A STILL FROM THE MOVIE  | Critic's Rating: Cast: Robert Pattinson, Reese Witherspoon, Christoph Waltz Direction: Francis Lawrence Genre: Drama Duration: 2 hours Readers Rating: |
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Artistic period romance
Story: Jacob Jankowski (Robert Pattinson), a young veterinary student is forced to abandon his studies after the untimely death of his parents. He hops aboard a circus train in the 1930s and begins to work as a vet. But will he survive, specially when he falls in love with Marlene (Reese Witherspoon), the star performer who happens to be the wife of August (Christoph Waltz), the brutish ring master who believes animals -- and humans -- necessarily need to be dominated. He finds a friend in Rosie, the elephant, who understands only Polish commands and becomes Marlene's star mascot.
Movie Review: This is arthouse cinema, meant for viewers who are in no rush; rather, they would like to sit back and let a story and its characters grow on you in a leisurely pace, without compromising on mood, period and ambience.
The film is a movie adaptation of Sara Gruens' best-selling book which lovingly traced the role a gentle pachyderm played in the romance of two star-crossed lovers, against a circus backdrop. While Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon's forbidden affair may be the focus of the story, ironically, the other affair becomes more arresting in the film version. And that's the all-consuming, obsessive, brutal love that Witherspoon's husband, August (Christoph Waltz) harbours for her. Christoph's characterisation of the cruel ringmaster, who operates under a veneer of kindness, is a towering performance and completely steals the show, despite the stellar roles that each and every fringe character plays in the film. Even the animals -- the horses, the elephant, the dog -- are unforgettable, specially the booze-guzzling Rosie with her tattooed trunk that literally talks to you.
The film is as much an ode to the extravaganza that circuses used to be, as it is an enigmatic, old-fashioned Hollywood romance. More importantly, it is a platform for Pattinson to burst forth from the Twilight zone and prove he is much more than pallid vampire material. He tries hard and almost convinces you....Of course, there's the talented Reese Witherspoon to cover up for his occasional gawkiness, but the winner is Jack Fisk's artistic production design and Christoph Waltz's sadistic ring master act.
Sit back and savour Hollywood in retro mood.
The film is a movie adaptation of Sara Gruens' best-selling book which lovingly traced the role a gentle pachyderm played in the romance of two star-crossed lovers, against a circus backdrop. While Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon's forbidden affair may be the focus of the story, ironically, the other affair becomes more arresting in the film version. And that's the all-consuming, obsessive, brutal love that Witherspoon's husband, August (Christoph Waltz) harbours for her. Christoph's characterisation of the cruel ringmaster, who operates under a veneer of kindness, is a towering performance and completely steals the show, despite the stellar roles that each and every fringe character plays in the film. Even the animals -- the horses, the elephant, the dog -- are unforgettable, specially the booze-guzzling Rosie with her tattooed trunk that literally talks to you.
The film is as much an ode to the extravaganza that circuses used to be, as it is an enigmatic, old-fashioned Hollywood romance. More importantly, it is a platform for Pattinson to burst forth from the Twilight zone and prove he is much more than pallid vampire material. He tries hard and almost convinces you....Of course, there's the talented Reese Witherspoon to cover up for his occasional gawkiness, but the winner is Jack Fisk's artistic production design and Christoph Waltz's sadistic ring master act.
Sit back and savour Hollywood in retro mood.
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