Michael Caine plays Dr. Larch, an obstetrician in a small Maine orphanage. As he says in the opening voiceover, people only ever come to him to get a child or to get rid of one. Larch practices illegal abortions, although he has justified his actions in his own mind. One of his favorite orphans is Homer (Tobey Maguire), a quiet young man who was never adopted. Larch takes Homer under his wing, teaching him to deliver babies and perform abortions. Homer doesn't want to perform one of these himself; he's not sure it's the right thing to do.

One day, a young woman named Candy (Charlize Theron) and her boyfriend Wally (Paul Rudd) come to the orphanage. They are unmarried and she is pregnant. Larch gives her an abortion, and as the couple leaves, Homer spontaneously decides it is time for him to move on. He hitches a ride with his new friends and gets a job in an apple orchard. There, Homer works with a group of African-Americans who bunk in the cider house and can't read the rules on the wall. He also begins an affair with Candy.

I can't reveal more about the plot without giving things away. Let's just say that what Homer learns from his co-workers profoundly affects his life and his moral outlook.

Tobey Maguire and Charlize Theron in the Best Picture nominee The Cider House Rules

The Cider House Rules is, among other things, intended to be a feel-good movie about abortion (which may account for why liberal Hollywood has embraced the film). Without dragging politics into the discussion, I have to say that the film is thoughtful and intelligent in its message, avoiding knee-jerk philosophy in favor of a genuine point of view. Rather than hammering it into the audience's head, director Lasse Hallstrom (What's Eating Gilbert Grape) keeps things low-key and intimate. The story unfolds in a natural way, focusing on the emotions of the characters rather than trying to make a blatant political statement.

My problem is that, although well acted and sensitively directed, The Cider House Rules is also rather predictable. There is a "surprise" revelation late in the story that I saw coming a mile away, and a "surprise" repercussion that is also very apparent. One of the problems in dealing with the issue of abortion on screen is that someone has to be in need of one. Usually, it's pretty easy to figure out who that person will be and why. I always felt a couple steps ahead of the plot; that predictability detracts from the quality of the film. A story dealing with such controversial subject matter should pack a real punch. Although it has a legitimate point of view, The Cider House Rules didn't leave me thinking about its ideas because the plot was often cliched.

I also found Tobey Maguire to be a very bland lead, although the rest of the cast is superb. Charlize Theron, in particular, is good. She gives Candy some layers that aren't initially apparent, and when things change for the worse in her life, Candy's decisions are compelling. Michael Caine (nominated for Best Supporting Actor) is also very good. He sees himself as a father to Homer and is hurt when the boy chooses not to follow in his footsteps.

I recommend The Cider House Rules for the performances and a handful of good scenes. It is not a great film, however; it is a movie that has high ambitions and just enough flaws to keep it from achieving greatness. There's some good stuff here, to be sure, but is it Best Picture material? I think not.

( out of four)

The Cider House Rules is rated for brief nudity, profanity, and adult themes related to abortion. The running time is 2 hours and 5 minutes.