WATER FOR ELEPHANTS
US, 2011, 120 minutes. Colour.
Reese Witherspoon, Robert Pattinson, Christoph Waltz, Hal Holbrook, Paul Schneider, Jim Norton.
Directed by Francis Lawrence.
This morning a Melbourne reviewer, who obviously had forgotten to take his happy pill, gave Water for Elephants no stars out of five and vented a bit of spleen throughout his review, trying to prove it should not get any stars. This afternoon, the group behind me in the cinema shed some tears, compared it favourably to the book by Sara Gruen, one declaring the film was excellent.
So, somewhere in between.
While the film opens in the present with a very old man standing in the rain watching the circus gear being packed up, and then narrating his story to the manager of the circus, and hoping to get a job instead of going back to his nursing home, the main story is one from the Great Depression, 1931. Hal Holbrook brings quite some dignity to the old man.
As he tells his story (which leads us to expect a circus disaster), his voice changes into that of his younger self, Jacob, the son of Polish migrants who is studying at Cornell to be a vet. He is forced to cut short his studies when his parents die in an accident and he hops a train which belongs to the Benzini Brothers Circus.
This is a circus story (which certainly doesn’t paint the circus fraternity as a nice and welcoming community) but it is quite interesting as it takes us into that community and the life and work demanded to keep the show going. And, in the Depression, times are tough, audiences can be scarce, and there is the pressure of selling tickets as well as finding new acts.
Jacob is almost thrown out but proves his worth with his veterinary knowledge. While he does the most menial jobs at first, when the circus acquires an elephant, he not only carries the water for Rosie the elephant but he is its keeper and trainer. The rider of the elephant is Marlena, the wife of the circus owner and manager, August. And, yes, you are not wrong. There will be emotional complications.
The film depends very much on the presence and performance by Robert Pattinson. His Twilight fans will have no difficulty is responding well to him. Those who find his undead Edward Cullen too passively pale and morose will cheer up to find that Water for Elephants can depend on him after all. It’s a pleasantly standard performance but it is something of a relief to see that there is a life for Pattinson after Edward (despite his vampiric immortality) and this is a boost to Pattinson’s career. Actually, he laughs a lot, perhaps grins too often, but, with a short back and sides, and getting stuck into his elephant care, he presents a strong enough character.
He has to because he is up against August, the circus owner, who is ambitious, desperate, cruel and prone to fly off the handle rather murderously even though he then can repent and present a surface of charm. He is played by Christoph Waltz who won the Oscar and a myriad other awards for his performance as Landa in Inglourious Basterds and then the villain in The Green Hornet. He is also due as Cardinal Richelieu in the 2011 version of The Three Musketeers. He does screen villains who can chill you despite the sometimes front of urbanity.
Marlena is Reese Witherspoon who has a story to explain why she is married to August and the hold he has over her.
The circus disaster does come at the end but is presented in a rather matter of fact way rather than as a big and sensational disaster.
Water for Elephants does deserve some stars – it is easy and popular entertainment,
1. The title, the focus on Jacob, the circus, Rosie the elephant?
2. The target audience, the romantic audience, circus interest, human drama?
3. The framework, the old Jacob, the rain, the circus, talking to Charlie, remembering, the voice change to the younger Jacob, the narration, the end and the return to the old man? His story, not wanting to return to the nursing home, wanting a job, not worrying about his age, delighting in work and energy? The final visuals of the home movies and a happy life?
4. Jacob and his Polish background, going to Cornell to study, the exam day, his parents, their deaths and his identifying the bodies? Interrupting his studies? The will? The profligate and extravagant father, doing his work in exchange for goods rather than money? Jacob having nothing? The Depression?
5. 1931, the atmosphere of the Depression, the lack of jobs, men hopping and riding the trains, the role of the circus, audiences and escape, the animals, the circus and debts, the need to sell tickets, the crew and the gangs, the precarious life?
6. The look of the film, the American towns, vehicles, shops? Clothes, décor? The score and the variety of moods? Romantic and dramatic?
7. Jacob destitute, hearing the train signal, his motives for jumping the train, almost thrown off? Saved by Camel? His doing the work, shovelling the excrement? The confrontation with August? Marlena and the horse? August and his whims? The decision about the horse? Marlena sad? Jacob deciding to put the horse down after his diagnosis? August’s reaction, the threats, the thugs, about to throw him out, throwing him back in? august and his rules – yet a respect for Jacob?
8. Jacob and his work, discussing his life with Marlena? With August? The friendship with Camel? With Walter, Walter’s dog, sharing with him? Grady and Earl and their throwing people off the train? August and his desperation, as the ringmaster, inviting the audiences to enjoy the circus, the stars, Marlena? His history of the Benzini Brothers’ circus? People doing runners, taking the money? His rivalry with and despising of the Ringling Brothers’ circus?
9. Jacob as the official vet, his diagnosis of the illness of the horse and putting it down? Telling the truth about his not being a vet, August explaining that everybody was a con in some way? The issue of the elephant, the money for the elephant, the trainer and his discussions about the elephant and its needs? Jacob and his attraction to the elephant, Marlena and overcoming her fears? August and his harshness in treating the elephant? Making Jacob use the prod? August and his using the prod and making the elephant bleed? The elephant and the performance, Marlena riding into the big top? The crowds and their response? The elephant going to the front, reassuring the audience? The sudden attack, the elephant running out, Marlena staying on the bar and calming people down? The elephant in the town, Jacob going to bring Rosie home? August and the beating, the blood, Marlena and her reaction, August wanting forgiveness?
10. Jacob and his relationship with the couple, having meals with them, drinking, the attraction to Marlena, Marlena resisting? The casino, the night out on the town, the raid, the escape?
11. August and his angers, his suspicion of Marlena, turning violent, harsh treatment of her? Jacob? The thugs?
12. Rosie, Jacob tending her, the Polish language – and her being able to perform all her tricks? August’s delight?
13. August, his wanting to fire Jacob, suspicions of Marlena, holding on to her? Camel and his reaction, saving Jacob? The men and their support of Jacob?
14. The vengeance, the men letting the animals loose, the rampage in the circus itself, the people fleeing, the animals and going to the town?
15. Jacob, taking Marlena, jumping off the train, going to the hotel, the thugs finding them?
16. The confrontation with August, the violence, the uprising against August, his death?
17. The police, stating that there were no charges, no proofs?
18. The minor characters and their contribution to the atmosphere, Camel and his age, friendliness, illness? Walter, the dwarf, his dog, bonding with Jacob? The other members of the circus, the range of clowns, dwarfs, carnival characters? The animals, the lion with no teeth and August’s joke with Jacob and feeding him? Hyenas, monkeys?
19. Jacob and his escaping with Marlena? Narrating his story – the happy ever after? The consequences for Jacob – and whether the circus would employ him, selling tickets, urging people to come to the circus – and the fulfilment of his life?
