The Cider House Rules

Perhaps the only really good movie adaptation of any of Irving’s works. The screenwriter (and author of the novel) transferred the book sensitively to the screen and so the brutal cuts from the original don’t matter, because the right atmosphere remains. Hallström holds the picture in his sure hand and everybody puts on good performances. A great and very pleasant movie to watch. (02/06/2007)

I really cried at the end, this is something that will get everyone. A beautiful, moving story, sensitively filmed. How on earth does Lasse Hallstrom manage to make every one of his films a true cinematic event? And the actors? I really like Tobey Maguire's austere style, Michael Caine was excellent (but I can't help it, it wasn't Oscar-worthy), and Charlize Theron has long since ceased to be just a model, she’s a really good actress and an extremely glamorous one at that. And so, in conclusion, my friends, let's thank fate that this didn't get into the claws of Jan Svěrák. He would have thrown in some sad eyes or something similar and viewers would have missed out a profound experience. (09/19/2003)

An emotionally charged film, where the director focuses a bit too much for my taste on the beauty of the cinematography, the dreaminess of the setting, and the visual aesthetics. If Lasse Hallström had pushed a little harder, the film would have gained the much-needed dynamism. Nevertheless, the performances were very good. (08/07/2004)

If it weren't for the top-notch performances by Michael Caine and Tobey Maguire, The Cider House Rules would probably seem like a simple calculus, designed to wring emotions out of the viewer and bring tears to their eyes. But thankfully, nothing like that happened (and if it did, it wasn't too obvious) and I was able to calmly follow the story, which was predictable, but also full of such believable and human characters that it deserved no less than four stars. (07/05/2011)

In Lasse Hallström's oeuvre, I place The Cider House Rules in an imaginary second place, right behind What’s Eating Gilbert Grape. I quite wonder if John Irving was already thinking of Hallström as a future film director when he wrote the book :)), as such a theme is quite typical "Hallström". The fact that John Irving is the author not only of the book, but also of the screenplay itself, certainly contributed enormously to the excellent result, which should please both readers and audiences untouched by the book. The musical score is again pleasantly intimate, the direction civil and unobtrusive. What more could you ask for? :)) 95% (03/13/2010)