The Apple of Larch's Eye (The Cider House Rules (DVD))

Member Name: xBorgx

Product:	The Cider House Rules (DVD)
Date:	08/08/09 (55 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good fun film...

Disadvantages: None

In remote St. Cloud, Maine, there is an orphanage. But children are not only raised there, they are aborted too. Orphanage director Dr Larch (played by Michael Caine) is an Ether addict, but all round decent chap (even though Mr Caine's accent is quite dodgy!). The nurses and midwives love him and the children adore him. He likes to try and make the orphans as comfortable as he can, their stay there a happy one.

One of his orphans is Homer Wells, played by Tobey Maguire (of Spider-Man fame). Larch treats Wells like a son, training him (unofficially) in the works of medicine. Grooming him, in fact, for his job.

But Wells is not happy and wants to see what there is other than this world, he wants to go a discover how he wants to spend the rest of his life, without interference or influence from Larch. So, when Candy and Wally arrive to be booked in for an abortion, Wells asks them for a lift, to anywhere. He ends up working for Wally's parents in their Cider House, and when Wally, a soldier, goes to fight in the war he takes on the role as Candy's friend. This friendship blossoms to love.

Meanwhile, Dr Larch continues to write to Homer in the hope than he will come back home and take over from him. But Homer is enjoying his new life and the big world, so much that he does not think he will be back to St Clouds. He his happy in his work and the crew he works with in the cider house (even though things are about to take a turn for the worst there). But I won't give anything else away.

Full main cast...

Tobey Maguire .... Homer Wells
Charlize Theron .... Candy Kendall
Delroy Lindo .... Mr. Arthur Rose, Crew Boss
Paul Rudd .... Lt. Wally Worthington
Michael Caine .... Dr. Wilbur Larch
Jane Alexander .... Nurse Edna

Directed by Lasse Hallstrom and written by John Irving (based on his book), this Oscar winning film is great. It is the story of growing up, of taking steps and learning where you fit in the world.

Made in 1999, it is a film I could watch again and again. The acting is top notch (hence Caine's Oscar), and the story is typically Irving: thought provoking, comic and brilliant.

The acting is very good, everyone is great here. As I said Michael Caine's accent is odd, but I cannot fault anything else. I have read the book and to those of you who have and might well ask how it fairs, I shall say that it is obviously not as detailed as the lengthy novel. In the book there is more detail about Dr Larch and the orphanage, but I was not too disappointed with the overall outcome of the cinematic version.

Also published by me on Ciao UK, as Borg...

Summary: A film for everyone to enjoy...