Here's The Scoop: "August Rush" Is Truly Wonderful....And Big Girls DO Cry

Wow.

I don't know what to say.

And for me -- that's something.

On Saturday night I had the distinct pleasure of attending a sneak preview of the new film "August Rush". It officially opens this Wednesday, November 21st.

You may not have heard of it, but I've been aware of this film for a while....I saw the trailer online a few months ago, and I knew right away it was one to keep my eye on.

I don't want to get too chatty about this (which I tend to do.....), but in all honesty, 3 days later.....I'm still thinking about it.

Let me just say this......

I cried.

A lot.

More than I thought I would.

Actually.......more than I ever have in a theater as a grown-up.

Yep......

Not sobbing, mind you --

Just the kind of crying where big, wet tears form in the corner of your eyes and then start to fall silently down your cheek and you keep trying to wipe them away -- and you hope the stranger next to you doesn't think you're a geek.....then you're OK for a few minutes -- then, Ooops......here they come again, and you're wiping your face again, trying to be discreet -- but then you realize it's fruitless, so you just go ahead and cry already....and then the guy to your left glances over and realizes what you're doing, but then you see that he doesn't care....because he's trying not to cry also.

It's that kind of crying.

It's that kind of good.

Sweet, simple, musical and fable-like......."August Rush" is a movie not like anything out there right now (and I definitely mean that in a good way).

I'll be honest, I don't think this is a movie for everyone -- but I do have to say this..... if you watch it and it doesn't move you -- even just a little, I'm thinkin' the Grinch must have snuck in one night and stolen your heart.

I'm just sayin'.

Oh yeah......I'm also just sayin' this --

In regards to crying, that Freddie Highmore kid -- the one who plays "August Rush"........



He had me at "Hello".

Oy........does this kid know how to give a look. His facial expressions give new meaning to the phrase: "Tug at your heartstrings."

OK, enough about my emotional issues.....here's the plot, direct from the movie website --


"August Rush" -- Opens Wednesday, November 21st

Twelve years ago, on a moonlit rooftop above Washington Square, Lyla Novacek(KERI RUSSELL), a sheltered young cellist --



and Louis Connelly (JONATHAN RHYS MEYERS), a charismatic Irish singer/songwriter --




were drawn together by a street musician’s rendition of “Moondance” and fell in love. Sharing the language of music, their connection was real and undeniable… but short-lived.



After the most romantic night of her life, Lyla promised to meet Louis again but, despite her protests, her father rushed her to her next concert—leaving Louis to believe that she didn’t care. Disheartened, he found it difficult to continue playing and eventually abandoned his music while Lyla, her own hopes for love lost, was led to believe, months later, that she had also lost their unborn child in a car accident.

Years passed with neither of them knowing the truth. Now, the infant secretly given away by Lyla’s father has grown into a spirited and unusually gifted child
(FREDDIE HIGHMORE) --




who hears music all around him in the rhythms of life and can turn the rustling of wind through a wheat field into a beautiful symphony. Orphaned by circumstance, he holds a profound and unwavering belief that his parents are alive and want him as much as he wants them—if only they could find each other.

Determined to search for them, he makes his way to New York City. There, lost and alone, he is beckoned by the strumming guitar of a street kid playing for change and follows him back to a makeshift shelter in an abandoned theater where dozens of children like him live under the protection of the enigmatic Wizard (ROBIN WILLIAMS).



That night, he picks up a guitar for the first time and unleashes an impromptu performance in his own unique style that awakens the entire theater. Astonished that this untrained boy can play so passionately, Wizard names him August Rush, introduces him to the soul-stirring power of music and begins to draw out his extraordinary talent.

Wizard has big plans for the young prodigy but, for August, his music has a more important purpose. Never giving up hope of finding the parents he knows are out there somewhere, he calls out to them through every note. He believes that if they can hear his music, they will find him. Unbeknownst to August, they have already begun that journey. Having just learned her son is alive, Lyla is already working desperately to locate him with the help of dedicated social worker Richard Jeffries (TERRENCE HOWARD) --



while Louis, still haunted by memories of his one true love, finds himself returning to his musical roots and retracing his steps to the place where they met.
Separated by the events of life but bonded by love and music -- Lyla, Louis and August search for what they lost and what will make their lives complete again…..each other.


OK, sounds good right?

Now......take a look at the trailer:



OK......I think I said I wasn't gonna get all chatty, and now I've gone on and on.

Please excuse my gushing, I just really loved the whole experience.....big, wet tears and all.

(Hey, it wasn't just me....the preview audience I saw it with applauded at the end)

By the way, not only is the story touching and sweet.....but the music is awesome as well. You can check it out on iTunes and sample some of the tracks. It's definitely worth a listen.

