The Cider House Rules

The Cider House Rules could be described as an incredibly pleasant feel good movie and that is despite dealing with a range of very intense issues from abortion to incest. The many difficulties that the characters are experiencing are however crafted into a journey of self-discovery with a high degree of finesse. Very enjoyable if perhaps a little forgettable.

Michael Caine is great. Charlize Theron is beautiful. Tobey Maguire is Spiderman.

The rules of society are like the rules of the cider house. It is best to make up your own, and lead your own enlightened life.

Standard pre-Woke Oscar bait, which means it's got quality acting & direction, it's based on a novel & views blacks as actual imperfect humans rather than as tokens meant to fulfill some DEI mandate. It also forwards a liberal agenda, which is one reason one political part of Maguire's coming-of-age tale can be seen coming the minute it's raised. It also perpetuates the idea that rules shouldn't be followed. Still, it is well made & moving, as any well-done story about orphans can't help be.

Hard to believe that Irving wrote the screenplay. It's so weak. It's due to time constraints, this change of the original plot. I know. A sad thing although, 'cause this resembles a soap opera.