Water for Elephants
Tags: violence, historical, depressing, romantic, historical fiction

Plot synopsis:
When Jacob Jankowski,parents dead and suddenly adrift, jumps onto a passing train, he enters a world of freaks, drifters, and misfits, a second-rate circus struggling to survive during the Great Depression, making one-night stands in town after endless town. A veterinary student who almost earned his degree, Jacob is put in charge of caring for the circus menagerie. It is there that he meets Marlena, the beautiful young star of the equestrian act, who is married to August, the charismatic but twisted circus owner. He also meets Rosie, an elephant who seems untrainable until he discovers a way to reach her.The movie begins with an elderly man (who is actually Jacob - Hal Holbrook) outside after a circus performance, looking for his ride, when younger workers notice him and ask if he is lost or needs to go back to the home. He insists that he doesn't belong in a home and becomes quite upset when they persistently ask, but then apologizes for his rude behavior. The young men bring him inside from the rain, and while one man goes about calling the old folks home, the other notices Jacob looking at the pictures hanging on the wall. The young man is shocked to find out Jacob knew about the circus and even more impressed when he says he was there, right in the middle of it. It is explained that it was the most famous circus disaster in history. The young man passes him an old photograph of a young woman sitting on an elephant's trunk, and Jacob tears up. The young man asks Jacob to tell him what happened in 1931, and so the story begins.The movie flashes back to 1931, as a young man (younger Jacob - Robert Pattinson) was preparing to take his final exam at vet school. He lived at home with his parents who had left Poland to seek a better life in America. The police show up during his exam to break the news that his father and mother were killed in a car accident. After identifying the bodies, he ends up throwing up in an alley.The news gets worse when it is explained to him that the bank is taking all his family's assets due to his father's defaulting on loans. The young man insists that his father was a good man, and the family home was paid for. He shortly realizes that his parents had mortgaged their home to send him to vet school. Jacob leaves his boyhood home with one suitcase and plans to walk to Albany where there would be jobs, but he didn't make it to Albany. He hops on a passing train and meets some older men, who offer to help him find work the next day.They arrive at an open field, where a large group of men file out of the train and begin constructing the circus tent. Jacob is in awe of the entire process, but is soon thrust into shoveling manure. While working, a pretty woman catches his eye (Marlena - Reese Witherspoon) as she is talking to horses, asking one if it's okay. It is pretty clear she is part of the act and Jacob walks over to take a look at the horse's leg. She quickly turns away from him, taking the horses with her. Jacob follows her and witnesses with amazement her circus act with the horses. He asks one of his fellow workers about her and is told she is the boss's wife and you don't talk to her.Jacob is introduced to the August (the boss) and impresses him enough to become the new veterinarian. He is then introduced to Marlena and she, once again, brushes him off. He examines one of the horse's injuries and explains to August that he should be put down. August tells him that is unacceptable and to make it work so the horse can perform through the season. He stumbles upon Marlena, who is comforting the injured horse and they have a short conversation about how the horse should be put down. Jacob grabs a gun, but before pulling the trigger, Marlena tells him it will be his last decision if he goes against what August says. He pulls the trigger and Marlena tells him she will be sad to see him go. August finds Jacob and threatens to throw him off the train.To help fill the money void left when the star horse was put down, August buys an elephant named Rosie and insists that, with Marlena in the mix, he will sell out crowds. It is quickly established that Marlena both appreciates and adores the way that Jacobs cares for animals and they bond over training the elephant. Later, Jacob is invited to drinks with August and Marlena to celebrate the addition of Rosie to the circus. During drinks, August states that he wants Jacob to be the Bull Man, and Jacob explains he is not a real vet, as he did not receive a degree. August shockingly doesn't mind and they drink a cheer to Rosie. After an awkward moment with August, who is very drunk, Marlena puts him to bed. Jacob asks if he should go, and Marlena tells him to dance with her just once and then he can go. They dance and nearly kiss before she tells him he should leave.While training the elephant, August uses the bull hook too aggressively for Jacob's and Marlena's tastes, but they keep silent. Later during Rosie's first performance, with Marlena atop her, August uses too much force to try to get a more exciting performance out of Rosie. Rosie freaks out and runs from the tent, forcing Marlena to grab a pole at the exit of the tent before being carried off on the stampeding elephant. Although the crowd cheers at Marlena's great gymnastic move, August is enraged. After the workers coax