The Cider House Rules (1999)

Director:

Lasse Hallström

Writers (WGA):

John Irving (novel)
John Irving (screenplay)

Release Date:

13 January 2000 (Australia)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

A story about how far we must travel to find the place where we belong.

Plot:

A compassionate young man, raised in an orphanage and trained to be a doctor there, decides to leave to see the world.

Plot Keywords:

Orphanage | Abortion | Orphan | Apple | Doctor

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 28 nominations

Cast

Tobey Maguire	...	Homer Wells
Charlize Theron	...	Candy Kendall
Delroy Lindo	...	Arthur Rose
Paul Rudd	...	Lt. Wally Worthington
Michael Caine	...	Dr. Wilbur Larch
Jane Alexander	...	Nurse Edna
Kathy Baker	...	Nurse Angela
Erykah Badu	...	Rose Rose
Kieran Culkin	...	Buster
Kate Nelligan	...	Olive Worthington
Heavy D	...	Peaches
K. Todd Freeman	...	Muddy
Paz de la Huerta	...	Mary Agnes
J.K. Simmons	...	Ray Kendall
Evan Parke	...	Jack (as Evan Dexter Parke)
Jimmy Flynn	...	Vernon
Lonnie Farmer	...	Hero (as Lonnie R. Farmer)
Erik Per Sullivan	...	Fuzzy
Spencer Diamond	...	Curly
Sean Andrew	...	Copperfield
John Albano	...	Steerforth
Skye McCole Bartusiak	...	Hazel (as Sky McCole-Bartusiak)
Clare Daly	...	Clara
Colin Irving	...	Major Winslow
Annie Corley	...	Carla
Patrick Donnelly	...	Adopting Father
Edie Schechter	...	Adopting Mother
Kasey Berry	...	12yr. Old Girl
Mary Bogue	...	Big Dot
Victoria Stankiewicz	...	Debra
Christine Stevens	...	Florence
Earle C. Batchelder	...	Dr. Holtz
Norma Fine	...	Mrs. Goodhall
John Irving	...	Stationmaster
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Eric Bruno Borgman	...	Flirting Soldier on Train (uncredited)
Kevin Chapman	...	Adopting Dad (uncredited)
John H. Tobin	...	Man on Train (uncredited)

Directed by
Lasse Hallström

Writing credits (WGA)
John Irving		(novel)
John Irving		(screenplay)

Produced by
Alan C. Blomquist	....	co-producer
Bobby Cohen	....	executive producer
Richard N. Gladstein	....	producer
Leslie Holleran	....	co-producer
Michele Platt	....	associate producer
Meryl Poster	....	executive producer
Bob Weinstein	....	executive producer
Harvey Weinstein	....	executive producer
Lila Yacoub	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Rachel Portman

Cinematography by
Oliver Stapleton		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Lisa Zeno Churgin

Casting by
Kerry Barden
Billy Hopkins
Suzanne Smith

Production Design by
David Gropman

Art Direction by
Karen Schulz Gropman		(as Karen Schulz-Gropman)

Set Decoration by
Beth A. Rubino		(as Beth Rubino)

Costume Design by
Renee Ehrlich Kalfus		(as Renée Ehrlich Kalfus)

Makeup Department
Sharyn Cordice	....	assistant makeup artist
DiHann Green	....	hair consultant: Ms. Badu
Wayne Herndon	....	hair stylist: Ms. Theron
Deborah K. Larsen	....	makeup artist: Ms. Theron (as Deborah Larson)
Brenda McNally	....	assistant hair stylist
Peggy Schierholz	....	key hair stylist (as Peg Schierholz)
Ellie Winslow	....	key makeup artist
Marleen Alter	....	additional makeup artist (uncredited)
Trish Seeney	....	additional makeup artist (uncredited)
Louie Zakarian	....	special makeup effects artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Barbara A. Hall	....	unit production manager
Katia Milani	....	post-production supervisor: Post Production Playground
Diana Zock	....	production supervisor
Clark Henderson	....	executive in charge of post-production (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Stephen P. Dunn	....	first assistant director
Paul Byrne Prenderville	....	second second assistant director (as Paul Prenderville)
Melissa Rudman	....	dga trainee
Christina Stauffer	....	second assistant director (as Tina Stauffer)
Paul Byrne Prenderville	....	first assistant director: second unit (uncredited)

