Film Review: The Cider House Rules (1999)

Formula for Oscar-grabbing films might be different in each particular case, but usual ingredients include period setting, prestigious literary source, character burdened with affliction and, last but not least, social or cultural issue presented in the way that caters to the views of Hollywood leftists. The Cider House Rules, 1999 drama directed by Lasse Hallström, checked all of the above and was awarded by two Academy Awards. However, even the viewers that don’t care much about prestigious awards would agree that it deserved praise.

The film is based on the eponymous novel by acclaimed author John Irving, who also wrote the script and later described his experiences during production in memoir titled My Movie Business. The plot is set in Maine during Second World War. Protagonist, played by Tobey Maguire, is Homer Wells (played by Tobey Maguire), teenager who grew up in St. Cloud, orphanage run by unconventional but kind-hearted physician Dr. Wilbur Larch (played by Michael Caine). Larch’s unconventionality reflects in views that are odds with those held by most of his countrymen at the time. Specialised in obstetrics, he delivers unwanted babies from single mothers and even performs abortions. Homer, who continued to be unwanted after birth and, unlike most children from orphanage, never got adopted is treated by Dr. Larch as his son and an heir and even gets training in obstetrics. Homer, however, becomes deeply opposed to abortion, while at the same time he wants to leave orphanage and see outside world. Opportunity for that comes in 1943 when US Army pilot Wally Worthington (played by Paul Rudd) brings his beautiful young wife Candy (played by Charlize Theron) for abortion. Homer gets job at apple orchard run by Wally’s mother Olive (played by Kate Nelligan). There he befriends Arthur Rose (played by Delroy Lindo), leader of black migrant workers. When Wally goes to war, lonely Candy finds comfort in Homer’s arms. Idyllic life, however, won’t last and Homer will be forced to question some of his beliefs.

John Irving had two of his previous novels - The World According to Garp and Hotel New Hampshire - adapted into films, but he didn’t like those adaptations. In case of The Cider House Rules, published in 1985, he insisted on writing the screenplay himself and this postponed the production for almost decade and half. He did very good job, especially with managing to condense the epic content of the novel into feature film. The script also evaded some of the traps that could have wrecked similar Hollywood films. Orphanage setting could have sank the film with cheap sentimentality, but Irving instead mixed those scenes with black humour. The romance between Homer and Candy ends in quite unexpected way. Finally, the issue of abortion – one of the most emotional and divisive in American society, with Hollywood usually taking the one side – is handled in the way that allows audience to see different perspectives and make its own mind. That also applies to Irving’s characters who aren’t painted according to Hollywood’s black-and-white notions of morality – heroes have serious flaws and even the most despicable villains have at least some redeeming qualities. Irving rightfully received Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay.

Swedish director Lasse Halström was the right choice for this film because he had good experience with similar films, most notably What’s Easting Gilbert Grape, another drama about teenager. Halström is here helped by very good cast. Tobey Maguire simply shines as young, slightly naive yet at the same time cynical half-Dickensian protagonist. Michael Caine is even better as physician who likes to abuse ether and his performance, for which he adopted American accent, brought him Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. Charlize Theron is also good in the role that could have been seen as simple eye candy, while Delroy Lindo also makes very good impression in the role of complex character. Another good performances are provided by Kieran Culkin as surprisingly sinister child character and pop singer Erykah Badu as Arthur Rose’s daughter. Hallström also employed good talent in cinematographer Oliver Stapleton who managed turn bleak New England landscapes into something romantic. Although the film’s ending isn’t exactly unpredictable and although the second half of the film could have been handled somewhat better, The Cider House Rules represents one of those Oscar-grabbing films that actually give Oscars a good name.

RATING: 7/10 (+++)

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