Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within Review

Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within

Release Date: 26^th July 2001 – Australia

Production Companies

Chris Lee Productions

Square Pictures

Distribution

Sony Pictures Australia

Genre: Animation

Rating: M

Runtime: 106 minutes

Budget: $137,000,000

Box Office Gross: $85,131,830
(Worldwide)

Plot Summary

The year is 2065 AD. The 

Earth is infested with alien 

spirits, and mankind faces 

total extinction. Led by a 

strange dream and guided 

by his mentor, Dr. Sid, 

scientist Aki Ross struggles 

to collect the eight spirits 

in the hope of creating a 

force powerful enough to 

destroy the alien presence 

and pure enough to protect 

the planet. With the aid of 

the Deep Eyes Squadron, 

Aki must save the Earth 

form its darkest hate and 

unleash the spirits within.

Voice Cast

Ming-Na – Aki Ross

Donald Sutherland – Dr. Sid

Alec Baldwin – Gray Edwards

James Woods – General Hein

Ving Rhames – Ryan Whittaker

Steve Buscemi – Neil Fleming

Peri Gilpin – Jane Proudfoot

Crew
Based on Video Game Series
"Final Fantasy/Story/
Executive Producer/
Director - Hironobu Sakaguchi
Co-Director - Motonori Sakakibara
Writers - Al Reinert & Jeff Vintar
Additional Dialogue - Jack Fletcher
Supervising Producer - Michael Hack
Producers - Jun Aida, Chris
Lee & Akio Sakai
Story Editor - Bruce B.L. Jargens
Farsi Adaptation - Ramin Mebdy
Production Designer - Mauro Borrelli
Conceptual Director - Tani Kunitake
Conceptual Designer - Patrick Janicke
Original Character Designer - Shuko Murase
Creature Supervisor - Takao Noguchi
Cinematography - Motonori Sakakibara
Lead Character Animators - Matthew Hackett &
Christopher Walsh
Senior Character Animator - Eric Weiss
Character Supervisor - Taiji Okusawa
Animation Director - Andrew R. Jones
Motion Capture Directors - Jack Fletcher
& Remington Scott
Sequence Supervisors - Eiji Fujii,
Hiroyuki Hayashida, Kenichi Isaka,
Takumi Kimura & Claude PrecourtLightning Supervisor: Square USA - David Seager
Composting Supervisor - James Rogers
Layout Supervisor - Takashi Kubota
Visual Effects Supervisor - Remo Balcells
Sound Designer/Re-Recording Mixer/
Supervising Sound Editor (Uncredited) - Randy Thom
Film Editor - Christopher S. Capp
Music - Elliot Goldenthal

Review

The CGI animation of 'FINAL FANTASY: THE SPIRITS WITHIN' looks beautifully realistic in its characters and may compare to the animation of James Cameron's film 'Avatar'. The movie doesn't feel like the 'Final Fantasy' video game series, it only has the title of Final Fantasy and its not meeting the expectations of loyal video game fans. The other good thing that I list besides the CGI are the decent voice acting, especially James Woods who gives a dark and serious performance as the evil general who wasn't even funny than his other voice acting role as Hades in Disney's 'Hercules'. 

It was really a smart idea to make a modern computerized animated feature that is mature, not aimed for children and doesn't include anything childish like cute characters or sidekicks. 'THE SPIRITS WITHIN' may be an artistic success, but it lacks the basic principles that we need for a eligible video game adaptation and it's just ended up as a forgotten average film.

Star rating: (3/5) Average

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What's Eating Gilbert Grape Review

What's Eating Gilbert Grape


Release Date: 23rd June 1994 - Australia


Production Companies
Paramount Pictures


Genre: Drama

Rating: PG

Runtime: 113 minutes


Budget: $11,000,000

Box Office Gross: $10,032,765 (USA)


Plot Summary
Gilbert Grape is an average young man living in the small town of Endora who gets overburdened by looking after his mentally disabled brother Arnie and his morbidly obese mother following his father's death. However, when he catches the peek of a young female, his dull routine life begins to change for the better.


