Not exactly OLIVER TWIST, but still very reminiscent of it

Rating: 9/10 (24 January 2019)

AUGUST RUSH is a bit similar to OLIVER TWIST. However, while the movie has a modern setting, it shares many plot elements with OLIVER TWIST, ending even better.
It begins with a young couple of musicians that meets and has a one-night stand, and when she becomes pregnant her dad does everything to make her believe that the child died at birth, although he just put the child for adoption.
A decade later the boy, Evan, lives in a orphanage and is mocked by the other kids because of his talents in music, that makes him like a savant with powerful skills. In the meanwhile an inexplicable series of circumstances draw his mother and dad that search for their son (after they discovered he is NOT dead), but also Evan ends in New York, becoming a star for his talents in music while a evil man, Michael Wallace known as ''the Wizard'' (Robin Williams in a rare villanious role) takes advantage of the boy and wants to make money with his talents. BTW the Wizard is NOT nice, he is very reminiscent of Fagin, the keeper of a hoard of foundlings that uses for his own personal interest. Will Evan escape from this evil man, and will he relocate his parents? Just see the movie by yourself.
This movie is very unique in its own way, thanks to the wonderful music and great cinematography. Yes, it has SOME flaws but it makes you reflect and care for the leading character. A nice movie that I strongly recommend for families and music fans alike.