Right, well its finally time for a new review as promised of a film I have yet to review on this blog and the film in question is 1988 comedy-drama, Rain Main, starring Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman. So after almost 30 years, how does it fair??? Well, let's take a closer look....
And the usual warning is coming....
SPOILERS ARE AHEAD!!!
STORY
So, the story begins with Charlie Babbitt (Tom Cruise) a young, cocky and somewhat selfish car dealer, who is in the middle of a car deal involving the import of four Lamborghinis to LA for resale. Charlie desparately needs to deliver the cars to the impatients buyers, who have already made down payments on them and Charlie himself needs to repay the loan he took out to purchase them, however the cars have been held up by the EPA due to failing emissions regulations. So, Charlie instructs one of his employees, Lenny (Ralph Seymour) to lie to the buyers so that the sales can go through.
As Charlie is set to go on a weekend to Palm Springs with his girlfriend, Susanna (Valerie Golino) he receives a call from Lenny, who tells him his father has just died, so Charlie instead travels to Cincinnati with Susanna to settle his father's estate. However, Charlie soon learns that his father's 3 million dollar estate will instead go to an unnamed trustee rather than him and all his father left him was a 1949 Buick Roadmaster, a car which Charlie and his father had a fight over once when Charlie was a teenager.
Charlie soon however discovers that the money has been directed to a mental institution where he meets his older brother, Raymond Babbitt, which Charlie had no prior knowledge of. Raymond is however autistic and can't communicate properly with people although he does possess a remarkable photographic memory. Charlie talks with Raymond's doctor, Dr Bruner (Jerry Molen) who tells Charlie about Raymond's condition and although his brother is the sole beneficiary for the money, Raymond doesn't understand the concept of money, much to Charlie's bemusement.
Charlie then decides to take Raymond off the grounds as the two of them leave along with Susanna and stay overnight in a motel. After Raymond interrupts Charlie and Susanna having sex (having heard Susanna's "noises") Charlie angrily tells Raymond to get out, which annoys Susanna, who pushes Raymond to tell her why he has taken Raymond in the first place. Charlie tells Susanna that he intends to keep Raymond until he get's his half of the 3 million dollar estate, which angers Susanna, who accuses Charlie of using his brother and her and she storms out.
Charlie calls Dr Bruner and tells him that he wants his half of the estate and in turn he will return Raymond but Bruner refuses. And as Charlie intends to fly back to LA, at the airport Raymond becomes terrified at the prospect of flying, so they instead embark on a cross cross road trip back to get to LA, which leads to a road of personal discovery for the both of them....(sorry about the cliches there!).
THOUGHTS
There is little doubt that Rain Main after nearly 30 years, still remains a very enjoyable and affecting film and its one, which in a way surprises its audience given the unlikely duo we get here in Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman. Its also enjoyable from the point of view that Raymond's behaviour produces some amusing moments as he is taken on his unplanned cross-country journey with Charlie. But it also remains an impressive film because it takes a somewhat self centred and rather abrasive guy such as Charlie and puts him on his own personal journey to become a better person as he get's to know the brother he never knew.
PERFORMANCES AND NOTABLE SCENES (Warning: this section may contain spoilers, strong language and is bound to be LONG!!)
As for the performances, well they are hardly going to naff in a film such as this as the cast are all on excellent form.
Starting with Tom Cruise, who is excellent as Charlie Babbitt, who starts off as a pretty selfish, rude guy but matures as the film progresses and this in a way was the film that properly kickstarted Cruise's film career as a serious, credible actor.
And Tom has his share of good scenes in the film that include the one where Charlie learns of the outcome of his father's estate and what little he has been left, which amounts to his father's collection of rose bushes and a 1949 Buick Roadmaster, which leaves him more than a little upset.
So, in the scene the man dealing with the estate affairs, Mr Mooney, asks Charlie if he is disappointed and Charlie sarcastically says "Disappointed? Why should I be disappointed? I got rose bushes didn't I? I got a used car, didn't I? This other guy, what'd you call him?". And Mooney says "The beneficiary" and Charlie continues "Yeah him, he got $3,000,000 but he didn't get the rose bushes. I got the rose bushes. I definitely got the rose bushes. Those are rose bushes!". So, Mooney tries to calm Charlie down and says to him "Mr Babbitt, there is no reason..." and Charlie interrupts and says "To what? To get upset? If there is a hell, sir, my father is in it and he is looking up right now and he is laughing his ass off! Sanford Babbitt, you wanna be that guy's son for five minutes?! I mean did you hear that letter? Were you listening?!". And Mr Mooney responds "Yes, sir I was. Were you?" and Charlie takes a moment and then says "Um, no, can you repeat it because I can't believe my fucking ears!".
