Honored with two Academy Awards(R) — Best Supporting Actor, Michael Caine, and Best Adapted Screenplay, John Irving — THE CIDER HOUSE RULES tells a compelling and heartwarming story about how far a young man must travel to find the place where he truly belongs! Homer Wells (Tobey Macguire — PLEASANTVILLE, THE ICE STORM, WONDER BOYS) has lived nearly his entire life within the walls of St. Cloud’s Orphanage in rural Maine. Though groomed by its proprietor, Dr. Larch (Caine), to be his successor, Homer nonetheless feels the need to strike out on his own and experience the world outside. Then, while working at an apple orchard, Homer falls for the beautiful Candy (Charlize Theron — REINDEER GAMES, THE DEVIL’S ADVOCATE) and learns some powerfully indelible lessons about life, love, and home! Based on John Irving’s best-selling American classic and featuring a sensational all-star cast including Delroy Lindo and newcomer Erykah Badu, this entertaining motion picture earned raves from critics and moviegoers everywhere!In adapting his own novel The Cider House Rules for the screen, John Irving sacrificed at least some of the depth and detail that made his humanitarian themes resonate, while the film–directed with Scandinavian sobriety by Lasse Hallström–is often vague about the complex issues (abortion, incest, responsibility) that lie at its core. Allowing for this ambiguity (which is arguably intentional), the film retains much of what made Irving’s novel so admired, and like Hallström’s earlier feature What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?, it’s blessed with a generous, forgiving spirit toward the mistakes, foibles, and desires of its many engaging characters.
Central to the story (set during World War II) is Homer (Tobey Maguire), a young man raised in a Maine orphanage, where the ether-sniffing Dr. Larch (Michael Caine) rules with benevolent grace while performing safe but illegal abortions. To expand his horizons, Homer follows a young couple (Charlize Theron, Paul Rudd) to do fieldwork on an apple farm, where his innocent eyes are opened to the good and evil of the world–and to the realization that not all rules are steadfast in all situations. By the time Homer returns to the orphanage, The Cider House Rules–which features one of Caine’s finest performances–is memorable more for its many charming and insightful moments than for any lasting dramatic impact. Is Homer fated to come full circle in his kindhearted journey? It’s left to the viewer to decide. –Jeff Shannon
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March 4, 2010
#1
I saw alot of people BUTT NAKED and talking like ****. If you are 15 or 16 don’t see this JUNK i am 14 so just don’t!!!!!!
March 4, 2010
#2
Sorry, I couldn’t get past Michael Caine the kindly orphanage director who converts unborn babies into hamburger in his spare time. We’re all grown ups here, so let’s cut the euphemisms and follow the logic. If unborn children are better off dead than being orphans, why doesn’t the orphanage director kill off the orphans? Would they be better off dead or not?
Of course, the image of a kindly abortionist is off-putting and dissonance-inducing for anyone with half a brain. I’m very active in the pro-life movement, have done volunteer work with a crisis pregnancy center, and have talked to former abortionists. They’re not nice people, at least they weren’t before their conversions. How could they be?
If you’re not appalled by the fact that doctors who are supposed to preserve human life accept money to cut children into pieces and reassemble their bodies to make sure that no body parts are left inside, then you might be appalled by the fact that abortionists have little regard for their clients’ health, and that they often perform abortions on non-existent babies, just to collect $300 in cash.
Such loveable rogues.
The rest of the movie isn’t much better, and very disappointing considering Hallstom’s earlier effort, “My Life as a Dog,” a very humane and uplifting movie. My personal favorite.
Homer is vacant, and neither sympathetic nor believable. His girlfriend is believable as a human being, but not a person to be admired.
The most engaging part of the movie is its rendering of an orphanage in 1940s Maine. Sadly, Planned Parenthood has put these institutions out of business.
What John Irving and Planned Parenthood fail to realize is that where evil exists grace abounds even more. If God can take the greatest crime in the history of the world, Christ’s crucifixion (deicide), and bring about the the greatest good, the redemption of mankind, then we must trust Him when we suffer. “Take up your cross and follow me” or the abortionists knife. Take your pick.
March 4, 2010
#3
I tried to watch this movie,but could not get past Michael Caine’s dismal New England accent…or attempt at such accent. It sounded like a New England accent marinated in British overnight. Caine’s accent would flucuate between a very labored attempt at New England and in mid-sentence revert back to British. Took me right out of the picture. Puts Caine in league with other very, very BAD accent attempts:
1. Tom Hanks’ attempt at Harvard Preppie lock-jaw in an old forgotten movie, and Russian in The Terminal
2. Angelie Jolie in Alexander. Where the heck was she supposed to be from??
3. Brad Pitt’s hilarious Ebonics in Meet Joe Black and fair attempt at German in Seven Years In Tibet.
And some others I can’t think of now.
If Michael Caine had been the Big Man he’d have called Haley Joel to the stage that night and given him the Oscar that Caine had mistakenly gotten. Caine’s work is not that great and I can’t believe he’s gotten two (TWO!) Oscars!
If I watch this movie again, I will fast forward through Michael Caine’s scenes.
March 4, 2010
#4
Read the other reviews to get the “storyline.” Boring, predictable and a total waste of two hours. Rearrange your sock drawer instead. It will be much more stimulating.
March 5, 2010
#5
Tobey Maguire is good as always and Charlize Theron has a laughable excuse for a southern accent.
This movie poorly illustrates the theme that there are difficult decisions in life – that not all decisions are black-and-white: the main character doesn’t seem to face any more significant moral dilemnas besides the one in the Cider House.
He gives up hope in the world outside the orphanage he grew up in: after losing in love and dealing with a shocking situation, he conservatively retreats to a comfortable life of familiarity.
I heard the book is better.