Compare Prices
Postage & Packaging: £1.​21
Postage & Packaging: £0.​00
Postage & Packaging: £0.​00
SHOPPING > DVDs > Drama > The Cider House Rules (DVD) > Reviews

The Cider House Rules (DVD)

from (5 offers) · Product Information

The Cider House Rules (DVD)

Quote-start

I Am A Cider Thinker

Quote-end

5 Oct 16th, 2001 

43 Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful

Advantages:
Got a Sunday afternoon free? This is perfect .

Disadvantages:
Leisurely pace may make some people fidget .

Recommendable Yes:

Detailed rating:

Did you enjoy it?

Story

Characters / Performances

Special Effects

How does it compare to similar films?

peppersinclaire

peppersinclaire

About me:

Deleting account in 5 days. If you want to stay in touch, send me a guestbook message.

Member since:08.03.2001

Reviews:254

Members who trust:141

It’s easy to get the wrong idea. When I heard the title of this movie, I imagined it spoken in a thick Southern Californian accent – “Thu Cider House rools, dude!”. Thank the stars *that* doesn’t happen. And when I found out Michael Caine was making a comeback, I imagined him in Cock-er-nee tones, threatening people and saying “bladdy ‘ell!” Again, the stars are to be thanked. This is not a typical Caine performance (perhaps explaining the Academy Award). This is The Cider House Rules. And it does. Dude.

We first meet Caine’s character, Doctor Larch, at St Cloud’s Orphanage in Maine, New England. Larch is the head honcho at this establishment, and not only takes in strays, but (illegally) assists women with unwanted pregnancies. One day, a baby named Homer Wells catches his attention, after he is brought back by a couple for being “too quiet”. The next couple solve that problem – he cries all the time, through them beating him. Larch is not pleased, and takes Homer into his personal care, moulding him in his own image as a doctor.

By 1943, Homer is a popular fixture with the staff and children of St Clouds. He has avoided the war through having a heart defect, but the war comes to him, in a way, through World War 2 pilot Wally (Paul Rudd) and his girlfriend Candy (Charlize Theron). Homer has the itch to see the world, and convinces the pair to take him with them to work on Wally’s parent’s apple farm. Larch is not keen to see Homer go, as he is the nearest thing he has to a son, but cannot stop him. He does, however, warn him about the nature of the world.

Homer arrives at the apple farm, and is set to work by Mr Rose (Delroy Lindo), in the company of his crew (including Heavy D!) and daughter, Rose (Erykah Badu in her first movie role). Homer makes an impression on the all-black crew by being able to read, and pick apples well. He is content in his simple life, free from the imposed role of doctor that Larch thrust upon him.

However, Homer’s life is complicated by his growing feelings for Candy, and their friendship blossoms all too quickly into something more. Larch’s warning to Homer about the way in which people behave becomes manifest, and as events around him become ever troubled, he slowly starts to realise that destiny has a way of reeling you in, no matter how hard you swim against it.

The character of Homer is played to subtle greatness by Tobey Maguire. As an inexperienced teenager experiencing life, his quiet intelligence shines through. This is, after all, a boy who has seen all manner of human tragedy, and is a case of it himself as an orphan. He deals with things in a matter of fact way, accepting but never naïve, and this is the beauty of the film. Everyone has “a use” as Larch puts it, and should stick to it. It’s just that not everyone does, and Homer tries to fix everyone up with the right mindset as he comes to terms with his own. Kind of like Cher from Clueless, only not as selfish. Or whiny. Or funny… you know what I mean.

Caine’s performance as Dr Larch is just as wonderful. He is evidently jaded by what he sees every day – people denying their own flesh and blood. He provides parentage to each and every one of the orphans, and loves them equally. But he is also mindful of them, and is careful to keep them all happy, even in the face of disappointment and tragedy. He also has an addiction to ether, which could well be the reason he manages to cope with the abortion side of his work. He likes to sustain life, not see it thrown away, and as such, he becomes more and more sullen by Homer’s leaving.

Charlize Theron is slightly typecast as the girl in a troubled situation (see: Devil’s Advocate, The Legend Of Bagger Vance, Two Days In The Valley etc.), and as such sets the screen tepid.

The supporting cast are far better – Lindo’s character being a disquieting surprise, and Badu as his daughter is excellent – it seems R’n’B stars are taking over the movies at the moment, and with portrayals like this, it’s looking good for crossover stars. There is even a turn from Malcolm In The Middle’s Erik Per Sullivan (Malcolm’s youngest brother) as Fuzzy, one of the orphans, who is a real find – I hope he manages to carry on into adulthood as a comedy actor. Paul Rudd (Romeo & Juliet) is okay, but he’s also a bit typecast as the all-American pilot who just says his lines and looks handsome. The stars are undoubtedly Maguire and Caine.

The direction by Lasse Halleström is magnificent. As subtle as the main actors’ performances, he sits back and lets the human drama unfold at its own pace – indeed the 2 hour-ish running time may put some people off. This is a film with a point to make, and Halleström wants you to pay attention and take in every character nuance. As such, the scenery takes back stage, which is a welcome change in such a period piece, though the exterior shots are great, New England mirrors the feelings of the players, and provides an emotional climax to the viewers that pay attention.