Rosie back to the circus, he takes the bull hook and beats Rosie with it. Jacob tries to stop him, but is held back by other workers, and Marlena stands outside Rosie's train car with her hands over her ears until Rosie's shrieking stops.Later, Jacob discovers that Rosie is able to take commands that are spoken in German, and August couldn't be happier. All three of them go out to celebrate and, with August away from the table, Marlena and Jacob have a conversation about her past. At the end, she asks Jacob, Where were you when I was 17? The party gets raided (Prohibition Era), so Jacob and Marlena flee into an alley, far away from August. They share a kiss, but Marlena pulls away and tells Jacob not to follow her.Jacob and Marlena act as if nothing has happened between them, it's business as usual, and the circus is selling out shows. During a surprise celebration for Jacob (due to him discovering Rosie's talents), August senses something a bit too intimate when he notices an exchange between Jacob and Marlena. Later, August discovers Marlena and Jacob at her tent, and confronts them in an unconventional way. Marlena almost has August convinced there is nothing between her and Jacob, but he rejects her story. A fight breaks out and Jacob is forced to jump off the train, but not before convincing Marlena to jump with him.They find sanctuary at a hotel, and make love, but in the morning are discovered by August's henchmen. A bloodied and beaten Jacob regains consciousness only to discover Marlena is gone. He makes his way back to the circus and finds his closest work mates are not in their bunks. Knowing how August is, Jacob becomes enraged with thoughts of them having been killed (it is later explained they were thrown off the train, landed on a rock field, and did not survive). He sneaks into August's tent, to find Marlena lying with him. He has a knife in his hand and is about to kill August, but Marlena sees what he is about to do and convinces him otherwise. They meet the next morning and discuss their escape plan, which will be after the matinée act. While waiting for the show to be over, he hears the roar of the crowd change and rushes into the tent. The workers let the wild animals out of their cages, including the tigers and bears. This was done as payback for August's having had two of the workers (Jacob's closest work mates) killed. As the crowd rushes to get out, August encounters Jacob and begins hitting him with a pipe. Marlena sees what is happening, and tries to stop him, but is quickly taken down by August. He begins choking her, while his henchmen attend to Jacob, who is trying to get to Marlena. Rosie senses what is happening, just as Jacob begins speaking German to her, commanding her to pick up a spike and hit August with it. August dies.Jacob becomes a licensed veterinarian, and he and Marlena get married and start their own act. The movie returns to the present day and older Jacob explains that he and Marlena had five kids, and they kept the horses and Rosie. After many years, Rosie passed away, and Jacob explained that Marlena cried for days as Rosie had been part of their lives from the beginning. The young man asked what happened to Marlena, and he told him she passed away in her bed, still beautiful. Jacob says that he was able to give her everything he ever promised her. Jacob then asks the man for a job as a ticket taker for the circus, saying there's nothing wrong with him other than that he is old. The man agrees, saying that Jacob will go down in the records book as the oldest man to run away with the circus. Jacob laughs and says, I'm not running away, I'm coming home.

Review: He looked very appropriate for the time the movie was set in, and even though I love Emile Hirsch (who auditioned for Jacob too) I'm confident that Robert was the best choice there was for this role, it was perfect for him.
She looked beautiful, was charming and cute but it felt like something was missing - however, I can't think of any other actress I would have liked better in the role, so I came to the conclusion that it was probably the character Marlena that was a little bland, not Reese.
Also, in the beginning of the movie i really felt the chemistry between August and Marlena, which made the character even more interesting; however, I did feel like Jacob and Marlena had chemistry too, and in my opinion this way it was more realistic (both men loved her and she also cared about both of them).
Without being trite and redundant, it explores timeless and universal themes such as finding one's destiny and freedom, life choices, love, and jealousy, put in an interesting setting, that is the circus world -- the early 1900s when the US prohibition and depression were taking place -- which is nicely recreated on screen (by production designer Jack Fisk who's mostly known for his work with Terence Malick and David Lynch).
Based on Sara Gruen's novel, this very original story is beautifully told, uses classical film-making techniques -- its camera moves, staging, lighting, pacing, usage of 'live' animals, stunts and special effects -- and well acted -- Robert Pattison comes across as a decent lead actor and not just a pretty face; Reese Witherspoon, very convincing as the star circus girl, doing some of her own stunts; however Christoph Waltz's performance stands out the most as he maintains the dynamic among all the main characters and fuels the drama.
