The film grossed $6,924,487 during its opening day on April 22, 2011, with midnight screenings in 2,817 locations. On a budget of $38 million,[4] filming began on May 20, 2010 in Los Angeles, Piru, Fillmore in California, Chattanooga, Tennessee, Kensington and Chickamauga in Georgia. However, Jacob backs out, leaving the knife on August's pillow to send a message. After that, Rosie performs beautifully and the circus enjoys a short period of success. "[13], Some critics, however, praised the film's cast. The group has released a 2005 video showing the elephant — who also appeared in 1995's Operation Dumbo Drop and 1996's Larger Than Life — that appears alongside Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson being beaten with hooks and electric shocked to perform headstands. After Jacob's unrelenting, Charlie agrees and Jacob believes that he has finally come home. One night Jacob climbs up and jumps each train car, while the train is moving, to August's room, carrying a knife between his teeth intending to kill August. © 2020 The Hollywood Reporter In fact, the organization circulating this video claims it was taken in 2005, which was at least five years before the movie went into production and at least a year before the book on which the movie is based was even published. I have heard stories of both types of redlighting actually happening in the . In the beginning of the novel, Jacob mocks another nursing home resident who claims to have worked in the circus and carried the water for the elephants. He then realizes that Walter and Camel were red-lighted and that he was also supposed to have been too. 2006, USA, Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, a division of Workman Publishing. The ADI contacted AHA, urging them to re-evaluate how they assess the use of animals in films and the statements being made which effectively endorse the use of performing animals. [5], The stampede scenes were digitally composed.[6]. It is revealed that Jacob and Marlena married and had five children, spending the first seven years with Ringling before Jacob got a job as a vet for the Chicago Zoo. Sitemap | Twentieth Century Fox feels strongly that we have taken every step to ensure that the film, while portraying the perception of animal abuse (often through digital effects), held in utmost importance the proper care and humane treatment of all animals involved in the production. Jacob watches the married couple flirt and dance in front of him, but it becomes clear that their relationship is complicated because August is possessive, jealous and rough with Marlena. In the ensuing panic, Rosie (the elephant that August abused) takes a stake and drives it into August's head. Marlena tries to save Jacob from being beaten by August, but this causes the latter to turn his fury on her. The character of "Uncle Al" was removed, and instead August is both the owner and animal trainer. Marlena tells Jacob that his friends Walter and Camel were thrown from the train and killed. August's body is then trampled in the stampede. August is suspicious of their relationship and physically assaults both Marlena and Jacob. The historical fiction novel follows a 20th century circus drama. A video released by the Animal Defenders International (ADI) in 2011 shows footage of Tai allegedly being shocked with handheld stun guns and beaten around the body and legs with bull hooks, while in the care of Have Trunk Will Travel in 2005. 18 in action", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Water_for_Elephants&oldid=979000727, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, a division of Workman Publishing, Entertainment Weekly Best Novel of 2006 nominee, Winner of the 2007 BookBrowse award for most popular book, The paperback hit #1 on the New York Times Best Seller list on July 8, 2007. FACEBOOK I had my jeweler re-bead it with bright-blue stones to match her costume.". Marlena and Jacob leave, taking with them a number of the circus animals including Rosie, Queenie, and Marlena's horses. creature striding down the midway. In the dark of night, Jacob jumps on a train, later learning it is a circus train belonging to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. The equestrian director, August, is a brutal man who abuses the animals in his care (such as the new elephant, Rosie) and the people around him, though he can also be charming and generous. It received mixed reviews from film critics and grossed $117 million worldwide for a budget of $38 million. On the train Jacob is befriended by Camel, an old man and circus veteran, who persuades his companions not to throw Jacob off the train. A 42-year-old Asian elephant named Tai — most recently known for the role of Rosie in Fox’s Water for Elephants — was abused by its trainers in 2005, according to Animal Defenders International. If there was truly any abuse going on why wait six minutes, much less six years?" Gruen has said that the backbone of her story parallels the biblical story of Jacob in the Book of Genesis.[4]. Camel takes him under his wing and is able to find him odd menial jobs. Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle stated that Pattinson succeeded at holding his own at the center of a major feature and that Witherspoon, while an odd fit for the role, was "actress enough to make it work." TWITTER A spokesperson from the AHA assured people that all scenes of abuse in the film were the work of special effects and CGI, and that the moaning and crying sounds that Tai is seen making on film were audio tracks, and were not actually made by Tai. "[12] James Berardinelli, film critic for ReelViews, wrote: "There's an old-fashioned vibe to Water for Elephants; it's the kind of movie Hollywood once turned out with regularity but rarely does anymore. Circus. His father has left huge debts, and the bank was foreclosing on Jacob's home. For the film adaptation of the same name, see. He worked as a veterinarian with a circus. Fox and the filmmakers behind Water for Elephants are disturbed and saddened by the video being circulated that purportedly shows the elephant Tai being mistreated several years ago. Jacob's memories are ignited by the arrival of a circus