Rating: M
Running Time: 120 minutes
Release Date: 13 May 2011
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Water for Elephants is based on the novel by Sara Gruen and was adapted for the screen by Robert La Gravenese. Based in 1931, during the Great Depression, Jacob (Robert Pattinson) on the tragic loss of his parents abandons his final exams as a vet to join a travelling circus. The tight fisted circus owner, August (Christoph Waltz) reluctantly agrees to hire him to care for their animals and especially their new star attraction Rosie the elephant that will be performing alongside August’s wife Marlena (Reese Witherspoon).
The “Olde” world days of the travelling circus, its magic, atmosphere and wonder were well captured in this depiction. The attention to detail of that period was immaculate from costuming, prohibition, survival and puffing steam trains to the sheer physical work which would go into setting up the circus. The story starts with initial narration from an older version of Jacob, played by Hal Holbrook, which cleverly blends into the younger version’s voice as the narrative unfolds.
Pattison (Remember Me) does a good job of the smitten boy lusting after his bosses beautiful younger wife. However Christoph Waltz (Inglorious Bastards) steals the show with by managing to capture the complexity of his cruelly manipulative but charismatic character. Witherspoon (Walk the Line) puts in a fair performance and physically looks the very part of a 1930’s burlesque performer down to her blonde harlow-esque ringlets and spangled costumes. However she fails to ignite the screen and the on screen passion between her and Pattison just fizzles. Rosie the elephant also stole our hearts and minds and it was pleasurable not to be subjected to CGI tricks but real animal performances. The cinematography and direction by Francis Lawrence (I am Legend) brings this period drama to some past glory but it just lacks that spark and does drag in places.
3/5 stars
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