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

Back to Home