Directed by:
Francis LawrenceScreenplay:
Richard LaGraveneseCinematography:
Rodrigo PrietoComposer:
James Newton HowardCast:
Robert Pattinson, Reese Witherspoon, Christoph Waltz, Hal Holbrook, James Frain, Paul Schneider, Dan Lauria, Ken Foree, Tim Guinee, Ashley Palmer (more)VOD (2)
Plots(1)
As a young man, Jacob Jankowski (Pattinson) was tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. It was the early part of the great Depression, and for Jacob (Holbrook), now ninety, the circus world he remembers was both his salvation and a living hell. A veterinary student just shy of a degree, he was put in charge of caring for the circus menagerie. It was there that he met Marlena, (Witherspoon) the beautiful equestrian star married to August (Waltz), the charismatic but twisted animal trainer. And he met Rosie, an untrainable elephant and the only hope for this third-rate traveling show. (official distributor synopsis)
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Reviews (8)
It was a real treat for me to watch Robert Pattinson express a whole range of emotions with a single facial expression. Zoolander must be one of his favorite films because this was textbook Magnum. The story was actually a standard American love story, only the creators placed it in a rather non-standard setting. The only actor whose performance was impressive was Christoph Waltz in another one of his manic roles, but that's about it. Plus, the film’s title is awfully misleading, there is only one elephant in it, and despite the prohibition, it isn't about water either.
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Pattinson will have a hard time shedding the painful stigma of the awkward vampire, but he can give a serious performance if the script allows it. Films from the circus environment are scarce, so extra points for that, but unlike others I wouldn't praise Christoph Waltz's performance so much – when he’s playing a choleric jealous husband or a slightly sadistic guy (stabbing an elephant), it's all right, but I didn't buy his crying (worrying about his livelihood) at all.
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Fans of Robert Pattinson could enjoy their favorite actor in the film. Fans of Reese Witherspoon, on the other hand, could once again sigh in admiration of her modesty and beauty. In the end, however, it is Christoph Waltz who rightly attracts attention. The role of circus principal Augusta may at first glance seem too similar to Hans Landa from "Inglourious Basterds", but that doesn't change the fact that this Austrian is absolutely excellent. I am glad that Tarantino discovered him for Hollywood because he deserves attention. I am curious if he will receive any truly positive roles or if he will continue to be cast in negative or completely negative roles. August is exactly the type of negative role that one can despise. He is gradually pushed to a point where there is nothing positive or acceptable about him for the viewer. The foreground is then taken by the love of young veterinarian Jacob, who is also the narrator, and the acrobat Marlena. A bit of "Freaks", but mostly "Big Fish", because that's exactly what the film "Water for Elephants" tries to be. To impress with the beauty of the environment, visuals, and a strong story. However, it fails somewhere halfway and the story is not that strong. The final summary then feels unnecessarily rushed and the emotions simply do not come through. It's a shame, the actors were chosen more or less - I'm not a big fan of Reese - great. More: http://www.filmovy-denik.cz/2012/05/noc-patri-nam-voda-pro-slony-posledni.html
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The circus finally got a good movie. Witherspoon has earned a spot in my top 10 favorite actresses with this one. The pairing of Reese and Pattinson was a really good choice. I was worried that the film would be "too heavy". In the end, I had no problem digesting it because it is made with a tremendously light touch. The costumes and hairstyles are also exceptionally well done. The script is also beautiful, so there you go.
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An honest and sincere film with very talented actors. The setting is essentially unexplored, and the entire project benefits from it. It has a nostalgic atmosphere of that era, yet it is modern and skillfully filmed with a solid musical score. I am not a supporter of violence against animals (even in films), so some shots may not sit well with more sensitive individuals, but it is not gratuitously shocking; on the contrary, it highlights Christoph Waltz's excellent acting. It was more entertaining and captivating than I expected, even the predictable ending was satisfying. Perhaps the parallel in concept with Titanic didn't need to be there, but otherwise, it is fine. A lot of value for the money.
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