Well, I'm done for now.

I hope I've tempted you a little to decide to check out "August Rush". I keep hoping that if more people go see unique and special movies like this one.....we may someday have fewer movies like...... "Saw III".

A girl can dream can't she?

Oh yeah -- If you do decide to check it out, please drop me a line and let me know what you think.

You know what I always say......."I love feedback!"
(Hey, I love margaritas too....but that's a whole other story)

OK -- I gotta run now, I'm off to Walgreens......for some strange reason, we're completely out of tissues.

Later,

Cagey :)

Awesome Celebrity Smackdown: Check Out One Truly Fabulous Chick

I think I may have to start a Fan Club.

First things first........

I just gotta say, I don't know this woman.....or even where she lives --

But I seriously wanna find her, and take her out to dinner.

Apparently, this gal's daughter realized how incredibly opinionated (and HI-larious)her mother is.....and she decided to film her as she riffs on various topics of interest: Hollywood, Celebrities, Dating, Love, Sex, etc.

Then she posted them all on YouTube.

If you know me at all......you know this is right up my alley.

So without much further ado, let me introduce y'all to Miss Lola Rose --

Check it out:

"Mom's Opinions On Celebrity"



And one more just for fun....

"Mom on Dating A Celebrity"



(Uh-Oh, if Georgie ever finds out about Miss Lola Rose......I'll never have a chance!)

Oh well.

Hey -- if anyone else out there is interested in sharing a meal with Miss Lola Rose when I finally find her.....just let me know.

I'm thinkin' it's gonna have to be someplace like Morton's, she's not lookin' like an Olive Garden type of gal.

Wish me luck!

Later,

Cagey :)

Do You Like.....Quirky?

If you answered "Yes".....then you're gonna love "Juno".

What is "Juno"?

Well, if all of the movie scoop I've been reading lately is correct.......it's this year's "Little Miss Sunshine".


From what I've seen and read....."Juno" looks great.

A quirky indie film by a first-time screenwriter, centered around a smart and spunky young girl -- and the somewhat dysfunctional family and friends that orbit around her.

(See the "Sunshine" comparison?)

The flick has been playin' the festival circuit lately and won all sorts of raves. The critics love it. Audiences love it. Hollywood loves it.

Are you gonna love it?

Hmmmm.

I'm thinkin'....most of you -- probably. Some of you -- maybe. A few of you -- no.

Did I mention that the smart and spunky girl named "Juno" is trying to navigate high school, figure out her life..... and she just happens to be 16 and pregnant?

Oh.


(In other words, she ain't no cute bespectacled little cherub, driving in a van across the country with her crazy family, trying to win a beauty pageant by dancing around a stage to "SuperFreak".)


OK.

Did I mention the cast?

Jennifer Garner ("Alias"), Jason Bateman ("Arrested Development"), Allison Janney ("The West Wing"), Rainn Wilson ("The Office"), J.K. Simmons ("Law and Order"), Michael Cera ("SuperBad") and Ellen Page as "Juno".

Not bad.

Did I mention that the screenwriter is a 29-year-old gal named Diablo Cody? --


An attractive former stripper with tatoos and frequently multi-colored hair, who grew up in the middle-class Chicago suburbs and decided to change her name and chuck it all for a year of lap dances and a dream of writing.

Huh.

(So far, I'm enjoying the blog-writing hobby enough that I haven't considered an exotic dancing career path yet......I'll let ya know.)

OK.......so I think you'll be hearing a lot more about this little flick in the months to come -- especially around awards season (which is quickly approaching -- yay !).

"Juno" opens in limited release on December 5th, then goes wide not too long after that.

Don't know if it will be your cup of tea (or if it will even make any money), but I definitely think it looks smart, funny, dry, sweet, ornery and most definitely -- quirky.

Oh yeah.......and I'm thinkin' it's got "Oscar-Bait" stamped all over it.

So check out the "Juno" trailer below to see for yourself:




Also, if you're interested -- I've got a link below to an interesting article about the screenwriter (ya know, the former stripper.....) from the most recent issue of "Entertainment Weekly."

Let's just say......Diablo is currently workin' on a comedy pilot for Steven Spielberg about a woman with multiple personalities. You go girl!

Click Here: "Entertainment Weekly" --
Diablo Cody - From Ex-Stripper to A-lister

OK......that's all I got for now.

Call me if you wanna check out "Juno" when she rolls into town.

I'm gonna go finish the book I'm reading........

"Exotic Dancing For Dummies".

Hey --- it worked for Diablo.

I'm just sayin'........a girl's gotta have goals.

Later,

Cagey :)