Not really finding much time for Ciao at the moment. Will try and pop in whenever I can!
Not really finding much time for Ciao at the moment. Will try and pop in whenever I can!
Member since:04.04.2003
Reviews:21
Members who trust:10
The Cider House Rules recieved its first terrestrial broadcast the other day just as I was sitting in front of the tv bored out of my skull! So, as you do, I watched it. Good descision!
The film is based on the book by John Irving and is set around an orphanage in Maine, New England called St. Cloud's (and directed by Lasse Hallstrom). Here we meet Dr. Larch (Michael Caine), a loving, caring doctor who treats and looks after unwanted children and unwanted pregnancies. However, he never intends to be a father to any of these children, only care for them. That, is until he takes a special interset in the upbringing of one Homer Wells (Toby Maguire).
As a baby, Homer managed to be returned by two famalies (one because he wouldn't cry, and the other because they beat him), and in the end it was left up to St.Cloud's to provide a home and some form of education for him. It is from here that we follow Homer's apprenticeship under Dr. Larch, to his adult life, where his ambition to see more of the world leads him to leave St.Cloud's to become a labourer in a Cider factory.
This is a lovely story based around principles, and the eventual need to question ones principles and morals for the sake of another. The nightly betime farewell of Dr. Larch ("Goodnight you Princes of Maine, you Kings of New England."), provides a subtle reccuring theme throughout the story and povides a means of empathising with both Larch, Wells, and the children of the orphanage.
The acting and casting are both superb. Caine is wonderful as the caring, ether-addicted Larch (he won a best-supporting actor oscar for his role), and Maguire is very believable as the deep Homer Wells.
All in all a lovely film that is topped-off by a very moving soundtrack composed by Rachel Portman. I don't know how it compares to the book or how well it follows the story, but as an individual work it is great. I whole-heartedly recommend it.
The film is available on DVD for about £17.99 available from MVC, HMV, and amazon.
Cast:
Miachael Caine Toby Maguire Charlize Theron Delroy Lindo Paul Rudd
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
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: John Duigan - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Charlize Theron, Stuart Townsend, Penelope Cruz
we watched this whilst on holiday in Ireland! I thought michael did a grand job of the American accent, too. Cheers, Jo
a-true-ben 12.04.2003 18:57
Good opinion, and I almost rated very helpful; but I think you got the balance slightly wrong. My advice is go for a bit less plot and bit more comment on acting etc (who was particularly good? how was the plot/script/direction/etc?)
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...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
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...
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...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Honored with two Academy Awards - Best Supporting Actor for Michael Caine and Best Adapted ... more
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 tru...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Advantages: Michael Caine, Tobey Maguire Disadvantages: None
christianfilmcritic 22.02.2006 (22.02.2006)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of The Cider House Rules (DVD)