Review of The Cider House Rules (1999) by Elizabeth H — 24 May 2010
I'm not generally big on the coming of age genre of films, but Lasse Hallstrom's adaptation of John Irving's 1985 novel may be the epitome of this genre of films in the last few decades.
The exceptional casting of Michael Caine, Tobey McGuire, Charlize Theron and even Paul Rudd makes for riveting characters and performances throughout the film. McGuire is fittingly awkward in his performance and makes the audience believe that he would land a beauty such as Charlize Theron, who is equally charming in her supporting role, despite being the closest thing to an antagonist in the film.
This movie shows us that no one is totally good or totally bad. We all have our flaws and we all make mistakes, but at the same time, we all have our redeeming characteristics and the odds are that we're likely to do the right thing when it's all said and done.
Movies don't often finish the same way that they start, but this one moves right back into it's beginnings. Tobey McGuire's character returns to to the orphanage where he was born, Charlize Theron stays with her war-injured husband and Michael Caine's character dies as stubborn as he lived. Does that mean that the film is trying to tell us that no matter how hard we try to change our fates, we will always return to where we feel most comfortable? Or is it trying to say that we all need to live, and see the world, and find out who we really are and what we really want to do before settling down to our responsibilities?
Despite a relatively simple plot, Hallstrom manages to portray all the major elements and themes from Irving's excellent novel nearly to a tee. Granted the movie is toned down from a fairly graphic depiction of the US's most northern continental state during the time of the Second World War, it does not make light of any of its serious themes - racism, abortion, incest, rape, adultery, war... all the elements are there, and are felt throughout the film through their characters.
Excellent, underrated film.
8 out of 10.
This review of The Cider House Rules (1999) was written by Elizabeth H on 24 May 2010.
The Cider House Rules has generally received very positive reviews.
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