The film is set mostly during the Great Depression and the Prohibition era, the main plot recollected in the modern day by our main character, Jacob Jankowski, whose elderly self is played charmingly by Hal Holbrook ("Into the Wild"). In 1931, Jacob (now played by Pattinson) is told that both of his parents have been killed in a car accident, and that he will lose the family home due to the piles of debt his father left behind. Dropping out of his veterinary science course at college, he is now homeless, taking to wandering down the railroad as a drifter, unaware of where he is going, naively betting on pure chance.
As he travels down the tracks, he finds himself hopping on the official train of the spectacular travelling Benzini Brothers Circus, landing the delightful job of scooping up horseshit. He then meets the owner and ringleader of the circus, August Rosenbluth (Christoph Waltz, "The Green Hornet"), and requests another job, resulting in Jacob becoming the vet for the show's plethora of performing animals, sneakily claiming that he graduated from college.
As he gets to inspecting the animals, he becomes familiar with the show's bareback rider, the beautiful Marlena (Reese Witherspoon, "How Do You Know"), who also happens to be August's loyal wife. There's that typical moment where our innocent protagonist stares longingly at the film's love interest from a distance, the film slowing down and the music turning into something romantic.
So, we have a bit of a love triangle on our hands. Jacob struggles to keep from gawking at the gorgeous lady who rides horses so splendidly. Marlena also becomes a little infatuated with the college drop-out, but knows her boundaries and vows not to cross them. And August begins to suspect that something is going on between his wife and the new recruit, which proves a test to his incredibly unstable temper. Well, this is much better than insecure girl, topless werewolf and vegetarian vampire.
It's all too obvious to call "Water for Elephants" old-fashioned; this comes naturally with the era in which it's set. What I will say is that it has a charm about it, one that is welcoming and creates a sense of wonder, one that's suitably dazzling as we watch circus performers entertain an audience, as we watch trapeze artists twirl and elephants stand up on their hind legs.
However, it is the love triangle that is the film's focus rather than the events of the big top's ring, all told from the point of view of our inexperienced protagonist. One feels that he is foolish for attempting to claim the ruthless ringleader's bride, but one also feels that he is brave and that he is doing only what his heart tells him to.
Pattinson, an actor unrightfully slapped with the title of "flat and wooden," holds his own as he performs alongside two Academy Award winners. He's playing a somewhat sympathetic character, a man who's lost everything in his life, a man who cares for the animals he treats, a man whose courage builds as the film draws closer to the end credits. As he also showed in last year's "Remember Me," he's not just a pale-faced, spiky-haired bloodsucker -- RPattz has proper acting skills.
Witherspoon is also a delight as a sweet and innocent 30-something who feels a sense of obligation to stay loyal to her husband, in spite of his practically bipolar temper. However, it is with the relationship between Witherspoon and Pattinson that the film falters slightly. They're both wonderful in their roles, but something doesn't quite click between them, their chemistry not quite ringing true. You'll no doubt find yourself caring for them, but they're lacking in that spark that makes the romances of classical movies so immersing and truly captivating.
And then there's Waltz once again playing the shark-eyed villain of sorts, his character at times a detestable, psychopathic brute, at others charming and good-humoured. He's uncaring about the suffering of the animals of his shows, angering both Jacob and Marlena as he callously beats the main attraction, an elephant named Rosie (played by Tai, who's previously performed in "The Jungle Book" and "George of the Jungle"). Those who aren't of any value to him are lobbed off moving trains. He claims to love Marlena, but is abusive towards her, damn near strangling her to death at one point. He's not entirely evil, but by god he's a basterd.
"Water for Elephants" is a thing of beauty, and that's not just because of the utterly spellbinding cinematography by Rodrigo Prieto ("Biutiful"). It's pure melodrama, hitting all the right emotional notes, all handled perfectly by the trio of stars. The slack narrative is engaging, the love triangle at the centre of the story worthy of much intrigue. And while there's little in terms of chemistry between Pattinson and Witherspoon, they're a lovely watch alongside the sneering, grinning git played marvellously by Waltz. Still, they're all outshone by the real star of the picture -- a 42-year-old, gray-skinned land mammal with rather large ears and a long, water-spurting trunk. Give that elephant an Oscar. And some peanuts.
8/10
I agree with you, they did a pretty good job. my favorite scenes are those with the elephant. I think robert really loves that animal, they look gorgeous together
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