I'm talking about the breathtaking cinematography, courtesy of Rodrigo Prieto.While the leads(Robert Pattinson, Reese Witherspoon, Christoph Waltz) all turn in GREAT performances, the real star here is Tai the elephant.
At the same time it seems like an eternity once the elephant finally enters the film showing an inkling of hope, while the love triangle becomes childish, cliché and eventually annoying.Overall, the film has an average script that is aided by the performances of its actors.
(Yes we went through our own depression but it was quite different and much more difficult back then.) The film centers around Jacob (Robert Pattinson) a student of veterinary science at Cornell, who gives up his education and runs away after his parents die in a car accident.
Jacob eventually meets their ringleader August, played by Christolph Waltz (Inglorious Basterds) and his beautiful wife Marlena (Reese Witherspoon).
But for "Water for Elephants," this story was transported to the era of the Great Depression in the US where a young vet student joins a traditional big top circus, led by its perfectionist ringleader and his star performer wife.I guess period set pieces like this would only appeal to certain people.
The love triangle mixed with animal rights/humanitarianism makes for a fine story but it is one with a vast and well-trodden history and wears thin on a cinemaphile such as myself.The good news is, for fans of the book, there was definitely adequate attention paid to the production value and acting.
I don't know whether he fit the physical profile of August to a tee or not, but I think I could have introduced a circus better than his bearded self.All in all, whether you are a fan of the book or want an interesting perspective on a certain lifestyle of the depression era, Water for Elephants is worth seeing once.
The owner is curious about it since in 1931 there was the most famous disaster in history of circuses in the Benzini Circus and asks Jacob to tell what happened.In 1931, during the Great Depression, the Polish American Jacob (Robert Pattinson) lives with his beloved parents in a small ranch and studies veterinary in the Cornell University.
When the unstable and violent owner of the traveling circus, August (Christoph Waltz), learns that Jacob is a veterinary, he hires him to train his attraction, the elephant Rosie.
"Water for Elephants" is a beautiful romance developed in the Great Depression with the story of a youngster that loses his beloved parents and joins a circus by chance.
The lead cast is composed by the excellent Christoph Waltz, Reese Witherspoon and a surprisingly good Robert Pattinson besides the lovely elephant Rosie.
This is old-style adventure and romance --Hollywood film-making at its finest!I didn't read the novel, but I am an avid fan of classic films, and an animal lover, and I highly recommend "Water for Elephants" for most anyone (who is at least in their teens.) The only critique I have of this movie is that it was too short!
It was so beautiful and it carried me away so completely, I think I could have enjoyed it for another hour."Water for Elephants" sweeps you into circus life of the 1930's, during the hungry and desperate times of the Great Depression.
Jacob and Marlena were both lovely and believable in their restrained, refined roles.Christoph Waltz, as August, proved again he can be an "enigma absolute." He is charismatic and likable; his enthusiasm and joy is literally tangible, but somewhere beneath, there seems to lurk something so horrific, there simply aren't words to name it.I have so much admiration for the magic of this Christoph Waltz after "Inglourious Basterds" and now, this new film.
However, it lacks any serious emotional power, Robert Pattinson (so effectively cast in the "Twilight" movies) is a good looking, and interesting looking, guy, but he definitely isn't a great actor.
Christopher Waltz - who was really well cast in "Inglourous Basterds" is certainly entertaining to watch and I would attribute some of the failings of his colorful character to the script rather than his acting ability.The "chocolate box" cinematography is pleasant, colorful and sometimes atmospheric, rather than brilliant, and the film never really gets into top gear.
Those young viewers who are looking for lightweight escapism with a pretty, contemporary star in the male lead will probably forgive the film its lack of genuine dramatic tension, and a compelling narrative structure.Like I say, I really expected more from this film, but I guess so many of today's films are tailored to a teen aged democratic who lack the ability to concentrate for long periods of time, want fast editing and are not interested in seeing characters breathe or develop in interesting, realistic ways..
As for the Robert Pattinson, he really surprised me with his acting here because i didn't see twilight films at all and frankly i didn't see any of his work except in harry potter 4 and the bad mother's handbook in both of which he was good but because of all the negative criticism he is getting lately i wasn't sure about his performance but after watching the movie i must say he has potential because it is not easy to hold your own in front of two Oscar winning actors but he did amazing job.
