Release Date: 22 April 2011 (USA) Runtime: USA: 120 min
Genres: Drama | Romance
Tagline: Life is the most spectacular show on earth.
Filming Locations: 20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA
Directed by Francis Lawrence
Writing credits (WGA) : Richard LaGravenese
Original Music by James Newton Howard
Cinematography by Rodrigo Prieto
STORYLINE
After his parents' death, Jacob Jankoski is left penniless and homeless. Events lead him to joining the circus as their vet, working under their unstable boss August whose violent tendencies give everyone reason to be cautious around him, including his beautiful and quiet wife Marlena, whom August is very possessive of and who Jacob finds himself soon falling in love with.
MAIN CASTS: Reese Witherspoon, Robert Pattinson , Christoph Waltz , Paul Schneider ,Jim Norton , Hal Holbrook , Mark Povinelli , Richard Brake , Stephen Taylor , Ken Foree ,Scott MacDonald , James Frain , Sam Anderson , John Aylward , Brad Greenquist
Box Office
Budget: $38,000,000 (estimated)
Opening Weekend: $16,842,353 (USA) (24 April 2011) (2817 Screens)
Gross: $58,700,247 (USA) (7 August 2011)
Production Co: Fox 2000 Pictures, 3 Arts Entertainment, Flashpoint Entertainment
REVIEW
Water For Elephants got released here a full week ahead of the US and first let me indulge in the joy of being able to review such a highly anticipated film before my fellow American film-loving counterparts.
The film completely fulfilled my expectations. It is a well scripted, meticulously shot and finely acted period drama, the likes of which are increasingly less to come by at the movies these days. A big congratulations to all those involved with the production for having the confidence to delve into this venture. Actually I am very curious about its box-office. Last year was a surprisingly profitable year for adult dramas and if that is any indication, this fine film should continue the same trend.
Water For Elephants really impresses with the production design, atmosphere, costumes and stunts. Most of the time I felt like I was watching a classic film made during the studio era; it looked that authentic and faultless. The three main actors all seem satisfied for having such meaty parts and deliver more than satisfactory performances. Robert Pattinson shines and proves that he is capable as a serious actor. Reese Witherspoon has always been a true professional and here with her stunts demonstrates that again. She also fits surprisingly well to the 1930s platinum blonde beauty type. Christopher Waltz is a wonderful actor and here it becomes very clear that his success in Inglorious Basterds was not a one-off. The story is very emotional and while it touches the heart romantically, it also manages to lay down a heretofore unseen dark aspect of old era circus entertainment in particular and also crowd entertainment as a whole. I almost wished for a three hour epic after it ended; it left me wanting more. The whole thing was really interesting.
All in all a wonderful and deeply satisfying experience at the movies, well worth every dime. Go see it so that adult dramas of this caliber (in terms of star power, production budget and subsequent attention to detail) could continue to be made.
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