Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Rain Man Review








Rain Man


Release Date: 23rd February 1989 - Australia


Production Companies
United Artists (presents)
The Guber/Peters Company
Star Partners II (in association with)


Genre: Comedy/Drama

Rating: M

Runtime: 128 minutes


Budget: $25,000,000

Box Office Gross: $354,825,435 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Charlie Babbit is an egotistical car dealer who learns that his father has died but finds out that his money now goes to an autistic savant named Raymond, who happens to be an older brother that Charlie never knew existed. Charlie then kidnaps Raymond from his institution and takes him on a
road trip back to Los Angeles,
where a life-changing
discovery allows them to
get to know each other.


Cast
Tom Cruise - Charlie Babbitt
Dustin Hoffman - Raymond Babbitt
Valeria Golino - Susanna
Gerald R. Molen - Dr. Gerald Bruner
Bonnie Hunt - Sally Dibbs
Jack Murdock - John Mooney
Michael D. Roberts - Vern
Ralph Seymour - Lenny
Lucinda Jenney - Iris
Kim Robillard - Small Town Doctor
Beth Grant - Mother at Farm House
Dolan Dougherty - Farmhouse Kid
Marshall Dougherty - Farmhouse Kid
Patrick Dougherty - Farmhouse Kid
John-Michael Dougherty - Farmhouse Kid
Peter Dougherty - Farmhouse Kid
Andrew Dougherty - Farmhouse Kid
Loretta Wendt Jolivette - Dr. Bruner's Secretary
Donald E. Jones - Minister at Funeral
Bryon P. Caunar - Man in Waiting Room
Donna J. Dickson - Nurse
Earl Roat - Man on Wallbrook Road
William Montgomery Jr. - Wallbrook
Patient Entering TV Room
Elizabeth Lower - Bank Officer
Michael C. Hall - Police Officer at Accident
Robert W. Henkel - Police Officer at Accident
W. Todd Kenner - Police Officer at Accident
Kneeles Reeves - Amarillo Hotel Owner
Jack W. Cope - Irate Driver
Nick Mazzola - Blackjack Dealer
Ralph Tabakin - Shift Boss
Ray Baker - Mr. Kelso
Isadore Figler - Pit Boss
Ralph M. Cardinale - Pit Boss
Sam Roth - Floorman
Nanci M. Harvey - Lady at Blackjack Table
Kenneth E. Lowden - Guard in Video Room
Jocko Marcellino - Las Vegas Crooner
John Thorstensen - Train Conductor
Barry Levinson - Doctor (Uncredited)
Blanche Salter - Woman at Pancake Counter
Jake Hoffman - Boy at Pancake Counter

Crew
Director - Barry Levinson
Story/Screenplay - Barry Morrow
Screenplay - Ronald Bass
Script Supervisor - Marshall Schlom
Associate Producer/First Assistant Director -
David McGiffert
Associate Producer - Gail Mutrux
Executive Producers - Jon Peters
and Peter Guber
Producer - Mark Johnson
Co-Producer/Unit Production Manager -
Gerald R. Molen
Technical Consultant - Diane Bass (Uncredited)
Casting Director - Louis DiGiaimo
Production Designer - Ida Random
Art Director - William A. Elliott
Set Decorator - Linda DeScenna
Property Master - Edward Aiona
Costume Designer - Bernie Pollack
Director of Photography - John Seale
Second Assistant Director - Cara Giallanza
Second Second Assistant Director -
Cherylanne Martin
Special Effects Supervisor - Donald Myers
Film Editor - Stu Linder
Assistant Editor - Blair Daily
Sound Designer - Richard Beggs
Supervising Sound Editor - Bill Phillips
Sound Editors - Pieter Hubbard,
Bruce Lacey, John A. Larsen,
Jimmy Ling, John Phillips, Hal Sanders,
Jeffrey Wilhoit and Jay Wilkinson (Uncredited)
Re-Recording Mixers - David J. Hudson,
Mel Metcalfe and Terry Porter
Foley Effects - Sarah Monat and
Edward M. Steidele
Music - Hans Zimmer
Music Supervisor - Allan Mason


Awards

1989 Academy Awards
Best Picture - Mark Johnson (Won)
Best Actor - Dustin Hoffman (Won)
Best Director - Barry Levinson (Won)
Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for
the Screen - Ronald Bass and Barry Morrow
(Won)
-------------------------
Best Cinematography - John Seale (Nominated)
Best Art Direction-Set Decoration - Ida Random
and Linda DeScenna (Nominated)
Best Film Editing - Stu Linder (Nominated)
Best Music, Original Score - Hans Zimmer (Nominated)


Review
To be blunt, I have never been quite a fan of movies that include people affected by a disability like autism. RAIN MAN was one of the few films I watched that dealt with the subject. Not only was the story heartwarming and sad, but it had some comedic twists. The acting of Dustin Hoffman for the character of Raymond Babbitt was great. The other things I appreciated about this film include Tom Cruise for his performance as the fast-talking hustler Charlie and the terrific music score by Hans Zimmer. My favourite moment in the movie is when Charlie plays card-counting with Raymond in blackjack.

Although RAIN MAN is not my favourite film, I admit, it is very thoughtful and is a great classic. I would say that this movie could be a little offensive and insulting toward people who have Autism and Asperger's. Viewers who have never had a problem with this might want to look at this movie and give it a try.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

3 comments:

  1. While I too, have never cared to see films with this theme. I have always wanted to see Rain Man and probably will in the near future.

    -James

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well thanks for the comment James the Movie Reviewer, I'm glad that you're not the only one who didn't care this important thing about disability and keep on doing what you wanted to do on your blog-site.

      Delete
  2. What I previously said made me sound like an inconsiderate jerk and I would like to clarify. What I meant by "Films with that theme" were depressing films, while I do believe they need to be made, I do not usually enjoy them. I do relate to movies about disabilities because my father is disabled. Great review though.

    -James

    ReplyDelete