August Rush (2007)

“The music is all around us all you have to do is listen.”
--- August Rush

The movie, August Rush, is the story of faith and hope. Evan Taylor is a 12 year old boy who had been given up for adoption at birth by his grandfather. His mother was a cellist in the Chicago Symphony, who met an Irish Rock and Roll band member and had a one night fling. Evan Taylor was the result of that one night stand. The movie is the story of a young man’s desire to know his parents. He was placed in an orphanage for most of his life, but he never gave up hope.

He inherited a love for music and sound from both of his parents. The music was hidden inside him and he could not express it. He was trapped in the boys home. He was picked on there. He had had enough and ran away. We was attracted to a young street musician who he followed “home”. It turned out home was an old abandoned theater, where the “Wizard,” played by an ear-ringed Robin Williams, manages a group of street kids, who played on the street for money. They all work for the Wizard.

For the first time in his life Evan found a way to express himself through playing the guitar. He had a real ear for music and learned quickly. However, the Wizard sees Evan or August as a golden goose, not a human being.

August Rush weaves an interesting story. It is a little bit unbelievable from the standpoint of how it ends, but it is still remarkable nonetheless. No matter how bleak and hopeless life may appear, there always is a glimmer of faith. That glimmer or faith is all that Evan Taylor or August Rush had.

The movie is a parable for life. We may all have difficulties and suffer the consequences of our actions and behaviors, but if we don’t give up God can use whatever situation in which we find ourselves. He works in and through the circumstances for good. Though this movie was not at all Christian, many underlying Christian principles could be seen at work. Selfless love, forgiveness, perseverance, hope, and courage . . . are among the Christian virtues that could be seen in the movie. Evan Taylor or August Rush demonstrates the love.

“Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
--- 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

RATING

The movie is a **** 1/2 out of ***** for the overall positive message it says about life, family and the contrast between good and evil, morality and immorality. It definitely has a pro-life message from the beginning of the movie to the end.

Absolute biblical truth is what the music symbolizes for me in the movie.

“The music is all around us all you have to do is listen.”
--- August Rush