Art Department
Alan Allinger	....	construction foreman
Rand Angelicola	....	scenic artist
Rodney Armanino	....	construction coordinator
Jonathan Askew	....	carpenter
Judson Bell	....	carpenter
Rich Bell	....	greens assistant
William Bergland	....	carpenter
Scott Bobbitt	....	lead man
Daniel Boxer	....	assistant property master
Doug Cluff	....	scenic artist
Daniel J. Courchaine	....	scenic artist (as Dan Courchaine)
Jeffrey DeBell	....	greens foreman (as Jeff DeBell)
Steve DeBoer	....	carpenter
James Faulkner	....	carpenter
Francis L. Foley	....	labor foreman (as Francis Foley)
Chris Fousek	....	set dresser
David Godfrey	....	greens assistant (as David Godfree)
Wylie Griffin	....	art department coordinator
Sandy Hamilton	....	property master
Tim Jackson	....	carpenter
Kim Jennings	....	assistant art director
Holly Laws	....	draper
Randy Manion	....	art department production assistant
Jonathan Martin	....	construction office manager
Cameron Matheson	....	carpenter
Eric Matheson	....	foreman: Maine
Robert McKown	....	carpenter
Kris Moran	....	assistant props
Steve Morrell	....	carpenter
Alexander Nesbit	....	carpenter
Christopher J. Noonan	....	carpenter (as Christopher Noonan)
David North	....	carpenter
Richard Oeser	....	set dresser
Phyllis Penfold	....	set dresser
Susan Peterson	....	scenic artist (as Sue Peterson)
Eugene Pope	....	metal fabricator
Peter Rogness	....	assistant art director
Kathy Rosen	....	buyer
David Rotondo	....	carpenter (as David Rotundo)
William C. Salter	....	carpenter (as William Salter)
Kevin Sciotto	....	scenic artist
Edwin James Scott Jr.	....	carpenter
Tyris Smith	....	fixtures
Tyris Smith	....	set dresser
Peter T. St. Onge	....	carpenter (as Peter St. Onge)
John Haven Story	....	scenic artist
Theodore Suchecki	....	local construction foreman (as Ted Suchecki)
Robert Topol	....	master scenic artist (as Bob Topol)
M. Tony Trotta	....	camera scenic artist
M. Tony Trotta	....	lead man
Loretta Wade	....	construction production assistant
Stephanie Waldron	....	greensman
Peter Wilcox	....	carpenter
Paul Williamson	....	carpenter
Arthur A. Wood III	....	lead man: Maine (as Arthur Wood)
Arthur A. Wood III	....	set dresser (as Arthur Wood)
Brian Woods	....	carpenter
Chuck Potter	....	assistant set decorator: Maine (uncredited)
Kathleen Rosen	....	buyer (uncredited)
Teresa Visinare	....	buyer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Gina Alfano	....	supervising adr editor (as Gina R. Alfano)
Louis Bertini	....	foley editor
David Boulton	....	adr mixer
Bob Chefalas	....	sound re-recording mixer
Eric A. Christoffersen	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Richard P. Cirincione	....	sound effects editor
Laura Civiello	....	supervising dialogue editor
Joe Dohner	....	foley mixer
Carl Fischer	....	boom operator
Petur Hliddal	....	production sound mixer
Jay Kessel	....	supervising assistant sound editor
Bruce Kitzmeyer	....	foley editor
Dan Korintus	....	dialogue editor
Jasmine Kosovic	....	adr coordinator
Joshua Landis	....	assistant sound editor
Marissa Littlefield	....	adr editor
Eytan Mirsky	....	sound effects editor
Frank Morrone	....	sound re-recording: predub (as Frank Norrone)
Bob Olari	....	sound recordist
Bitty O'Sullivan-Smith	....	dialogue editor
Harry Peck Bolles	....	adr editor
Steve Pederson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Tom Perry	....	sound re-recording mixer
Alex Raspa	....	adr recordist
Jacob Ribicoff	....	foley editor
Lynn Sable	....	assistant adr editor
Maurice Schell	....	supervising sound editor
Dominick Tavella	....	sound re-recording: previews (as Dom Tavella)
Brian Vancho	....	foley artist
Magdaline Volaitis	....	dialogue editor
Peter Waggoner	....	sound re-recording: predub
Ryan Webb	....	sound utility
Byron Wong	....	appprentice sound editor
Dicken Berglund	....	voiceover mixer (uncredited)
Phil Hadaway	....	adr engineer (uncredited)
Scott Jones	....	adr mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Robert Bolanowski	....	special effects
Ron Bolanowski	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Al Magliochetti	....	visual effects supervisor: Eye Candy
Bryan Whitaker	....	digital artist (uncredited)

