Although “Water for Elephants” is moderately enjoyable, the biggest problem is the casting of Robert Pattinson in the lead. While he might be effective in the teen Twilight series, he’s too shallow of an actor to carry this movie. All he does is brood and react instead of exhibiting a dramatic spark that makes us want to watch him on the big screen. And there’s absolutely no chemistry between him and Reese Witherspoon, which makes their illicit love not dangerous, but, well, boring. Pattinson has more chemistry with Rosie, the elephant. Only Christoph Waltz manages to chew up the scenery as his character, August, gets to rant and rave and explode. August is a manipulative sadistic control freak with a temper and Waltz has fun with it in an over-the-top kind of way.
It’s the middle of the Depression and Jacob (Pattinson) is soon to receive his veterinary degree from Cornell when his parents are killed, leaving him destitute. Jacob forges an unlikely new life working with the animals for the Benzini Brothers’ Circus, owned by the iron-fisted August (Waltz), who is also jealously protective of his young wife, Marlena (Witherspoon), the star of the show. August has a unique way of laying off his workers when the gate is especially low – he has his henchmen throw them from the moving train so he doesn’t have to pay them. When circumstances bring an elephant named Rosie to the circus, August finally has the one sure-fire act that will draw crowds. But Rose won’t perform so August beats her with a bull hook. Then one night, Jacob discovers that Rosie, who likes booze, responds only to commands in Polish. The circus’ fortunes improve, but August beings to suspect that there’s something between Marlena and Jacob. Directed by Francis Lawrence, “Water for Elephants” has an impressive look and Rosie the elephant is quite a performer. Too bad she’s not enough to save this movie. 4/22/11
2 comments:
This is not a good movie and should flop at the box office. Robert Pattinson is the big problem, he should stick to the "Twilight' flicks. Hopeless!!
Robert Patterson and Reese Witherspoon together??? The casting is the very reason I saw little promise in this movie and did not bother to go see it. Robert Patterson is a a vampire in my mind...a love interest of Reese Witherspoon's character? Not even close in my mind...I did hear the Elephant was fabulous and so happy to read that she was not in the least way harmed. This was another reason I was not interested in seeing the film...any implication of the torture circus animals in real life have endured is off my list of movies I want to see.
Post a Comment