Water For Elephants is a conventional life story set in a circus setting based on the best selling book of the same name by Sara Gruen. Jacob (played by Twilight star Robert Pattinson) flees a family tragedy and by chance joins a traveling circus. The year is 1931, the Depression is causing wide-spread business failures, including circuses. August (played by Christoph Waltz), the sadistic owner of this circus, needs a boffo act to bring in the “rubes.” He buys an elephant named Rosie from a failed circus and expects Jacob to train her to work with his beautiful wife (played by Reece Witherspoon). Of course, Jacob falls in love with his boss’s wife and you can guess what happens then. I enjoyed the scenes of life with circus people as they traveled from town to town to put on their shows. There is some graphic violence in this movie so be warned. GRADE: B
I’d almost see it for Waltz who is a great villain.
Waltz’s villain is a complex character, Patti. Waltz captures his good and bad points perfectly.
I understand there is zero chemistry – not at all surprising – between Reese & Pattinson. (She’s 35, he’s 24.) Frankly, I’m not impressed with him as an actor. But the Twilight girls made him a star.
Reese, Pattinson, and Waltz all performed well, Jeff. But the plot of WATER FOR ELEPHANTS is fairly predictable. Diane and her Book Club members are going to see WATER FOR ELEPHANTS this afternoon. They read it as a Book Club book months ago.
Lisa Baudoin of Books & Company won a trip for two to NYC for the premiere. Lisa and Ken (another bookseller) thought the movie was dreadful. Since I’m not a fan of either Reese or Pattinson, I’ll be taking a pass on this one.
Diane reports that they “changed the movie” instead of following the book, Beth. I’m shocked that Hollywood would do such a thing.
I liked the book, which is another reason (along with Beth’s) that I’ll pass on this.
Hal Holbrook got good reviews, as did Waltz.
Hal Holbrook is in the movie for maybe five minutes, Jeff. He did well, but it was a minor role.
I’d rather watch Holbrook’s one man Twain show…
I’ve seen Holbrook’s TWAIN, Rick. He’s very, very good.