Stunts
Charles Croughwell	....	stunt coordinator (as Charlie Croughwell)
Billy Morts	....	utility stunts (as Bill Morts)
Denney Pierce	....	utility stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Robert M. Andres	....	key grip (as Bob Andres)
Alison Barton	....	grip
Sarah Elspeth Black	....	lamp operator (as Sarah Black)
Lon Caracappa	....	rigging gaffer
Robert Cuddy	....	lamp operator
Andy Day	....	gaffer
Michael DiIeso	....	best boy grip (as Mike DiIeso)
Jenny Kane	....	lamp operator
Richard C. Kerekes	....	dolly grip (as Rich Kerekes)
Sarco Kirklian	....	grip
Eric Komar	....	grip
Chris Lombardi	....	camera operator
Roger Marbury	....	lamp operator
Matt Miller	....	key rigging grip
James R. Mitchell	....	rigging electrician (as James Mitchell)
Brian A. Pitts	....	rigging best boy (as Brian Pitts)
Mike Reed	....	best boy electric
Scott Andrew Ressler	....	additional assistant camera (as Scott Ressler)
Shayna Ritenour	....	camera loader
Patrick Ruth	....	rigging electrician
Kevin Schmidt	....	additional assistant camera
Doug Schwartz	....	first assistant camera
Wayne Simpson	....	lamp operator
Randy Stone	....	second assistant camera
Darrell Temple	....	grip (as Darrel L. Temple)
Stephen Vaughan	....	unit photographer
Mark A. Weil	....	rigging best boy (as Mark Weil)
Brian A. Pitts	....	best boy electric rigger (uncredited)
Philip A. Reilly	....	electrician (uncredited)
Wayne Simpson	....	best boy (uncredited)
Cristian Trova	....	electrician (uncredited)
Greg Wimer	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Mark Bennett	....	casting associate: New York
Marty Cherrix	....	location casting
Sig De Miguel	....	casting assistant: New York
Deborah Maxwell Dion	....	casting associate: Los Angeles (as Deborah Maxwell-Dion)
Jennifer McNamara	....	casting associate: New York
Manny Poulos	....	location casting assistant
David H. Kramer	....	adr voice casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Susan Anderson	....	additional costumer
Barbara Hause	....	wardrobe supervisor
Joni M. Huth	....	seamstress (as Joni Huth)
Lisa Lesniak	....	additional costumer
Keith G. Lewis	....	key set costumer (as Keith Lewis)
Cassy McEvoy	....	seamstress
Margaret Palmer	....	set costumer
Camille Rustige	....	wardrobe production assistant
Gretchen Schlottman	....	additional costumer
Elizabeth Shelton	....	associate costume designer (as Liz Shelton)
Kathy Oberlin	....	costume constructor (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Terel Gibson	....	apprentice editor
Chad Glastonbury	....	negative cutter
May Kuckro	....	first assistant editor
Sandra Nash	....	second assistant editor
Cathy Rait	....	color timer
Catherine Rankin	....	negative cutter
Paul Wagtouicz	....	apprentice editor
Michael Williams	....	assistant post-production supervisor
Kenny Becker	....	color timer (uncredited)
Jennifer Davidoff Cook	....	first assistant editor (uncredited)
Andrew Mondshein	....	additional editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Jeff Atmajian	....	orchestrator
David Carbonara	....	music editor
John Carbonara	....	assistant music editor
Chris Dibble	....	music recording engineer
George Hamer	....	music contractor
John Lenehan	....	musician: piano
Rachel Portman	....	orchestrator
Rachel Portman	....	score producer
Beth Rosenblatt	....	music consultant
Bill Silcock	....	music copyist
David Snell	....	conductor
Randy Spendlove	....	music executive: Miramax
Tony Stanton	....	music copyist
Mark Tucker	....	score recording engineer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Richard P. Abate Jr.	....	driver (as Richard Abate Jr.)
Richard Abate	....	transportation captain
Denise Avallon	....	driver
Dave Bostic	....	driver
Richard Buttaro	....	driver (as Richard Buttero)
Bob Carnes	....	driver (as Robert Carnes)
Tom Costley	....	driver
William Coyman	....	driver
John Cronk	....	driver
Robert Destasio	....	driver
Nick DiLoretto	....	driver
Robert Dudley	....	driver
David Duggan	....	driver
Wilbur Ellis	....	driver
Jimmy Flynn	....	transportation coordinator
Gerry Guarino	....	driver (as Jerry Guarino)
Roger Hitchcock	....	driver
Robert Martini	....	driver (as Bobby Martini)
Jack McBride	....	driver
Roderick McCellan	....	driver
Mario Presterone	....	driver
Frank Rossi	....	driver
Bartley Small	....	driver (as Bart Small)
Richard Villiard	....	driver

