As for as I know this is the first reaction from the first screening of CIDER HOUSE RULES, and as such we should be aware that a lot can change between now and it's release later this year. So just take note that for now... it was a bit mixed.
My wife and I just returned from a screening of "The Cider House Rules" and figured you might want to hear our impressions. First off, I should tell you we've never read the book. Therefore we can't tell you how the movie holds up in comparison. Hopefully someone else who was there and read it will contact you. But, we definitely had some thoughts on this film nonetheless. Overall, it was very good, but it needs alot of work. There is no real dramatic thrust and no flow to the narrative. Plot points appear to drop in and out seemingly at random, and loose are tied up haphazardly or not at all. In addition, the pacing lags at points.
The biggest problem with the film is one that the filmmakers will have the devil's own time trying to correct. Tobey Maguire, playing the role of Homer Wells is AWFUL. He spends the bulk of the film wearing an expression so blank that, at best he appears to be puzzling over a particularly vexing math problem. At worst he gives the viewer the feeling that the character of Homer Wells is supposed to be mildly retarded. As for the supporting cast, Charlize Theron, as Candy, does a brilliant impression of a human muppet, and Kieran Culkin lurches through his role as Buster with a surly "tough kid" act that is so heavy-handed it would be out of place in a grade school production of "Oliver". The "romance" between Homer and Candy comes off as forced and slightly laughable. There is ZERO chemistry between the actors. Their love scenes give the impression of two people trying to wrestle each other to the ground, and their heated moments come off like a brother and sister fighting over the TV.
There are some shining moments, though. Delroy Lindo gives a blistering performance as the tough-as-nails apple picker Mr Rose. I think it's his best work in years. And Michael Caine is positively luminous as the gentle, fatherly Dr. Larch. Is it too early to say Oscar nomination?
The film is ably directed by Lasse Hallstrom ("What's Eating Gilbert Grape"). The photography eloquently captures rural Maine of the 1940s, and the scenes are shot with a sure hand and a confident style. As I said before, though, the pace is a little slow. We are never quite sure how much time is supposed to have passed during the course of the film, and scenes that are supposed to be shattering (the plight of Rose Rose and the fate of Candy's soldier boyfriend Wally) rather come of as predictable or just plain confusing.
Overall, Harry, I think this has the potential to be a good film. John Irving's script is very well-written, the directing is good, the scenes at the orphanage where Homer lives and works are very, very well done, and Caine and Lindo are masterful. If they could try and tighten the pace and trim down Homer's scenes even a little bit, they could turn it around. If not, I think alot of Irving fans may be in for a slight letdown.
Thanks for your time. Call me....Perfect Tommy.
