The Cider House Rules **** (1999, Tobey Maguire, Michael Caine, Charlize Theron, Delroy Lindo, Paul Rudd, Jane Alexander, Kathy Bates) – Classic Movie Review 964

Director Lasse Hallström’s 1999 romantic drama provided a hit and personal triumph for Michael Caine, who relishes his Best Supporting Actor Oscar-winning role here as Dr Wilbur Larch in this tastefully careful adaptation of the John Irving novel. Irving won the film’s second Oscar for his own Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published.

Despite a losing battle with a fake America accent, Caine is excellent in as a children’s doctor caring for orphans in Maine. But Tobey Maguire is splendid as the compassionate young man, Homer Wells, who is raised in the orphanage and trained to be a doctor there, eventually takes over his mantle in life and finally decides to leave to see the world.

Splendid though Maguire is, Hallström’s lovingly crafted, deservedly acclaimed drama does take a mighty dip once Caine disappears. That is a mark of how potent Caine’s performance is.

It is a beautiful-looking movie (thanks to David Gropman’s art direction and Oliver Stapleton’s cinematography) and is an often moving experience, which still scores strongly without having a great deal of dramatic dynamism.

There were five other Oscar nominations: for Best Picture (Richard N Gladstein), Best Director, Best Original Score (Rachel Portman), Best Art Direction/ Set Decoration (David Gropman art director, Beth A Rubino set decorator), and Best Film Editing (Lisa Zeno Churgin).

Charlize Theron, Delroy Lindo, Paul Rudd, Jane Alexander, Kathy Bates, Kieran Culkin, Kate Nelligan, J K Simmons and Erik Per Sullivan all help out in the acting department. It is a classy cast, giving stylish performances.

Also in the cast are Erykah Badu, Heavy D, K Todd Freeman, Pez de la Huerta, Evan Dexter Parke, Jimmy Flynn, Lonnie Farmer, Spencer Diamond, Sean Andrew and John Albano.

Indeed, Erik Per Sullivan (Dewey in TV’s Malcolm in the Middle) enjoys his film breakthrough in the role of Fuzzy.

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 964

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