Other crew
Rachel Aberly	....	unit publicist
Sophie Addie	....	assistant: Mr. Gladstein (as Sophie McMenamin)
Chloe Bland	....	assistant: Mr. Irving
Timothy Brooks	....	film runner
Nydia Calon	....	stand-in (as Nydia Colón)
Susan Christy	....	craft service (as Sue Christy)
Deb Clapp	....	set medic
Chris Cozens	....	auricle operator
Marianne Crescenzi	....	production coordinator
Sven Davisson	....	location assistant
Denis Doyle	....	key set production assistant (as Dennis Doyle)
Sarah Elliott	....	office production assistant
Colby Enders	....	office production assistant
Mark Fitzgerald	....	assistant location manager
Kerry A. Fitzmaurice	....	location assistant (as Kerry Fitzmaurice)
James Flemming	....	catering assistant
Lorin Flemming	....	chef
Nathan Ford	....	office production assistant
Elena Gavrilova	....	assistant: Rachel Portman
Jane Goldsmith	....	script supervisor
Jill Hahn	....	assistant production accountant
Charles Harrington	....	location manager
Paul Harrington	....	stand-in
Gerry Hernandez	....	catering assistant
Brandon Hollyer	....	accounting clerk
Janice Jacobs	....	travel: Disney Travel Corporation Inc.
Michael E. Jacobson	....	set production assistant
April A. Janow	....	production accountant (as April Janow)
Rick Johnston	....	stand-in
George Michael Jones	....	stand-in (as George Jones)
George Jones	....	stand-in
Kelly Keough	....	studio teacher
Sherry Koftan	....	stand-in
Laura H. Kreft	....	payroll accountant (as Laura Kreft)
Chad Lemieux	....	set production assistant
Alasdair MacLellan	....	set production assistant
Lisa Mantoux	....	assistant: Mr. Maguire
Cheryl Miller	....	second assistant accountant
Don Mink	....	post-production accountant
Ed O'Neil	....	projectionist
Arlene Pachasa	....	assistant: Ms. Theron
Scott Packman	....	production attorney
Jess Platt	....	dialect coach: Mr. Caine (as Jess A. Platt)
Jim Plaza	....	projectionist
Larry Price	....	stand-in
Luke Ramsey	....	location assistant
Debra Rees	....	studio teacher
Jennifer Roberts	....	assistant craft service
Eric Roth	....	production attorney
Juan Ruiz	....	catering assistant
Nina Saxon	....	title designer: end titles, New Wave Entertainment
Nina Saxon	....	title designer: main title, New Wave Entertainment
Edie Schechter	....	assistant: Mr. Hallström
Jim Slabacheski	....	stand-in
Pam Southwick	....	stand-in
Elizabeth Speckman	....	post-production accountant
Mike Surgen	....	stand-in
Will Sweeney	....	assistant: Mr. Cohen
Hank Thomas	....	assistant: Mr. Lindo
Phillippa Weaver	....	set production assistant
Cody Zwieg	....	production secretary
Luke Bittel	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Amy Carroll	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Marisa Clayton	....	dailies assistant: Magno Sound & Video (uncredited)
Eddy Collyns	....	location scout (uncredited)
George A. Parker	....	process photography technician (uncredited)
Todd Poudrier	....	photo double (uncredited)
Jodi Shapera	....	assistant accountant (uncredited)

