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The Cider House Rules

The Cider House Rules

Drama · 1999

Homer is an orphan who was never adopted, becoming the favorite of orphanage director Dr. Larch. Dr. Larch imparts his full medical knowledge on Homer, who becomes a skilled, albeit unlicensed, physician. But Homer yearns for a self-chosen life outside the orphanage. What will Homer learn about life and love in the cider house? What of the destiny that Dr. Larch has planned for him?

Movie details

The Cider House Rules

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

1999 Drama 2h 6m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.1 / 10

Community rating

Homer is an orphan who was never adopted, becoming the favorite of orphanage director Dr. Larch. Dr. Larch imparts his full medical knowledge on Homer, who becomes a skilled, albeit unlicensed, physician. But Homer yearns for a self-chosen life outside the orphanage. What will Homer learn about life and love in the cider house? What of the destiny that Dr. Larch has planned for him?

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Cider House Rules?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Awakenings

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Lasse Hallström

Written by

John Irving

Tobey Maguire

Tobey Maguire

Homer Wells

Charlize Theron

Charlize Theron

Candy Kendall

Michael Caine

Michael Caine

Dr. Wilbur Larch

Delroy Lindo

Delroy Lindo

Arthur Rose

Paul Rudd

Paul Rudd

Lt. Wally Worthington

Jane Alexander

Jane Alexander

Nurse Edna

Kathy Baker

Kathy Baker

Nurse Angela

Court is in session

Put The Cider House Rules on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.