Drink This One Up
The Cider House Rules
Cast: Tobey Maguire, Charlize Theron, Michael Caine, Delroy Lindo
Director: Lasse Hallstrom
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This moving, coming-of-age story set during WWII is rich with characters, details, and setting. It follows Homer Wells (Maguire), an orphan under the care of Dr. Wilbur Larch (Caine). Larch takes the boy under his wing and teaches him all about medicine and life. Hesitant to send the boy out into the world, he finally caves in after a couple, Candy (Theron) and Wally, enter their lives. Homer tags along with them and ends up working at an apple orchid owned by Candy's mother. Homer learns more lessons, including the cider house rules, under the rather morally bankrupt leadership of Mr. Rose (Lindo), the boss of the migrant workers.
A fairly good adaptation of the John Irving book, it is slow without being boring, and packs in any number of very rich characters in the beautiful Northeast setting of lush woods, flowing fields, and melodic accents. Homer is put through a number of difficult situations where he must choose his path carefully, and the movie isn't afraid to take on taboo and sensitive issues.