Thanks
John Alzapiedi	....	thanks: Massachusetts Film Office
Bob Balfour	....	thanks: Massachusetts Department of Corrections
Ulf Björck	....	in memoriam
Bob Bookman	....	very special thanks
Phillip Borsos	....	in memoriam
Marcia Brown	....	thanks: Venfort Hall Association
Michael Caldwell	....	thanks: Thurston's Lobster Pound
Paul Cellucci	....	thanks: Massachusetts governor
Priscilla Cohen	....	very special thanks
Robert Cohen	....	thanks: Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Robin Dawson	....	thanks: Massachusetts Film Office
Jeff Dobbs	....	thanks
Norm Dodge	....	thanks: The National Park Service
Steve Dontanville	....	very special thanks
Mary Ford	....	thanks: mayor of Northampton, Massachusetts
Stuart Ford	....	very special thanks
Denise Galinas	....	thanks (as Dr. Denise Galinas)
Lea Giraldi	....	thanks: Maine Film Office
Lauri Gladstein	....	very special thanks
Richard Halgin	....	thanks (as Dr. Richard Halgin)
Nils Hallström	....	in memoriam
J.J. Harris	....	very special thanks
Jerry Hebda	....	thanks: Green Mountain Railroad
Clark Henderson	....	very special thanks
Toni Howard	....	very special thanks
Janet Turnbull Irving	....	very special thanks
Tracey Jacobs	....	very special thanks
Eric Kranzler	....	very special thanks
David Lennick	....	thanks: Efrem Productions
Verneda Lights-Sagay	....	thanks (as Dr. Verneda Lights-Sagay)
Laurence Lundy	....	thanks: ob/gyn (as Dr. Laurence Lundy)
Tom McGuire	....	very special thanks
Cary Meadow	....	very special thanks
Bob Melky	....	thanks: Northampton State Hospital
Adriana Michel	....	very special thanks (as Randi Michel)
Mark Mitchell	....	thanks: Northampton State Hospital (as Dr. Mark Mitchell)
Andrew Mondshein	....	very special thanks
Lena Olin	....	very special thanks
Bob Osher	....	very special thanks
Ed Reilly	....	thanks
Al 'Scottie' Scott	....	thanks: Northampton State Hospital
Eric Shonz	....	very special thanks
Leslie Siebert	....	very special thanks
Josh Silver	....	very special thanks
Tjasa Sprague	....	thanks: Venfort Hall Association
Loranne Turgeon	....	thanks: Vermont Film Office

Production Companies

• FilmColony
• Miramax Films
• Nina Saxon Film Design

Distributors

• Miramax Films (1999) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (2004) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2000) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Alliance Atlantis Communications (Canada)
• Asmik Ace Entertainment
• Bac Films (France)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (BVHE) (1999) (USA) (VHS)
• Buena Vista International (Argentina)
• Filmes Castello Lopes (Portugal)
• Gativideo (2000) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2000) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Imagem Filmes (2000) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Keyfilms Roma (Italy)
• Kinowelt Filmverleih (Germany)
• Laurenfilm (Spain)
• Nelonen (2003) (Finland) (TV)
• New Films International
• RCV Film Distribution (Belgium)
• RCV Film Distribution (Luxembourg)
• RCV Film Distribution (Netherlands)
• Scanbox Entertainment (Denmark)
• Scanbox Entertainment (Norway)
• Scanbox Entertainment (Sweden)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2000) (Finland) (DVD)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2000) (Finland) (VHS)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (Denmark)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (Norway)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (Sweden)

