Evan, a musically gifted orphan, runs away from his orphanage and searches New York City for his birth parents. On his journey, he's taken under the wing of the Wizard, a homeless man who lives in an abandoned theater. After discovering his talent, the Wizard gives Evan the name "August Rush" and devises a plan to profit from his talent. Little does Evan know that his parents, Lyla and Louis, are searching for him too.
Score
Mark Mancina's orchestral magic weaves through every scene
Acting
Freddie Highmore's silent listening is devastating
Cinematography
NYC locations sing as loud as the characters
Director
Kirsten Sheridan
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
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Freddie Highmore learned guitar and conducted for the role; those hands in close-ups are actually his.
The film's 'music is everywhere' philosophy directly references Oliver Twist, with Wizard as Fagin — originally a darker take softened for family audiences.
US
