Novelist
John Irving adapts his own best seller about an orphan who ventures outside his
home hoping to find himself in the real world. Cider House Rules also strives
to make important comments on abortion, and does so with a lot of class and without
being pretentiously preachy.
Tobey
Maguire plays orphan Homer Wells as a pure, sweet innocent, and although he isn't
always up to the dramatic challenge, this is a role that perfectly suits him.
The film is expertly acted by all involved, but the standouts are Michael Caine
as Homer's father figure and Delroy Lindo as a sympathetic farmer.
Lasse
Hallstrom (What's Eating Gilbert Grape) directs with a sure hand and was the perfect
choice to helm this emotionally moving film. As in his past efforts, he shows
a tremendous ability to work with actors and evoke almost perfect chemistry between
all the characters. True, Cider House Rules has moments that are quite manipulative,
but Hallstrom and Irving are able to pull this film off with some truly powerful
storytelling.
With
breathtaking cinematography, stellar performances, a beautiful score by Rachel
Portman, and all around great film-making, Hallstrom and Irving have fashioned
one of the most pleasant and surprising films of 1999. See this gem before it's
gone and watch for it on my revised Best of 1999 list!
