Rain Man Special Edition
March 24, 2009 by Autism · Leave a Comment
Rain Man is the kind of touching drama that Oscars are made for–and, sure enough, the film took Academy honors for best picture, director, screenplay, and actor (Dustin Hoffman) in 1988. Hoffman plays Raymond, an autistic savant whose late father has left him $3 million in a trust. This gets the attention of his materialistic younger brother, a hot-shot LA car dealer named Charlie (Tom Cruise) who wasn’t even aware of Raymond’s existence until he read his estranged father’s will. Charlie picks up Raymond and takes him on a cross-country journey that becomes a voyage of discovery for Charlie, and, perhaps, for Raymond, too. Rain Man will either captivate you or irritate you (Raymond’s sputtering of repetitious phrases is enough to drive anyone crazy), but it is obviously a labor of love for those involved. Hoffman had been attached to the film for many years, as various directors and writers came and went, but his persistence eventually paid off–kind of like Raymond in Las Vegas. Look for director Barry Levinson in a cameo as a psychiatrist near the end of the film. –Jim Emerson
User Ratings and Reviews
4 Stars Great story, good buy!
Great movie! Kind of slow if you are looking for something for a special date or a night with the guys, but it’s a great story, well-made film, and has fabulous actors!
4 Stars Brotherly love.
Rain Man starring Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman won many Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Actor for Hoffman. Hoffman’s performance is pretty amazing but I felt Cruise should’ve won too, I never thought of Cruise as an actor with incredible range but he is flawless in this film. The bond between these two guys keeps this film from being lifeless and calculated. Good film even after all these years, enjoy!
5 Stars Stellar
I’m hard pressed to think of another movie where two prominent actors are more on top of their craft–where every single scene in which they interact makes you go, “Wow!”–than RAIN MAN. I’ve seen this movie several times (and hope to see it several times more) and walk away with a new appreciation for what Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman were able to accomplish with each viewing.
This is a journey of discovery, as LA car dealer/hustler Charlie (Cruise) learns, upon the death of his estranged father, that he has a much older, autistic brother, Ray (Hoffman). Angry that he has been shut out of his father’s will, while Ray is the estate’s benefactor, Charlie takes Ray out of his institution and the two brothers embark on a cross-country odyssey (including a trek through my stomping grounds in Oklahoma). Ray is a fragile man of routine, and plucking him from his institution and traveling thousands of miles is a severe disruption; while Charlie, at first impatient and angry at Ray’s outbursts, tries repeatedly to “get through” to his brother–to make a connection. Again, this is a journey of discovery, and it is Charlie who discovers some very important things. . .about himself.
Hoffman is totally convincing and believable as an introverted autistic savant; what’s interesting is that I learned during a special showing of this film that Hoffman, while the movie was being shot, thought his performance so poor and shoddy he asked to be taken off the cast and be replaced by Richard Dreyfuss. This demonstrates he was so invested in the character of Ray he wasn’t giving the character the performance he thought it deserved. Fortunately, director Barry Levinson (who appears, briefly, at the end of the film) declined Hoffman’s request; and the rest, as they say, is cinematic history. Hoffman and Cruise gave masterpiece performances, and RAIN MAN deserved all the accolades and awards it received. If you haven’t seen this movie, please, please do so.
–D. Mikels, Author, The Reckoning
5 Stars VCR to DVD
Just wanted to update my DVD collection with one of my favorite movies, Rainman. Amazon had the best price and delivered within 5 business days, even during the holiday season.
4 Stars Wonderful movie
Barry Levinson has proven again what a fine director he is.
RAIN MAN delivers quite a punch as a human drama and sort of a buddy picture, with some humorous moments. It is deeply felt.
Tom Cruise is excellent in this movie. Dustin Hoffman is great too.
I would definitely recommend this one.