Special Effects

• Eye Candy (special visual effects)

Other Companies

• Boston Light & Sound  dailies equipment (uncredited)
• Boston Light & Sound  process projection (uncredited)
• Buena Vista Film Sales  "Rebecca" footage courtesy of
• Camera Service Center  camera equipment provided by
• Commonwealth of Massachusetts  thanks
• David Kramer's Looping Group  background vocals
• DeLuxe Laboratories  color (as Deluxe)
• Deluxe Catering  catering
• Disney Travel Corporation Inc.  travel services
• Du Art Film Laboratories  dailies (as DuArt)
• Enterprise Rent-A-Car  thanks
• Entertainment Partners  payroll services
• Great Northern/Reiff & Associates  insurance services
• Green Mountain Railroad  thanks
• Haddad's  production equipment
• Historic Films  newsreel stock footage courtesy of
• Hollywood Rental Company  production lighting equipment (as Hollywood Rentals)
• Howard Anderson Company, The  titles and opticals
• Kodak  film stock supplied by
• MGM Clip + Still  "Wuthering Heights" artwork courtesy of
• Maine Film Office  thanks
• Massachusetts Department of Corrections  thanks
• Massachusetts Film Office  thanks
• National Park Service, The  thanks
• New Wave Entertainment  title design
• Northampton State Hospital  thanks
• O'Melveny & Myers  production legal services
• Pleasant Street Video  thanks
• Post Production Playground  post-production supervision
• Prep Shoot Post  post-production accounting
• Production Arts  additional lighting equipment
• Scott Farm, Brattleboro (VT)  thanks
• Sony Classical  soundtrack
• Sound One Corporation  adr and foley recording
• Sound One Corporation  editorial facility
• Studios CTS  music recording studio (as CTS Studios, London)
• The Town of Northampton (MA)  thanks
• The Willis Wood Family  thanks
• Thurston's Lobster Pound, Bernard (ME)  thanks
• Todd-AO Studios (East)  re-recording facility
• Turner Entertainment  "King Kong" footage courtesy of
• Venfort Hall Association  thanks
• Vermont Film Office  thanks
• WPA Film Library  newsreel stock footage courtesy of

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic elements, sexuality, nudity, substance abuse and some violence.

Runtime:

126 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #36692) | Iceland:L | Malaysia:U | South Korea:15 | Taiwan:GP | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:14A (Alberta) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Canada:PG (British Columbia) | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIA | Ireland:18 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:M | Norway:11 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:11 | UK:12 | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Bellows Falls, Vermont, USA

Company:

FilmColony

Trivia:

Cameo: [John Irving]novel's author plays the stationmaster.

Goofs:

Continuity: The rules that Homer "reads" do not match the typed list we see.

Quotes:

Nurse Angela: [looking at an X-Ray] Do you know what this is?
Homer Wells: Oh, that's my heart.
Nurse Angela: No, actually, it's Fuzzy's. There's nothing wrong with your heart.
Nurse Edna: Dr. Larch wanted to keep you out of the war. That's why he told you it was yours.
Nurse Angela: He was worried about his own heart. He said it would never stand up to Homer Wells going off to war.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Stella Shorts 1998-2002 (2002) (V)

Soundtrack:

King Kong, Original 1933 Score

Funny, moving, incredibly well-done

I didn't think it was possible, but one of John Irving's most difficult books was condensed by the author himself (the last third of the book is gone) into a very very good movie. All the acting is great (especially the nice low key performances by Macguire and Caine), BEAUTIFULLY shot (in Vermont, Maine and Massachusetts), a score that fits the movie like a glove and fully realized three-dimensional characters. Plot-wise there's nothing new (young man goes out to see the world, discovers himself, etc etc) but the cast makes it seem new. They all find depth in roles that have been done before--especially Caine who speaks with a very convincing Maine accent! Bring lots of tissues with you--the movie is sad and disturbing at points (all kept in the PG-13 rating however), but it has a happy ending. Well worth seeing. See it on a BIG screen--all the beautiful shoots won't work on TV.