I loved this movie. It’s a quiet piece of film that pulled me in with a good blend of humour and bitter-sweetness at the beginning, and before I knew it, an hour had gone by. To me, when I lose perception of my surroundings during something, I know it’s doing its job, be it film, music or literature (or whisky!). Through action films, I sometimes find myself standing up and getting something from the kitchen. Not during this. As events unfold, you kind of anticipate that Homer’s purpose in life will find him again, but it’s the lessons he learns along the way that are important – to him and the viewer. And as his journey comes to an end, make sure you have something to wipe your eyes with – for a solid five minutes. Like a bank account, investment guarantees a return, and this pays out quite nicely.

Sunday afternoons were made for movies like this. Quietly affecting, moving and dramatic, this deserves the kind of classic status that The Shawshank Redemption earned. It acknowledges that pain in life goes hand in hand with the good things, and that life is for living and destiny can be as important as self-discovery.

© P$ 2001 

How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines

exceptional

very helpful

helpful

somewhat helpful

not helpful

off topic

Products you might be interested in »

All The Pretty Horses (DVD) The Notebook (DVD)

The Notebook (DVD)

Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands

User reviews (59)

Buy now for only £ 2.49

Desperate Measures (DVD) Jack And The Beanstalk - The Real Story (DVD)

Jack And The Beanstalk - The Real Story (DVD)

(+) Disc would make a nice Frisbee
(-) Too many to count.

User reviews (4)

Buy now for only £ 0.25

Head In The Clouds (DVD)

Head In The Clouds (DVD)

Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: John Duigan - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Charlize Theron, Stuart Townsend, Penelope Cruz

Rate it now

Buy now for only £ 3.33

When The Boat Comes In - The Complete Series (Box Set) (DVD)

When The Boat Comes In - The Complete Series (Box Set) (DVD)

(+) Gripping tale of poverty, sex, affairs, theft, sheep stealing, dynamiting buildings.
(-) weak middle part

User reviews (1)

Buy now for only £ 39.92

Comments about this review »

garlicpress 21.12.2001 14:49

I really like your op and can only recommend the film! Having read the book by Updike several times, long before the film was made, I went to the cinema expecting to be dissapointed (as with most books-made-into-film) and came out loving the adaption just as much as the book! And yes, Single Malts are very nice, too.

BizzyBek 22.10.2001 20:50

I'm an avid John Irving reader and have yet to see a film adaptation that truly captures the quirkiness of his book, though 'The World According to Garp' came close; as such I'll be approaching this film with trepidation but your opinion fills me with hope!

Trev15 18.10.2001 13:07

It makes no difference which character Caine is playing, he always comes across as bland Caine. Maybe it's just me ;-)

Compare prices for The Cider House Rules (DVD) »

1 to 5 out of 5 offers for The Cider House Rules (DVD) Show all offers   sorted by: Price 
The Cider House Rules [DVD] [2000]

The Cider House Rules [DVD] [2000]

In adapting his own novelThe Cider House Rulesfor the screen, John Irving sacrificed at ... more

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 vagu...

amazon dvd

Postage & Packaging£1.21
AvailabilityUsually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
 Visit Shop  >
amazon dvd
Cider House Rules

Cider House Rules

Honored with two Academy Awards... Best Supporting Actor for Michael Caine and Best ... more

Adapted Screenplay for 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 tr...

LOVEFiLM.com

Postage & Packaging£0.00
AvailabilityIn Stock
 Visit Shop  >
LOVEFiLM.com
Cider House Rules-DVD

Cider House Rules-DVD

thehut.com

Postage & Packaging£0.00
AvailabilityUsually dispatched within 3 days...
 Visit Shop  >
thehut.com
The Cider House Rules [DVD] [2000]

The Cider House Rules [DVD] [2000]

In adapting his own novelThe Cider House Rulesfor the screen, John Irving sacrificed at ... more

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 vagu...

amazon marketplace dvd

Postage & PackagingFree!
AvailabilityUsually dispatched within 24 hours...
 Visit Shop  >
amazon marketplace d...


More reviews »

The Cider House Rules (DVD) - review by frkurt

Advantages: Wonderful story, good acting, great scenery
Disadvantages: A little more character development would be nice

The Cider House Rules (DVD) - review by frkurt frkurt 03.03.2003 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of The Cider House Rules (DVD)

The Cider House Rules (DVD) - review by TheChocolateLady

Advantages: True to the book, excellent cast, beautiful settings
Disadvantages: Problematic topic, sometimes confusing (just like an Irving story)

The Cider House Rules (DVD) - review by TheChocolateLady TheChocolateLady 21.08.2002 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of The Cider House Rules (DVD)

The Cider House Rules (DVD) - review by albertas

Advantages: Great stuff at all, great soundtrack
Disadvantages: none

The Cider House Rules (DVD) - review by albertas albertas 03.02.2004 (03.02.2004) · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of The Cider House Rules (DVD)

The Cider House Rules (DVD) - review by jamiebecks

Advantages: beautifully and delicately written
Disadvantages: michael caine's maine accent

The Cider House Rules (DVD) - review by jamiebecks jamiebecks 17.06.2009 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of The Cider House Rules (DVD)

The Cider House Rules (DVD) - review by the_fury

Advantages: Great story to work from and Caine is surprisingly good.
Disadvantages: The length will deter some people.

The Cider House Rules (DVD) - review by the_fury the_fury 22.06.2001 (22.06.2001) · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of The Cider House Rules (DVD)



Are you the manufacturer / provider of The Cider House Rules (DVD)? Click here