Cast
Johnny Depp - Gilbert Grape
Leonardo DiCaprio - Arnie Grape

Juliette Lewis - Becky

Mary Steenburgen - Betty Carver
Darlene Cates - Bonnie Grape
Laura Harrington - Amy Grape
Mary Kate Schellhardt - Ellen Grape

Kevin Tighe - Ken Carver

John C. Reilly - Tucker Van Dyke

Crispin Glover - Bobby McBurney

Penelope Branning - Becky's Grandma
Tim Green - Mr. Lamson
Susan Loughran - Mrs. Lamson

Robert B. Hedges - Minister
Mark Jordan - Todd Carver
Cameron Finley - Doug Carver
Brady Coleman - Sheriff Jerry Farrel

Tim Simek - Deputy

Nicholas Stojanovich - Boy #1

Libby Villari - Waitress

Kay Bower - Police Secretary

Joe Stevens - Burger Barn Manager

Mona Lee Fultz - Bakery Worker

George Haynes - Dave

Daniel Gullahorn - Boy #2

David H. Kramer (Voice)

Crew
Executive Producer/Director -
Lasse Hallström
Based on the Novel "What's Eating

Gilbert Grape?"/Screenplay - Peter Hedges

Executive Producer - Alan C. Blomquist
Producers - Meir Teper,

Bertil Ohlsson and David Matalon
Production Designer - Bernt Capra
Art Director - John Myhre

Set Decorators - Gretchen Rau and

Jarrell Jay Knowles (Uncredited)
Costume Designer - Renee Ehrlich Kalfus
Director of Photography - Sven Nykvist

"B" Camera Operators - Chris Hayes

and Anastas N. Michos

First Assistant Photographer - Jeff Cronenweth

First Assistant Director - David B. Householter
Stunt Coordinator - Rusty McClennon
Special Effects Coordinator - Howard Jensen
Editor - Andrew Mondshein

Supervising Sound Editor - Michael Kirchberger

Sound Mixer - David Brownlow

Re-Recording Mixer - Lee Dichter

Foley Engineer - George A. Lara

Foley Mixer - Dominick Tavella

Music - Alan Parker and Björn Isfält


Awards

1994 Academy Awards
Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Leonard DiCaprio (Nominated)


Review

I was surprised to discover this movie in the last year of 2012. I have only seen the American Dad parody with squirrels. WHAT'S EATING GILBERT GRAPE is a rather unique and fascinating drama with a warm ambience. In reflecting on the cast and characters, I begin with Arnie Grape, who has an intellectual disability, which I presume is severe autism. At first, this character seemed unlikeable because he is so troublesome, but I grew to like him as he proved to be quite a handful for primary carer Gilbert. Actor Leonardo DiCaprio provides an extraordinary acting performance as Arnie. It was a breakthrough role that made him a star. And last, there is Johnny Depp, who does a great job as the titular character. I feel bad for Gilbert as he is overwhelmed with so much pressure that he is busy looking after his mother, who suffers from obesity and his brother Arnie.

WHAT'S EATING GILBERT GRAPE is a fabulous film that I enjoyed. I strongly recommend this classic to everyone that they have heard.

Star rating: (5/5) Best Movie Ever

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Deep Impact Review

Deep Impact


Release Date: 18th June 1998 - Australia


Production Companies
Paramount Pictures (presents)
DreamWorks SKG (presents)
Zanuck/Brown Productions
Manhattan Project

Amblin Entertainment (copyright holder)

Distribution
Paramount Pictures Australia


Genre: Sci-Fi

Rating: M

Runtime: 121 minutes


Budget: $75,000,000

Box Office Gross: $349,464,664 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
A teenager named Leo Biederman, a member of his school's astronomy class and his teacher, Dr. Marcus Wolf, discovered an unknown object while gazing into the stars at night. What they didn't realise was that they'd found a comet. It is heading towards Earth on a collision course. Later, his teacher dies in a car crash while reporting his findings. One year later, a journalist named Jenny Lerner is busy investigating the resignation

of a member of the

President's cabinet when

she is brought before the

President and can

convince him to start

a press conference to tell

the world what is happening.

Many feared the worst when the President announced the meteor's existence as they contemplated their fates and had to deal with their fears. Meanwhile, a joint team of US-Russian astronauts gets sent to destroy the comet. If they fail, the future of humanity will be at stake if it is to survive.


