Novelist John Irving adapts his own best seller about an orphan who ventures outside his home hoping to find himself in the real world. Cider House Rules also strives to make important comments on abortion, and does so with a lot of class and without being pretentiously preachy.

Tobey Maguire plays orphan Homer Wells as a pure, sweet innocent, and although he isn't always up to the dramatic challenge, this is a role that perfectly suits him. The film is expertly acted by all involved, but the standouts are Michael Caine as Homer's father figure and Delroy Lindo as a sympathetic farmer.

Lasse Hallstrom (What's Eating Gilbert Grape) directs with a sure hand and was the perfect choice to helm this emotionally moving film. As in his past efforts, he shows a tremendous ability to work with actors and evoke almost perfect chemistry between all the characters. True, Cider House Rules has moments that are quite manipulative, but Hallstrom and Irving are able to pull this film off with some truly powerful storytelling.

With breathtaking cinematography, stellar performances, a beautiful score by Rachel Portman, and all around great film-making, Hallstrom and Irving have fashioned one of the most pleasant and surprising films of 1999. See this gem before it's gone and watch for it on my revised Best of 1999 list!