John Irving's novels have been a mixed success when adapted to the screen. "The World According to Garp" did well, "Simon Birch" did so-so, and "The Hotel New Hampshire" was panned. One difference with "The Cider House Rules" is that he also adapted the screenplay himself, ensuring that the script will be more faithful to the novel.
Thankfully, "The Cider House Rules" is not as sentimental as "Simon Birch". However, there are many sad and tragic moments. There is a happy ending, but it is both standard and predictable. On the whole, the film is something of a downer. It's still a good film, and worth seeing, but you've been warned.
Mildly eccentric Dr. Larch (Michael Caine) is a doctor working at an orphanage in Maine during World War II. He has trained earnest, hormone-free orphan Homer (Tobey Maguire) to be 'useful' as a doctor. While Homer has no medical degrees, he has delivered many babies. But he won't perform abortions, which were then illegal. Dr. Larch will perform them, however, as he hopes to prevent women from having to turn to quacks for the procedure.
Anyway, Homer lives in a barracks with many other, much younger orphans, all of whom are as sweet as sugar. None of the kids cry, argue or bully. Childless couples who see this film will want to adopt all of them. Among the orphans are Fuzzy (Erik Per Sullivan), a sickly little kid with chronic bronchitis.
One day a young fighter pilot named Wally (Paul Rudd) shows up at the orphanage, with his girlfriend Candy (Charlize Theron). They end up 'adopting' Homer, who wants to know of life outside the shelter of the orphanage. Homer works on the apple orchards owned by Wally's mother (Kate Nelligan), along with a crew of black field hands. Mr. Rose (Delroy Lindo), a big man who takes apples seriously, is the crew chief. His daughter is unhappy Rose (R & B singer Erykah Badu).
Wally returns to fighting the Japanese, leaving Candy lonesome. She turns to Homer for company. Homer's life is further complicated; Dr. Larch writes, asking him to return to the orphanage to work as a doctor. Homer also gets involved with the lives and personal problems of his fellow field workers.
"The Cider House Rules" gets its title from a short list of rules posted at the cabin occupied by the farm workers. The rules are both eccentric and obvious (e.g. "No Sleeping on the Roof") but are somehow presented as a symbol of white oppression. This is in contrast with the behavior of Candy and Wally's Mother, who show great kindness to Rose.
The story is mostly a conventional 'coming of age' for Homer. There is the requisite romantic relationship with an incredibly beautiful woman, and the confrontation that forces Homer to re-examine his beliefs, in this case concerning abortion. But Homer's personality doesn't really change despite his worldly experiences. He's still the same earnest man-child, having already seen some of life's horrors on the operating tables of the orphanage.
"The Cider House Rules" also tackles incest. Irving had previously examined this theme from an almost comic point of view in "The Hotel New Hampshire". Here, it is dealt with much more seriously. Abortion is another controversial theme, with the film's stance unlikely to please many conservatives.
The cinematography and sets are very good, as are the performances. Given his character, Caine could easily have been more campy, and his restraint is admirable. Even the children redeem themselves. Tobey Maguire more or less reprises his role from "Pleasantville", but this time he is supported by better characters and a less contrived story. The real star on the rise, however, is Charlize Theron. Expect to see much more of her in the future. (61/100)
Honored with two Academy Awards--Best Supporting Actor (Michael Caine), and Best Adapted Screen play, (John Irving)--The Cider House Rules tells a com...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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