There are a couple of what appear to be CGI shots of a train chugging across moonlit landscapes; even these lack magic.Robert Pattinson, star of the teen-vampire sensation "Twilight," is miscast as Jacob, the lead character, a circus vet.
People are going to walk out of this film wishing that they could have seen the movie centered around Christoph Waltz's August.
Waltz's nuanced performance brings to life an August who is very complex and worth caring about, despite his being a monster.It's clear that Sara Gruen, the book's author, and the filmmaker wanted to tell a story that featured lots of animals.
We were pleasantly surprised how well they included all of the most important points of Depression Era Circus life (and the story line), and happy that it was PG-13, and not the R of the book (which means we can take a larger variety of folks to the movie.) Each of the actors was excellent, capturing the true feeling of the characters in the book.Loved the animals, tho we missed the Yak at the end of the story.....
Of course Pattinson and Whitterspoon are a sweet pair but what makes this movie grand is the setting, the era it all plays in and the true art of film makingthe book I found bland, was turned over into something amazingly beautiful and definitely worth seeing.
It is there that he meets the beautiful circus performer, Marlena ( Reese Witherspoon, looking right for the part, but acting wrong for the part ), who feels an instant palpable heated attraction ( Is there any other kind?
He takes an initial liking to Jacob, and soon Jacob finds himself training August's latest acquisition, a libation-loving elephant named Rosie upon which Marlena learns to perform acrobatic stunts.
I think it's a true shame he is followed by the Twilight fame because his acting choices are bold and original.Reese Witherspoon proving herself to be truly adaptable to any role she plays shines in this also.As well as Christopher Waltz being terrifyingly believable as the ring master of the circus.The film is rich in story, beautifully filmed with stunning costumes and vivid colours.It's been a while since I've been truly moved by a film and would highly recommend this..
Reese Witherspoon is very graceful as the centre of the attention of the two men.The costumes and the sets are appropriate for the period and the cinematography is beautiful, making you feel like you are there amongst the magic and chaos of the circus in 1931.The array of performers, and the animals too, take centre stage from time to time, bringing light relief in some scenes and stirring more heart rending emotions in others.The film does not shy away from the problems of the Great Depression and the suffering of the many so that the few can profit.Overall, "Water For Elephants" harks back to a Golden Age of Hollywood when films stayed in your thoughts and emotions long after you left the cinema.
It is all so real, you forget this takes megabucks of movie magic.It is the story of August (played by Christopher Waltz), the owner of a second rate circus, a tyrant, a control freak.
All the other times it looked like Reese Witherspoon, Christopher Waltz and Robert Pattinson were performing their own stunts.
Later he gets hired as the vet to care for the animals and gets involved with August's (Waltz) wife, Marlena (Witherspoon).This starts out much like LITTLE BIG MAN in that 90-yrs old Jacob (Holbrook) tells his story to the owner of another circus and we go back in time to 1931 when Jacob joined the Benzini Circus.
I thought this was a wonderful movie.The story is interesting, the acting good, and the photography and production values outstanding.Of the three main actors - Robert Pattinson, Reese Witherspoon and Christoph Waltz, I'd go with Waltz as the best.
Mostly because this movie ended being incredibly good, having a incredibly emotional and heartwarming love story that seems like an homage to the romantic films made in the golden years of cinema.Just like "Australia", this homage works very well, with memorable scenes and characters.
All the performances were very good, Robert Pattison makes a incredible work as the main character, and Christoph Waltz gives an excellent performance as the antagonist.If you like classic movies from the golden age of Hollywood, then you will love "Water for Elephants".
The circus setting provides a magical environment for the story.Robert Pattinson's quiet, internal and understated acting style is perfect for the role of Jacob.
The story is through his eyes and we share with him the wonder, beauty and cruelty of life in the Circus during the Depression of the 30s.Reese Witherspoon is gorgeous as Marlena the star performer of the circus and wife of the sometimes cruel circus owner played brilliantly by Christoph Waltz.I thoroughly recommend Water for Elephants to anyone who enjoys a film with an actual story, who can appreciate subtle performances and who can take a moment to move at a different pace..
The film as a whole is a little hit and miss but it definitely has some good moments and is entertaining for the most part.Pattinson plays a young ex-veterinary student in the 1930's named Jacob (which is kind of funny if you know anything about 'TWILIGHT') who dropped out of school when his parents were killed, after becoming greatly in debt due to him.
