'Good night you Princes of Maine...'
 Mar 19th, 2007
Advantages:
Understated acting by Maguire and Caine
Disadvantages:
None
Recommendable:
Yes
Detailed rating:
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Story
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  sunmeilan
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I've never been a big message leaver, but I would like to thank everyone that has read and rated my ...
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Review rated by 58 Ciao members on average: very helpful 
Homer Wells is an orphan, raised by Dr Wilbur Larch in the hospital in which he was born. Dr Larch treats him like his own son and teaches him the skills of his medical trade - gynaecology. By the time Homer is a young man, he has skills of the same standard as Dr Larch, although he has no formal qualifications, and refuses to carry out abortions. Homer is happy with his lot, caring for the women who come to the hospital and for the other orphans. He secretly has a desire to escape from the hospital though and one day, when a young couple who attend the hospital agree to give him a lift, he goes with them, much to Dr Larch's horror. Befriended by the young couple, Candy and Wally, Homer goes with them to their home town, where Wally finds him a job as an apple picker for his family's business shortly before going off to fight in the Far East. Homer becomes close to the team of apple pickers he works with and finds himself spending more and more time with Candy. Dr Larch writes to him constantly, trying to persuade him to return to the hospital, but Homer is happy, and increasingly in love with Candy, and so refuses to go back. Will he ever realise that home is where the heart is, or will he make a new life for himself with Candy?
Although this is one of my favourite films and watched it for the first time five years ago, this is only the second time that I have ever seen it. Directed by Lasse
Hallstrom and based on the book by John Irving, it is a massively understated film that remained with me for a long time after having watched it. It also stirred up a lot of emotions, which made it, for me, the type of film that needs to be savoured and not watched too often. Homer Wells is brilliantly played by Tobey Maguire. Homer is a quiet, likeable, well-adjusted person, who cannot be said to be all that exciting, yet Maguire manages to give a quietly strong performance that deeply impressed me. I enjoyed his role in The Ice Storm, but I can only imagine that his talent was wasted in Spiderman (although I admit I haven't seen Spiderman) - with his skills, I think he should stick to roles in which he can show off his talent, rather than action films. His performance was so strong that he didn't have to speak for me to know exactly how he was feeling. He is far and away my favourite character in this film.
Michael Caine does a great job as Dr Larch, with perhaps the exception of the dodgy American accent. Dr Larch is not a man of words and rarely says what he feels, but he really does care deeply for Homer and for the other children in his charge. One of my favourite scenes in the film is the grief etched on his face when someone he cares for dies - it really did move me to tears. Unfortunately, Dr Larch has a problem - he is addicted to ether and he spends much of his time in a stupor. It is perhaps for this reason that he is so insistent that Homer continues with his medical career. Michael Caine's performances can occasionally be a bit hit and miss; this one is definitely one of his best. Charlize Theron is also good as Candy. As in Monster, she really gets a chance to show that she can act in this film, despite her youth. There is one scene where she is naked and looks absolutely beautiful (bitch!), but apart from that, it is good old-fashioned acting that she does so well. Her relationship with Homer is deeply touching and I could really see the chemistry between the two of them.
Also worth mentioning is Delroy Lindo as Mr Rose, the head of the team of apple pickers. Seemingly a very pleasant, honourable man, he harbours a less than savoury secret, which eventually catches up with him. All this enables Lindo to give a very powerful performance, one which impressed me deeply. Lindo has also appeared in The Devil's Advocate and A Life Less Ordinary, although I can't really remember him in either. However, this is one actor I will certainly look out for in the future. The film is beautifully directed by Lasse Hallstrom. He has a superb eye for colour and there are some stunning shots of reddening trees and apples in the autumn. I also like the way that the relationship between Dr Larch and Homer once Homer has left is told as a series of letters that is read out like a conversation, whilst we see the two of them leading their separate lives at the same time. I thought this was a very effective way of portraying their relationship quickly, yet accurately. The classical music that ran throughout the film complemented it beautifully - I recognise it, but unfortunately am not enough of a classical music buff to be able to identify it.
I must admit to not having read the book, although I've read a number of others by John Irving and am a huge fan. I understand that John Irving was involved in the writing of the screenplay and managed to cut it down to a reasonable film length by missing out a third of the book. From what I've read, I understand that it is an excellent portrayal of the book, staying true to the main storyline. It is a film that covers many issues. We have abortion, black slavery, incest, extra-marital sex and drug addiction, yet at no point is the film ever judgemental. It just tells things as they are and helps us to understand that sometimes things are not as cut and dried as they seem - and that people shouldn't judge before they know the whole story. A valuable lesson could be learned from this - I certainly feel like sending one to the editors of each of the tabloid papers!
In case you were wondering, the title of the review is taken from the film - it is the last words that Dr Larch says to all his orphans before they go to sleep for the night. This is an outstanding film, one that stirs me up and makes me cry, but also shows that there is great beauty in this world and that that beauty is not always to be found by running away from our everyday lives. I highly recommend it.
I am reviewing the film version, but the DVD is available from play.com for £3.17. Classification: 12 (about right because of the nudity)
Running time: 2 hours and 5 minutes.
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by (2%):
03.05.2007 13:41
Ever since this came out on DVD, I've kept seeing it and wondering about it, but had a feeling that it might turn out to be a bit dull. However, having read your review, I'll definitely be giving it a go. Thanks!
28.04.2007 10:22
Another good review, well done.
11.04.2007 00:29
I think I saw this one a few years ago.....will need to watch it again to remind myself...either that or I've read the book....something rings a bell anyway! x