a coincidence that I was disappointed with this movie? I think not. I won't say I didn't like it, but I don't think you'll be too hurt by missing out.
Maybe it's worth it to check out some of the score. But not the movie. There's my take.
I went into the movie ignorant. That may have helped.
However, as soon as I saw that Robin Williams was in it (opening credits, I think), I was like, "C'mon!" and was expecting to be beaten down severely.
As I said, the beating was relatively mild on that front.
I was told by one friend that after he saw the movie he felt like he "had just been made love to".
Let's just say that comment from the very beginning of the movie really ruined it for me. And, even if the comment would have never been made I would have found the movie overtly sentimental to the point of gagging.
I agree gunny, Robin Williams was a huge distraction. There was so much of his part that could be cut out.
How ever it is a fairy tale of sorts. It is a movie that has some magical way of having everything turn out for the best.
The score was really good. The scenes of August hearing the music were superb, the love at first glance between the parents was carried through...
I like it.
Although not as good as Amelie, it deffinately is a young adult to adult fairy tale with a touch of Oliver.
one of the worst movies i've ever seen. bad art. come on hollywood...
It's like oliver twist but the kraft version. Even though it was predictable and unrealistic... I still enjoyed it... my guitar has been in a DADGAD tuning ever since.
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