One of the most popular books of recent years has been Sara Gruen's 2006 novel WATER FOR ELEPHANTS. It stars ROBERT PATTINSON as Jacob Jankowski a young man of immigrant parents who is just about to sit his final exams in veterinary science at Cornell University when he learns his parents have been killed in a road crash.

The year is 1932, it is the Depression. With no money and no family, Jacob takes to the roads and the railway tracks, lucking onto a circus train. Joining the circus he becomes, because of his background, the carer of Rosie the elephant on which the star of the circus, Marlena, REESE WITHERSPOON, will shine..

Marlene's increasingly unstable husband August, CHRISTOPH WALTZ, is suspicious of the relationship between his wife and Jacob..

This is a most fabulous film, the performances of the three leads are exemplary, I've never seen Reese Witherspoon better and Waltz dazzles, he is just so good. But there's so much more. The sheer magic of the circus - the big top going up is so exhilarating - the performances, particularly of Rosie just make you remember how wonderful that world is.

Of course in the film it has its dark side, but both are well handled by director Francis Lawrence, a music video director who has ventured into film with CONSTANTINE and I AM LEGEND. I was totally entranced by WATER FOR ELEPHANTS from the opening moment to the end.

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