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Water For Elephants Film Adaptation Getting Fast-Tracked

BuzzSugar — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 10:31:31 PDT

Sara Gruen's bestselling novel Water For Elephants has apparently been at the center of a competitive bidding war among movie studios, with victory going to Fox 2000. The studio beat out Warner Bros., Universal, and Paramount for the rights, mostly because of "the company's passion and track record with literary adaptations." The Hollywood Reporter has more:

The book centers on a 90-year-old man reminiscing about his life and is set during the Depression, when he found work at a B-level circus taking care of the animals. He sees the brutality of circus life while falling for the wife of an abusive animal trainer.

Fox 2000 president Elizabeth Gabler acknowledged the translation might face challenges because of the nature of the story, yet she believes in the project's power.

"It's a period movie," she said, "and it's a circus movie . . . It is a risky piece of material, but there is a lot going for it. It's inspirational and it packs a lot of punch. And it'll attract a lot of talented people."

I Am Legend director Francis Lawrence will direct.

Have you read Water for Elephants? Do you have any casting suggestions? Should I make this book one of my Buzz Book Club selections?

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What to Rent: New DVDs This Week

BuzzSugar — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 05:30:00 PDT

Crazy, Stupid, Love

When Cal Weaver (Steve Carell)'s wife (Julianne Moore) blindsides him with the news that she has cheated on him and wants a divorce, the heartbroken and newly single guy turns to ladies' man Jacob Palmer (Ryan Gosling). Jacob helps him re-enter the dating world by coaching him on how to successfully approach women, but gets more than he bargained for when he meets his match in Hannah (Emma Stone). Carell and Gosling have incredible onscreen chemistry, and it's refreshing to see Gosling in a comedic role. DVD extras include deleted scenes and featurettes with Gosling and Carell.

77%

Water for Elephants

Based on the bestseller by Sara Gruen, this film chronicles the romance between Jacob Jankowski (Robert Pattinson), who works as the veterinarian for a traveling big-top circus, and the show's lead performer Marlena (Reese Witherspoon), who just so happens to be married to temperamental ring leader August (Christoph Waltz). Though the film isn't as comprehensive as the novel, it does a great job presenting the material it does use, while also capturing the visually stunning and colorful world of the circus. The DVD includes an interview with Pattinson, as well as a featurette on adapting the novel for the big screen.

61%

See one more DVD release when you keep reading.

Water For Elephants: More Than Just Love Under the Big Top

Becky Kirsch — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 07:55:47 PDT

On the surface, Water For Elephants is a film chronicling the love story that unfolds between a veterinarian and a performer while traveling with a circus in the 1930s. But when you dig a bit deeper, you see what's beneath Hollywood's veneer of shiny costumes and stolen kisses: an often harrowing story about the art of illusion and the truths that are revealed when we take a peek behind the proverbial curtain. Thanks to spot-on performances, gorgeous cinematography, and rich storytelling, Water For Elephants is a satisfying and captivating adaptation of Sara Gruen's best-selling novel.

We see the film through the memory of Jacob Jankowski (Hal Holbrook), an elderly man who finds himself at the box office of a circus after hours and begins reflecting on his own time with the now-defunct Benzini Brothers show. Enter Robert Pattinson as Jacob's younger self, a Cornell student on the verge of taking his last final when a shocking tragedy calls him away from his test. Shell-shocked and aimless, Jacob impulsively climbs aboard a moving train and is soon consumed by the clandestine underbelly of a traveling circus.

To see why this film is worth the price of admission, just keep reading.

Rob, Reese, Christoph, and More From the Water For Elephants Premiere in NYC!

Lauren Turner — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 01:12:00 PDT

The world premiere of Water For Elephants was the place to be in NYC last night. Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon were the stars of the red carpet with Reese stepping out in a sexy white Jason Wu dress and Rob bringing his hotness in a suit. Christoph Waltz was on hand and we chatted with him on his way into the screening. He told us that he didn't have a lot of involvement with the animals on set and that he hadn't read the book before being asked to work on the project. The actor who portrays Rob's character as he ages, Hal Holbrook, also stopped by to talk about the movie, saying that he was excited to be involved and that the younger ladies in his life were all thrilled when they found out he'd be working with Rob. Also making appearances on the scene were Julia Stiles, Gina Gershon, and the author of the best-selling book, Sara Gruen. We also snagged a moment with Rob and Reese, with both stars revealing the reason they decided to work on the film - stay tuned for highlights from the big event!

Watch, Pass, or Rent: Water For Elephants

BuzzSugar — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 12:50:41 PDT

Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon hit the big screen this weekend in Water For Elephants, but does the movie do justice to Sara Gruen's best-selling novel? Watch our video review to find out why this one is worth seeing on the big screen!