Cast
Robert Duvall - Capt. Spurgeon "Fish" Tanner
Tea Leoni - Jenny Lerner
Elijah Wood - Leo Biederman
Morgan Freeman - Tom Beck
Vanessa Redgrave - Robin Lerner
Maximilian Schell - Jason Lerner
Leelee Sobieski - Sarah Hotchner
James Cromwell - Al Rittenhouse
Ron Eldard - Dr. Oren Monash
Jon Favreau - Dr. Gus Partenza
Mary McCormack - Andrea "Andy" Baker
Blair Underwood - Mark Simon
Laura Innes - Beth Stanley
Richard Schiff - Don Biederman
Dougray Scott - Eric Vennekor
Gary Werntz - Chuck Hotchner
Bruce Weitz - Stuart Caley
Betsy Brantley - Ellen Biederman
O'Neal Compton - Morten Entrekin
Rya Kihlstedt - Chloe
Aleksandr Baluev - Mikhail Tulchinsky
Caitlin & Amanda Fein - Caitlin Stanley
Joe Urla - Ira Moskatel
Una Damon - Marianne Duclos
Mark Moses - Tim Urbanski
Derek de Lint - Theo Van Sertema
Charles Dumas - Jeff Worth
Alimi Ballard - Bobby Rhue
W. Earl Brown - McCloud
Katie Hagan - Jane Biederman
Denise Crosby - Vicky Hotchner
Jason Dohring - Jason
Hannah Leder - Holly Rittenhouse
Tucker Smallwood - Ivan Brodsky
Merrin Dungey - Shelia Bradley
Kimberly Huie - Wendy Mogel
Francis X. McCarthy - General Scott
Ellen Bry - Stofky
Concetta Tomei - Patricia Ruiz
Mike O'Malley - Mike Perry
Kurtwood Smith - Otis Hefler
Charlie Hartshock - David Baker
Jennifer Jotsyn - Mariette Monash
Don Handfield - Dwight Tanner
Jason Frasca - Steve Tanner
Stephanie Batton - Britanny Baker

Charles Martin Smith - Dr. Marcus Wolf

Crew
Director - Mimi Leder
Writers - Bruce Joel Robin and Michael Tolkin

Associate Producer/Unit Production Manager -

D. Scott Easton
Executive Producers - Joan Bradshaw,
Walter F. Parkes and Steven Spielberg
Producers - David Brown and Richard D. Zanuck

NASA Technical Advisor - Gerry Griffin

Comet Advisers - Carolyn & Eugene Shoemaker,

Chris Luchini and Joshua Cowell

White House Advisor - Bob Snow

Casting Director - Allison Jones

Additional Casting - Judith Bouley

Production Designer - Leslie Dilley

Art Directors - Dennis Bradford, Gary Kosko,

Andrew Neskoromny and Thomas Valentine

Set Decorator - Peg Cummings
Costume Designer - Ruth Meyers
Director of Photography - Dietrich Lohmann

Camera Operators: Los Angeles Second Unit -

Anthony Gaudioz, Joseph F. Valentine,

Joe Ciccio and Josh Bleibtrau

Additional Photography - Don Burgess

Production Supervisor - Peter M. Tobyansen

Unit Production Manager: Second Unit -

Cherylanne Martin

First Assistant Director - K.C. Colwell

First Assistant Director: Second Unit -

Michele 'Shelley' Ziegler

Second Assistant Director: Washington D.C.

Unit - Alison C. Rosa

Additional Second Second Assistant Director -

Basil Grillo

Second Unit Director/Director of Photography:

Washington D.C. Unit - Mark Vargo

Second Unit Director/Director of Photography: 

Los Angeles Second Unit - Tom Priestley Jr.