Then there is the scene where Raymond walks in on Charlie and Susanna having sex, as their "noises" attracted his attention and Raymond unwittingly groans along with them. And after the two of them finish, Charlie asks "What was that?" and Susanna tells him "Charlie, I think Raymond is in the room". Charlie then asks "Raymond are you in here?" and Raymond responds "Charlie Babbitt" and Charlie angrily says to him "Well, get out!! GET OUT!! GO!!" and Raymond says "Uh-oh" and walks out. So, as Susanna tells Charlie to go and speak to Raymond about it, Charlie becomes angry and tells Raymond to go to sleep.
So, when Charlie goes back in to see Susanna (who is having a bath) she becomes annoyed him, realising that he is keeping something from her about why he has brought Raymond along. So, Susanna says to Charlie "This thing that Dr Bruner asked you to bring him here, this is bullshit! I know its not true. So, tell me why he is here?". So, Charlie finally admits "I'm pissed at him" and Susanna asks "Who?" Charlie says "My father!" and Susanna says "So, your pissed at your father and you bring him here? Why?" and Charlie says "Cos they want him and I've got him!". Susanna then snaps and says "This makes no sense!" and Charlie finally comes clean "Raymond was left all the money" and Susanna asks "How much?" and Charlie tells her "3 million dollars. Every penny of it" and Susanna asks "So?" and Charlie tells her "So, I'm gonna keep him till they gave me my half. I deserve that!".
Susanna then angrily get's out the bath tub and get's dressed as she tells Charlie "You're using Raymond! You're using me! You use everybody!". So, Charlie shouts back "I'm using Raymond?!" and he shouts to Raymond "Raymond! I'm I using you, Raymond?!" and Raymond casually says "Yeah". Charlie then snaps back at him "SHUT UP!" and he shouts to Susanna "He is answering a question from a half hour ago!!".
Another good scene is when Charlie and Raymond embark on their cross country drive and Raymond's rituals and pickiness start to really on his nerves as Raymond complains that he isn't wearing his own underwear (as he is wearing a pair of Charlie's!).
So, Charlie in the scene growing ever more impatient with Raymond tells him "You don't have to go to Cincinnati for boxer shorts!" but Raymond continues "Oak and Burnett in Cincinnati" and Charlie says "What did I say?". But Raymond keeps on and Charlie finally snaps and yells "RAY, DID YOU HEAR WHAT I FUCKIN SAID????!! SHUT UP!!!!!". However Raymond carries and Charlie suddenly stops the car and get's out and vents loudly "WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE WHERE YOU BUY UNDERWEAR? WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE? UNDERWEAR IS UNDERWEAR! IT IS UNDERWEAR WHEREVER YOU BUY IT! IN CINCINNATI OR WHEREVER!". And Charlie walks back toward to the car and shouts at Raymond "You know what I think, Ray? I think this autism is a bunch of shit! Because you can't tell me that you're not in there somewhere!".
Another good scene is where just after Charlie and Raymond make their winnings at the casino in Las Vegas, they are given access to a special suite for high rollers (who are essentially gamblers who like to wager large amounts of money). So, in the scene Raymond refers to his brief meeting with a hooker at the casino as he believes the two of them have set up a date (but they haven't really as she walked away from him!) and he wants to learn to dance, so Charlie obliges him as the two of them dance together.
So, after the dance Raymond applauds Charlie loudly and smiles warmly and says "Alright! You are a good dancer!" and he then says "You wanna give me hug?" and he moves in to give Raymond a hug, who suddenly yells out in panic (as he doesn't like being touched really) and Charlie backs off in alarm. And Charlie says quietly "I just wanted to give you a hug, Ray. I just felt Like givin' you a hug...".
And then there is the scene between Charlie and Dr Bruner, who turns up to give him a big cheque as a payoff to walk away and let Raymond go back to the institute. So, as Charlie looks at the cheque (which is for $250,000) and then says to Bruner "I just realized I'm not pissed off anymore. My father cut me out of his will. You probably knew he tried to contact me over the years. I never called him back. I was a prick. If he was my son and didn't return my calls, I'd have written him out. But it's not about the money anymore. You know, I just don't understand. Why didn't he tell me I had a brother? Why didn't anyone ever tell me that I had a brother? Because it'd have been nice to know him for more than just the past six days". So, Charlie then hands the cheque back to Dr Bruner and walks away.
WARNING: THIS NEXT PARAGRAPH IS A SPOILER!!
