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Show The Salt Lake Tribune CALENDAR Friday, December 24, 1999 ‘Cider House Rules’ Is Too Watered Down to Ferment BY SEAN P. MEANS ‘THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE The Cider House Rules = The rules posted on the wall of ak the cider house are pointless, written by a managementthat never ventured into the cider ‘house and had no ing ofhow things work there. Theyde Serve the purpose of metaphor in “The Cider House Rules,” a softgeniered adaptation of John irving’s novel, a symbolof how weali must make our own rules in life. The life in question is that of Homer Wells (played by Tobey ponies an orphan who has to manhood in thehalls of @ Tough issues get a soft treatment in this wishy-washy adaptation of Johr Irving’s novel. @ Rated PG-13 for mature thematic elements, sexuality, nudity, substance abuse and somevioJence;131 minutes. @ Opening Christmas Day, Broadway and Holiday Village. that will draw awards-season notice), a kindly but put-upon ad- and tutored by the orphanage’s ministrator who finds solace in the etherbottle. Homer enjoys life among his a well-modulated performance fellow orphans while becoming a protégé to Dr. Larch. The good the‘St. Clouds orphanage in 1930s Maine. Homer has been raised boss, Dr. Larch (Michael Caine,in doctor teaches Homerall he knowsabout medicine, including the orphanage’s seldom-discussed sideline: performing abortions. Homerrefuses to participate in abortions, even as Dr. Larch rationalizes his illegal activity, pointing to 2 woman who di ter a self-induced abortion and declaring, “she died of secrecy.” One day, a young woman, Candy (Charlize Theron), comes to receive Dr. Larch’s services — and Homer asks her boyfriend, Wally (Paul Rudd), an Army Air Corps pilot aboutto be shipped out to fight in World War II, to give him a ride away from the orphana! and into the outside world. Homergets a job picking apples for Wally’s actly and learns harsh lessons about the world from the migrants with whom he works — led by a stern field boss f (Delroy Lindo) and his withdrawn daughter (played by* singer Erykah Badu). Director Lasse Hallstrom (“What's Eating Gilbert Grape”) and screenwriter Irving (adapting his own novel) present Homer's tale with a gentleness that lapses into banality. Hallstrom wraps Homer's story, from his orphanage daysto a furtive romance with Candy, with a gauzy romanticism cut through only by Lindo’s sharp menace. Homer becomes the movie’s hollow center, whichis a dis- Tobey Maguire and Charlize Theron in “The Cider House Rules.” service to Maguire's acting talent (check out “The Ice Storm” or “Pleasantville” for examples). about breaking free of other people’s restrictions, “The Cider The resulting movie so soft- House Rules” would have been pedals Homer's central moral di- better served by shaking off the lemma(whichis, in essence, the national abortion debate in minjature) as to make its eventual resolution toothless. For a movie eee ze CLOSED TODAY) for Seta ve showing ITO fexas| FightClueine nsdanas BAUS Stier U Road constraints of audiencepandering moviemaking. Eaepeee Emporium Steamer, Eur Nn. nner foloongSak foliating Salt Giow GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE ayer Mon.-Fri. 10-9, Sat 10-7 2416 E. Fort Union Bid. 943-1188 nemzso7n | explict mansteam Faas Cowmande TE MILE. TAK |(1150-1290-145920.420555) 75085025500m THX 14:30-2:15-5:00) 7:46-10:40 ootTH JOIN US FOR YOUR FAVORITE AUTHENTIC DISHES FROM OLD MEXICO IN THE OPEN TROPICAL SETTING OF TRES HOMBRES MEXICAN GRILL AND CANTINA. STATE LIQUOR LICENSES SERVING GREAT MEXICAN FOOD SINCE 19384 pera a The Green Mile (r) (12:00,100, 2:00, 3:45, 4:45, 5:45) 730 “Ga'3 Screens» Digital stereo Hollow (n) Man On The Moon () ies 12:00, 1:45, oe ae oe te ete Age 1:30,2:15, 3:00, 3:45, ozsfo 4630, 519) 615, 7.00 74 Gn3 Screens Digital Stereo Star Wars Wa Digital Stereo} (11:00, 1-50, 440) 7: 2AS, 3.25, 500, 5:40) 0n 2 Screens» Digital Stereo Bone Co! lector 0 1 (Pc) (12:10, 2:40, 5:10) 7:40 Music of the Heart PO) cad The Straight Story Oo, (11:15, 2:00, 440) 7:15 FeBOSEBE SES oF BOON(F) DOLBY) bike 09430;rc0048 von 4978,» eres, ey: it 3:50 e325 6017000. (11:30, 2:05, 4: Digital Stereo| .25 Bargain shows noted in parenthesis. eR Misael)caeeaa ser ee . AMS 24) 1B esas al would vou Ss go a rer to. become SOMCONG ws 973-4FUN BENGE AIH anataD@eee iUaleaaaaties “You're Not Just Watching the Movie, You're In It! Separate Tickets Required aT JORDAN COMMONS Mysteries of Egypt 11:00 © 5:15 ¢ 7:45 ves Everest Everest 1:30 ¢ 4:00 Sporwcred aly by. US WEST? Wireless The Living Sea TELIA 12:15 ¢ 2:45 © 6:30 ray in BEST OF rN Ol Sarl LY & DINE LN OL UNIQUE O10) Ome OURT GREENMILE ki THE onsWamtDa moe saan |