Stunt Coordinators - M. James Arnett

and Charles Croughwell
Special Effects Coordinator - Michael Lantieri

Practical Effects Supervisor: ILM - Geoff Heron

Wire Effects Coordinator - Robert Harman

Visual Effects Supervisor - Scott Farrar

Visual Effects Co-Supervisor: ILM - Bill George

Visual Effects Producer: ILM - Denise Ream

Visual Effects Art Director: ILM - Alex Jaeger

Digital Effects Supervisor: Pacific Title/

Mirage Digital - David Sosalla

Model Project Supervisor: ILM - Brian Gernard

Chief Model Maker: ILM - Carol Bauman

Miniatures Director of Photography: ILM -

Pat Sweeney

CG Pre-Production Supervisor: ILM -

Kevin Rafferty

CG Supervisors: ILM - Michael Bauer and

Ben Snow

CG Sequence Supervisors: ILM - Joel Aron,

Greg Killmaster, Tom Martinek,

Erik Mattsson and Henry Preston

Sabre Supervisor: ILM - Pablo Helman

Film Editors - Paul Cichocki and
David Rosenbloom

Supervising Sound Editors - J. Paul Huntsman

and Walter Newman

ADR Editor - Kimberly Ellen Love

Special Sound Designer - John P. Fasal

Re-Recording Mixers - Anna Behlmer,

Andy Nelson and Tom Perry
Music - James Horner

Music Editor - Joe E. Rand


Review
Hi there! It is your favourite critic, Film Guru Lad. Today's Valentine's Day. An annual holiday is when people fall in love with each other, and couples spend time together on this holiday. I won't have time to review a romantic movie, including old classics like Casablanca. Instead, I'll publish a finished review of a feature devoid of romance called DEEP IMPACT. It's similar to another asteroid film, Armageddon, by Michael Bay. It is scientifically accurate and never has any humour but includes emotion and high intensity that makes it look more dramatic than the latter. The movie's storyline plays out realistically, along with the character-driven scenes. Most of the performances are good. The best actor in DEEP IMPACT is Morgan Freeman. He is so wonderful in his role as the President.

For those who want to see the flick DEEP IMPACT, it's not a cheesy summer blockbuster like Armageddon, but instead, a great disaster movie with a lot of experience that I reckon will bring teary eyes to the film-lovers. Happy Valentine's Day!

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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ParaNorman Review

ParaNorman


Release Date: 10th January 2013 - Australia


Production Companies
Focus Features
Laika Pictures

Distribution
Universal Pictures Australia


Genre: Animation/Family

Rating: PG

Runtime: 93 minutes


Budget: $60,000,000

Box Office Gross: $107,139,399
(Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Norman has never quite
been understood by anyone.
To most, including his
parents and cheerleader
sister, the 11-year old
boy is a peculiar outcast.
However, Norman's
harboring a secret - he
can communicate with the
dead. When a centuries-
old witch's curse unleashes
an array of undead beasts
onto his small New England
town, Norman is their
only hope for survival,
battling ghosts, witches
and zombies while dealing
with the ignorant humans
who don't understand him.
(Source - Metro Cinemas)


Voice Cast
Kodi Smit-McPhee - Norman Babcock
Jodelle Micah Ferland -

Agatha "Aggie" Prenderghast
Tucker Albrizzi - Neil Downe
Anna Kendrick - Courtney Babcock
Casey Affleck - Mitch Downe
Christopher Mintz-Please - Alvin
Leslie Mann - Sandra Babcock
Jeff Garlin - Perry Babcock
Elaine Stritch - Grandma Babcock
Bernard Hill - Judge Hopkins
John Goodman - Mr. Prenderghast
Tempestt Bledshoe - Sheriff Hopper
Hannah Noyes - Salma
Alex Borstein - Mrs. Henscher

Crew
Writer/Director - Chris Butler
Director - Sam Fell
Producer/Lead Animator - Travis Knight
Producer - Arianne Sutner
Production Designer - Nelson Lowry
Character Designer/Visual Development
Artist - Heidi Smith
Graphic/Prop Designer/Visual Development
Artist - Alan Cook
Costume Designer - Deborah Cook
Director of Photography - Tristan Oliver
Animation Supervisor - Brad Schiff
Lead Animators - Payton Curtis &
Jeff Riley
Visual Effects Supervisor - Brian Van't Hul
Film Editor - Christopher Murrie
Music - Jon Brion

Review
'PARANORMAN' had a lot of strength and affection and trust me, this isn't about a heroic tale about a boy who can save ghosts. This movie is driven by masterful storytelling and a meaningful theme about a young boy not fitting with his peers and being an social outcast because he speaks to the dead and for this, he is bullied by other kids and his family doesn't seem to understand his gift. I find that few of the laughs are subtlety somewhat appealing to the adults and it may seem very scary to the young audiences.