to town. Jacob worked as a veterinarian and she continued to perform with Rosie. When Jacob returns to his train car, he finds that no one is there, except for Queenie. "[10], Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times gave the film a positive review, stating that "despite the stars' lack of romantic chemistry, there's much to enjoy in this cinematic retelling of Sara Gruen's big top bestseller, starting with the spectacular circus setting. "[9] Todd McCarthy of The Hollywood Reporter gave the film a positive review. Hal Holbrook played the older Jacob Jankowski. When Jacob learns that his parents' home has been mortgaged to pay for his tuition and that his father's practice will not become his own, he has an emotional breakdown and leaves his Ivy League school just short of graduation. "It had a silver lace inside the frame that you just don't find anymore. In the United States and Canada, the film was released theatrically in 2,817 conventional theaters. It stars Reese Witherspoon, Robert Pattinson, and Christoph Waltz.[3]. Gruen wrote the book as part of the National Novel Writing Month.[1][2]. In the film Water for Elephants the elephant Rosie, whom Tai portrays, is severely abused. “The public, the stars and the filmmakers have been duped. After finding out no one is coming for him, Jacob makes his way to the circus next to the nursing home on his own. All rights reserved. Soon after he comforts her, they end up making love, and soon declare their love for each other. This book follows a similar narrative structure as Water for Elephants, with an eighty year old Mabel thinking back to her life in the circus and how it all began when she escaped from a mental institution only to find employment as a burlesque dancer. Reshoots for the film were scheduled for mid January 2011. This poor elephant was trained to do the very tricks you see in the film by being given electric shocks.”. A 42-year-old Asian elephant named Tai — most recently known for the role of Rosie in Fox’s Water for Elephants — was abused by its trainers in 2005, according to Animal Defenders International. August attempts to kill Marlena by choking her while Jacob fights with one of August's henchmen, who easily defeats him. Water for Elephants is a story about an elderly man, Jacob, who recalls an adventure in his younger years. Soon after consummating their relationship, they are ambushed by August's henchmen who drag Marlena away and beat up Jacob. The film was released on Blu-ray and DVD on November 1, 2011 in two physical packages: a 1-disc DVD and 2-disc Blu-ray/Digital Copy combo pack. The filming wrapped up on August 4, 2010. He sees a beautiful young woman named Marlena Rosenbluth, and meets August, the circus's ringmaster, head animal trainer, and Marlena's husband. When the owner of the circus, Uncle Al, learns of Jacob's training as a vet, he is hired to care for the circus animals. It received mixed reviews from film critics and grossed $117 million worldwide for a budget of $38 million. Advertisement. 18., built in 1914.[11][12]. A few weeks later Jacob is summoned to examine Camel, who, after drinking "Jake" (adulterated Jamaican ginger extract) for many years, is unable to move his arms or legs. Water for Elephants is a 2011 American romantic drama film directed by Francis Lawrence and written by Richard LaGravenese, based on Sara Gruen's 2006 novel of the same name. August eventually procures Rosie the elephant as Silver's replacement. "[7] Metacritic, which assigns a weighted mean rating to reviews, the film has a score of 52 out of 100, based on 35 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". We are strongly opposed to violence against animals, humans or any creatures. He took on a job as a vet at the Albany Zoo and after more children and many happy years together Marlena died. The film was released in the United States on April 22, 2011. Granted, they'd also take a look at his handler, the divoon Robert Pattinson; but Rosie has a pretty strong odor too, and that's what will stick to you after seeing Water for Elephants. The Guardian continues to provide its readers with the real story , at a . Other cast members include Mark Povinelli as Kinko/Walter, Jim Norton as Camel, James Frain as Rosie's caretaker, Ken Foree as Earl, and Paul Schneider as Charlie O'Brien. Jacob is waiting for one of his children to take him to the circus. As a result of this incident, the Benzini Brothers circus is shut down. and added "None of the footage being shown was taken during Tai's training for Water for Elephants. A few days later, after discovering that August has tried to see Marlena, Jacob visits her in her hotel room. by The film was released in the United States on April 22, 2011. The site's critical consensus reads, "It's a tale tastefully told and beautifully filmed, but Water for Elephants suffers from a pronounced lack of chemistry between its leads. WrimoRadio interview with Sara Gruen, November 29, 2008. https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0CE7D61F31F934A35752C0A9619C8B63, New York Times Best Seller list for paperback fiction, "Railroad museum prepares for excursion program", "20th Century Fox shoots McCloud River No. Gruen has said that the backbone of her story parallels the biblical story of Jacob in the Book of Genesis. In one of them, Marlena whispers to Jacob, 'Bring Rosie to my tent and don't tell anyone' — as if the roustabouts wouldn't notice a 12-ft.-tall, 10,000-lb. Have Trunk Will Travel responded to the video stating, "The video shows heavily edited and very short snippets, obviously taken surreptitiously six years ago, purporting mistreatment of our elephants. Fearing Camel will be "red-lighted" (thrown off a moving train as punishment or as severance from the circus to avoid paying wages),[3] Jacob hides him in his room. Back in the present, Jacob explains to O'Brien in flashbacks that he returned to Cornell and finished his degree. The story is told through a series of memories by Jacob Jankowski, a 93-year-old man who lives in a nursing home. Soon after, Uncle Al's corpse is found with a makeshift garrote around his neck.

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