I remember having to sit through this movie with my ex
This could possibly be the most boring movie I've ever seen.
shareOn the surface it's a quality period piece about life at an apple orchard and orphanage in Maine during WWII.
It's the subtext where the film soars for those interested in ruminations on the complexities of morality and the place outward or inward rules play.
Here's a taste (SPOILERS follow): The movie contrasts outer rules with innate moral rules. The former can be broken as it suits the individual without any ill-effects (like the cider house rules in the film or stepping over the wall at Niagara Falls to get a better picture) whereas the latter cannot be broken without severe consequences. The apple workers rightly mock the cider house rules made by people who don't know what it's like to live & work there, but Mr. Rose breaks a universal spiritual law and so (1.) loses his daughter and (2.) prematurely dies, which conveys the idea that "the wages of sin is death."
The rules of society demand that a person have proper credentials in order to do the work Dr. Larch performs -- and understandably so -- but official credentials on a wall are irrelevant in regards to some people, like Homer -- who's thoroughly trained & expert at his craft, credentials or no credentials -- and so Larch creates fake "proper" credentials to appease officials.
Also Wally & Candy impulsively have an illegal abortion at the beginning of the movie but, by the end, he's a paraplegic and it doesn't look like they're going to have wild sex anymore (which is different than saying they won't have any sexual relations); and, if they have children, they're probably going to have to adopt orphans. While that's wonderful, they no doubt strongly regret deciding to break the rules and abort their biological child.
Homer rightly argues that people should be responsible BEFORE having sex and the resulting potential complications (pregnancy, etc.). Larch later responds that he wishes the world were as idealistic as Homer views it, but it's not, unfortunately.
Obviously the movie's not far Left or far Right; it's somewhere in the middle in its realistic reflections on moral complexities and ambiguities. It clearly and respectfully conveys both sides in the debate on abortion and the ramifications thereof.
No offense intended but reading through that synopsis there was almost as deadly boring as the movie itself! And I’m not someone who only likes action-packed blockbusters. I enjoy certain thought provoking films, it’s just this one was so far removed from my areas of interest, it was like sitting through a lecture on needle point.
shareIt's all good. People who like period dramas or explorations of human nature and morality should find it intriguing though.
shareI'm with you Wuchak. I loved TCHR, and I always want to see a Hallstrom film.
Often times, I really enjoy the feeling and message of a certain film, but I can't necessarily articulate the finer points.
It's a great movie, and your exposition was excellent.
But be careful about those spoilers ! Some people take this very seriously, so I've been trying to get into the habit of announcing, even if it seems silly. A Spoiler Alert would not prevent me from reading further (well, maybe it would, idk), but at least it gives people a heads up.
Thanks Snepts; I added a spoiler alert.
shareI think he gave an insightful and interesting synopsis of the movie. No offense, but you really only came here to post that you thought the movie was boring? Why spend time posting about a movie you don't care about?
shareBingo. I wish I could say I shared this fine film with an SO I was fond of, but I probably rented and watched it alone.
shareI agree, Wuchak’s post was thorough and well articulated. But like I said in my reply to him when I made the analogy to a lecture on needlepoint, it is so far from my interests that I found it dull as sin. I didn’t just search out this movie to disparage it. I observed it on the Trending bar of MovieChat, and it brought to mind the time I saw it, so I decided to post my opinion of it. Sort of a service to people viewing this thread - if you’re a straight male, most likely you’ll have a similar reaction to this film (except for the rare instance that one has some particular affinity for this time period or topics touched on in the movie).
shareStraight male? This really makes me chuckle.
If I need to declare my straight maleness, be it here so declared.
Perhaps I am in touch with feminine sensibilities, like thoughtfulness and vulnerability, if those are thought to be feminine. Idk, I try not to live in that sort of world, Men are Men, Women are Women, Mars v Venus.
I don't watch Oprah or Ellen, but I don't mind watching a movie that is kind, gentle and thoughtful, something an intelligent woman would appreciate. But the stereotype I definitely don't agree with.
Reminds me of the time a female friend admonished me for questioning why she and her hub would want to watch a Jolie Lara Croft movie. "We like broken glass movies," she said somewhat angrily. Ho-kay ! Whatever.