The Cider House Rules (film)
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| The Cider House Rules | |
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| Directed by | Lasse Hallström |
| Produced by | Richard N. Gladstein |
| Written by | John Irving |
| Starring | Tobey Maguire, Michael Caine, Charlize Theron, Paul Rudd Delroy Lindo |
| Distributed by | Miramax Films |
| Release date(s) | 17 December 1999 (limited) |
| Running time | 126 min. |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $24,000,000 (estimated) |
| IMDb profile | |
The Cider House Rules is a 1999 film, directed by Lasse Hallström, based on The Cider House Rules, a 1985 novel by John Irving.
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[edit] Plot
Homer Wells (Tobey Maguire), an un-adopted orphan, is the film's central protagonist. Homer grew up in an orphanage directed by Dr. Wilbur Larch (Michael Caine). Dr. Larch is also secretly an abortionist, and believes that he is doing "The Lord's Work" and trains Homer in the realm of gynecology/abortions in a paternal sense.
The film continues as Homer decides to leave the orphanage with Candy Kendall (Charlize Theron) and her boyfriend Wally Worthington (Paul Rudd), a young couple who work at the Worthington family apple orchard. Wally leaves to fight in World War II. While Wally is away, Homer and Candy have an affair. Later, Wally's plane is shot down and he becomes paralyzed from the waist down. When he returns home, Candy decides that she must take care of him and not be with Homer.
Mr. Rose (Delroy Lindo) and his team are migrant workers who are employed seasonally at the orchard by the Worthingtons. Mr. Rose impregnates his own daughter, Rose Rose (Erykah Badu), and Homer performs an abortion for her. Homer decides to return to the orphanage after the death of Dr. Larch, and works as the new director.
[edit] Notes
Due to time constraints, the film excludes many portions of the novel, including the characters Melony (another orphan) and Angel (Candy and Homer's secret child) who were major characters in the book.
[edit] Trivia
- J.K. Simmons, who portrayed Candy's father Randy, and Tobey Maguire have both appeared in all three installations in the recent Spider-Man film series. Maguire has the lead role as Peter Parker and his alter ego Spider-Man, while Simmons plays J. Jonah Jameson, the publisher and editor-in-chief of the Daily Bugle, to whom Peter sells his photographs of Spider-Man.
- John Irving makes a cameo appearance as a stationmaster.
[edit] MPAA rating
PG-13 for mature thematic elements, sexuality, nudity, substance abuse and some violence.
[edit] Controversy
Many pro-life groups[citation needed] had the same complaints about the movie as they did about the novel in that it seemed to promote abortion as a necessary part of American society.
[edit] Academy Awards
- Won - Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Michael Caine
- Won - Best Adapted Screenplay: John Irving
- Nominated - Best Picture: Richard N. Gladstein
- Nominated - Best Director: Lasse Hallström
- Nominated - Best Editing: Lisa Zeno Churgin
- Nominated - Best Music, Original Score: Rachel Portman
- Nominated - Best Art Direction: David Gropman and Beth A. Rubino