Trust me, I don't know how clear of thinking about 'PARANORMAN' and it seems like the great animated feature. It nearly pulls the ranks of the other great horror-themed family flicks like Tim Burton's 'A Nightmare Before Christmas' and 'Coraline'.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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Speed 2: Cruise Control Review

Speed 2: Cruise Control


Release Date: 25th September 1997 - Australia


Production Companies
Blue Tulip Productions
20th Century Fox

Distribution
20th Century Fox Australia


Genre: Action

Rating: M

Runtime: 121 minutes


Budget: $110,000,000

Box Office Gross: $164,508,066
(Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Annie and her policeman
boyfriend Alex decide to
take a romantic ocean
cruise together. Once at
sea, however, one of the
passengers, a disgruntled
computer genius named
Geiger, disables the ship.

Alex must now foil Geiger's
plans and bring everyone
back safely to shore, but
how can he outwit a man
who can control the entire
ship from his keyboard? (Source - IMDb)


Cast
Jason Patric - Officer Alex Shaw
Sandra Bullock - Annie Porter
Willem Dafoe - John Geiger
Temuera Morrison - Juliano
Brian McCardie - Merced
Christine Firkins - Drew
Glenn Plummer - Maurice
Bo Svenson - Captain Pollard
Mike Hagerty - Harvey
Colleen Camp - Debbie

Lois Chiles - Celeste

Francis Guinan - Rupert

Tania - Sheri Silver

Jeremy Hotz - Ashton

Enrique Murciano - Alejandro

Jessica Diz - Isabel

Connie Ray - Fran Fisher

Patrika Darbo - Ruby Fisher

Kimmy Robertson - Liza (Cruise Director)

Charles Parks - Frank

Susan Barnes - Constance

Royale Watkins - Dante

Allison Dean - Marifa

Tim Conway - Mr. Kenter, Driving Instructor

Crew
Story/Producer/Director - Jan de Bont
Based on Characters - Graham Yost
Story/Screenplay - Randall McCormick
Screenplay - Jeff Nathanson
Executive Producer - Mark Gordon
Producers - Steve Perry &
Michael Peyser

Casting Directors - Risa Brahmin Garcia & 

Randi Hiller
Production Designers - Bill Kenney & 

Joseph C. Nemec III
Costume Designer - Louise Frogley
Director of Photography - Jack N. Green

Director of Photography: Underwater Unit - Pete Romano

Second Unit Director - Alexander Witt

Stunt Coordinator - Dick Ziker
Marine Stunt Coordinator - Tom Bahr

Special Effects Supervisor - Al Broussard 

Special Effects Coordinator - Al Di Sarro
Visual Effects Supervisor: ILM - Stefen Fangmeier

Visual Effects Supervisor: Rhythm & Hues - 

Bert Terreri

Associate Visual Effects Supervisor: ILM - 

Roger Guyett

Computer Graphics Supervisor: Rhythm & Hues - 

Bill Westenhofer
Film Editor - Alan Cody
Sound: Design - Christopher Boyes &
Tom Myers
Music - Mark Mancina


Review
I heard a few people that 'SPEED 2: CRUISE CONTROL' didn't live up to the original 'Speed' film and being told of not watching it but I have one thing to say to the happy moviegoers, is this really the worst of the film sequels, well, let's find out. My strong views about 'SPEED 2' is that is lacking Keanu Reeves and his character. The plot being set on a slow cruise ship is less-thrilling than a bus on the first instalment and the acting of Sandra Bullock and Jason Patric. A few things in the film that didn't bother me is the humour and Willem Dafoe's fun performance as the quirky villainous hacker. I find it really intriguing that during the development of the sequel that the plot-line is meant to be used for 'Die Hard 3'. 'SPEED 2' is unequal to its predecessor and definitely not the kind of an ocean-liner action movie you want to see on Valentine's Day.

This film would have been different if it weren't called 'SPEED 2', it would instead be named 'Cruise Control', plus it will not include Bullock's character from the first movie and replace her with a different female character.

Star rating: (2/5) Bad Movie

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 Babbitt 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's 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 that it is very thoughtful and 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

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