2000 Best Picture Nominee- The Cider House Rules

As I began watching The Cider House Rules, I definitely felt as if a journey was beginning, as I set out to watch all the Oscar nominees from 2000 and after. I wondered where 60+ movies (five nominees a year until the last couple of years, when the number of nominees changed from five to however many the Academy deems fit for nomination) would take me, how many of the films would leave me wondering why they were nominated, and during how many I might find myself struggling to stay awake.

Fitting, then, that I would be starting with The Cider House Rules (based on the novel by John Irving) in which Homer Wells (played by Tobey Maguire) is born and raised at St. Cloud's orphanage. Homer grows up, and Dr. Larch (Michael Caine) takes him under his wing.  

Homer grows weary of the responsibilities of being Dr. Larch's assistant and wants his own experience, so he takes off with a couple (played by Paul Rudd and Charlize Theron) and goes to work at their apple farm. Wally (Paul Rudd's character) ships out to war and Homer and Candy (Theron) grow closer.

I had seen Cider House Rules a while ago and remember enjoying the scenes at the orphanage, with Dr. Larch reading to the boys before bed and sending them to sleep with his familiar phrase:

"Goodnight you princes of Maine, you kings of New England".

I enjoyed it this time as well, but for much different reasons. The first time I saw it, I hadn't had many journeys myself. Life was familiar but comfortable. For Homer, I suppose this was true as well, but there's a wonderful scene in which Homer decides to leave with Wally and Candy, and his face begins to twitch and light up with that idea, and I thought Maguire was excellent in this scene. He kind of grew on me as the movie progressed, as he learns to stand up to others (such as Mr. Rose, played by Delroy Lindo, who is suspected of incest) and feel confident on his feet. Lindo plays his character as very intense and enigmatic, an intimidating figure to someone like Homer.

The Cider House Rules starts the journey on a winning note, thanks to strong performances by Caine (a father figure to Homer, but also a doctor determined to do what's necessary), Maguire, Lindo, and Theron.