That's the case with this film, you never truly believe Reese and Robert are in love with each other (which should be the heart of the film), but that's the problem with a lot of films so you can't fault it too much for that (and I don't think it's because of the two leads' ten years age difference, like some have noted, but it is funny that Pattinson played Witherspoon's son in a deleted scene to the 2004 film 'VANITY FAIR').
And with a circus comes the myriad of bountiful performances from clowns to acrobatic acts, right down to the taming of the lion even, that we the audience get to enjoy ringside seats at the celluloid big top spectacular, under the guidance of ringmaster August (Christoph Waltz), an astute businessman with a violent temper and penchant to get to his objectives set through any means possible.Jacob, a Cornell veterinarian undergraduate into his last legs of study until a family tragedy meant a wiping of kin and money, forcing the kid to grow up fast and take to the streets in order to survive.
It's not always easy for the new guy in the various orientation / honeymoon stages of a new job where he's tasked to look after the circus animals, and then that of its star attraction, the aged elephant christened Rosie.What I enjoyed about the film isn't the romance, but rather how the troupe opted to survive under the leadership of August, who doesn't always make the popular decisions, but the right ones, sometimes dubious, necessary to ensure the continuation of their corporation.
Reese Whitherspoon on the other hand didn't lift her game opposite her more youthful co-star, and didn't look at all comfortable which shows in the film.Animal lovers will likely take offense at Christoph's ruthless portrayal of August, which is a good thing as he makes it easier to dislike his sociopathic character.
But the brilliance of Christoph's portrayal also means playing the sympathetic card as well, since the real push of the character over the edge, is the slow losing of the grip on his wife, and his troupe as well, in what would be a CG filled final act that didn't quite look too polished.Francis Lawrence that took a leaf from how James Cameron's Titanic bookended the film, with Water For Elephants delivering a surprisingly enjoyable period piece with great production values set around train travels, animals and circus acts, complete with emotional maturity befitting a classic, if not for the relative weaker romantic elements to rob it of some shine..
Jacob gets a job in the Benzini Bros circus run by the volatile and sadistic August (Christoph Waltz) and he starts to treat the animals because of his veterinary skills.When August acquires Rosie the elephant, August brutally mistreats her until Jacob realises that he elephant only understands commands in Polish, a language Jacob knows.Jacob works with August's beautiful younger wife, Marlena (Reese Witherspoon) to train Rosie and both fall in love.
However August suspects their affair and plans to throw Jacob off the train.Water for Elephants is a handsomely mounted film but it is only a passable romance movie.
In 2011, my love for all things Christoph brought me to Francis Lawrence's feature also starring Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson, Water for Elephants.
In a prominent role for Christoph, playing the ringmaster in a traveling circus in 1931, Water for Elephants exposes the struggles of a young man who lost his parents in the midst of the Great Depression.
Wisely, someone trimmed his eyebrows, and Pattinson also manages to project a human affect...if this guy can ever get away from being typecast as dumbass lovesick vampire, he might have a career doing supporting roles in film, or maybe as a co-star in a TV series.Reese Witherspoon is good here, and the early 1930's type make-up has the unexpected effect of making her somewhat bizarre face (actually, it's just the chin) seem quite lovely.And it's nice to see Hal Holbrook getting a little work.
Honourable mentions go to; Paul Schneider as Charlie, Jim Norton as Camel and Hal Holbrook as Old Jacob.This film does suffer a little from cliché and predictability, although I did like the way Christoph Waltz played the character of August.
The film had a great story line, although i liked seeing Robert Pattinson in something other then the Twilight movies, I personally feel he played his part better than Reece Witherspoon whose acting wasn't too great in some parts, but it was only in parts and it didn't ruin the film.
The Opening :- Water for elephants was a good entertainer with decent performances , nice background score and well-told story about the life in a Circus.
It is the survival of Jacob and Marlena that completes the ending of the tale.The three main actors - Waltz, Pattinson and Witherspoon - carry the film well, but the cameos among the supporting cast provide just the right flavor to make the story not only credible but also in recreating a tragic period in American history.
What the audience watches in the circus is an illusion performed at the commands of their master, August, and Jacob and Marlena (Reese Witherspoon) realize and see the pain inflicted on the animals and soon, their lives.
Water For Elephants, based on a novel by Sara Gruen, is a love story set on a circus during The Great Depression.