August Rush

Alright, so this movie is about sugary sweet and hopeful as they come. But that doesn't mean you should discredit August Rush, a musical urban fairy tale that gives a twist to the classic orphan-finding-his-parents fable. The orphan, Evan, "believes in music like some people believe in fairy tales." If he could only play it loud enough, maybe his parents could hear him. Its this young boy's undying belief in the power of music that sets the film apart and binds together the film's otherwise implausible plot points. The hypnotic melody of a street performer draws Evan's parents to the rooftop where they meet. Rock and classical overlap as characters thinking about each other play at separate venues. The sounds of the street inspire the ten year-old Evan to write a symphony that is played in Central Park. The music is the movie's core, and its what makes it such a beautiful film. Despite the syrup.