Lastly there is the scene where Charlie and Raymond attend a meeting set up with Dr Bruner and a court appointed psychiatrist, who will determine Raymond's ability to make decisions for himself, which is soon proven that Raymond cannot decide for himself, so its clearly in his best interest to go back to the institute.
So, after the meeting, Charlie tells Raymond "Listen... Ray, I don't know if I'm gonna have a chance to talk to you again. Because you see, these... Dr. Bruner really likes you a lot, and he's probably gonna take you back. You know?". Charlie then says to Raymond "What I said about being on the road with you I meant. Connecting. I like having you for my brother". Raymond then says "I'm an excellent driver" and Charlie, smiles and with a lump in his throat quietly says "Yes, you are" and the two of them gently touch their heads together and Charlie says again "I like having you for my big brother".
Dustin Hoffman is also great in his role as Raymond, Charlie's autistic brother, who lives largely in a world of his own due to his condition but he also possess an incredible photographic memory, which later helps Charlie out of a financial bind. And as the film progresses, the two men develop a bond as they travel together on the road. Hoffman also of course won his second Oscar for his performance here (his first was for Kramer vs Kramer) in what is pretty much a method actor role as Hoffman convincingly plays an autistic savant.
And Hoffman has his share of good scenes such as the one where Raymond becomes increasingly anxious as Charlie starts to look through Raymond's things in his room. So, Ray (I'll just call him Ray for short for the rest of this section!) says to the staff member, Vern (Michael D. Roberts) "Vern. V-E-R-N. Of course, these people are gonna be here all day, Vern! This is an unannounced visit, Vern! This is definitely not a weekend visit!". And as Charlie starts to ask Ray if he has read a Shakespeare book he has taken off the shelf, Ray anxiously keeps answering "I don't know" but Charlie finally puts the book back. And Vern calms Ray down and tells him "Its okay, Ray. Come on. My main man!" and Ray starts to relax and smile and he says "Vern, my main man. My main man Vern".
Then there is the scene where Ray having been taken out of the institute by Charlie, stays at a motel with Charlie and Susanna, who Ray later overhears the two of them having sex, so Ray goes into investigate the Susanna's orgasmic groans. So, as Susanna climaxes, Ray groans along with her and Charlie and Susanna are suddenly very aware that Ray is in the room, so Charlie yells at him to leave and Ray says "Uh-oh!" and walks out. So, Charlie soon goes into Ray's room, who lies on his bed eating cheeseballs and reading the local telephone directory book there and Charlie asks him "Ray, what were you doing in my room?". And Ray responds "Of course there were noises" and Charlie brusquely tells him "Well, those noises are none of your business! Put the phone book down, stop acting like an idiot and go to sleep!". So, Ray says "Lights out at eleven" and Charlie tells him "Yeah, well new rules!" and switches off the light in the room, so Ray simply turns a little torch light he has to keep reading the telephone book!
Another good moment is when the day after Susanna walks out on Charlie in disgust after he tells her he intends to keep Ray until he get's his half of his father's estate, they are in a diner waiting to get breakfast. And in the scene, Ray complains that he doesn't have his toothpicks or maple syrup for eating his pancakes with that he ordered. So, Ray says to Charlie "I don't have my toothpicks" and Charlie says "You don't need toothpicks, Ray" and Ray says "The pancakes will keep sliding off. I don't my maple syrup either. I'm gonna be without my maple syrup!". Charlie starts to grow impatient but tries to remain composed and says to Ray "Ray, when we order the pancakes, they will bring the maple syrup". However, Ray keeps going on and says "If we're gonna be here all morning with no maple syrup and no toothpicks, I'm definitely not gonna have my pancakes with.." then Charlie finally snaps and grabs Ray roughly by the neck and says in angry whispered tone "Ray, don't make a scene and stop acting like a fuckin retard(!)".
So, Ray then get's out a notepad (and one of his many pens!) and starts to write something much to Charlie's annoyance who asks him "What are you writing?" but Ray doesn't answer, so Charlie snatches the notepad from Ray and angrily says "What the fuck is this?!". Charlie then reads what Ray has written with disbelief "Serious injury list?! Serious inury?? Are you fucking kidding me??" and Ray says "Number 18 in 1988. Squeezed and pulled and hurt my neck in 1988!".
Then there is the scene where just after Ray complains that he isn't wearing his own underwear and they need to go to Kmart in Cincinnati, Ohio to get a new pair, Charlie snaps and decides to find a psychiatrist to find out what he can do with Ray. So on meeting with a doctor, the doctor tries out Ray's ability with math such as multiplication and square root and to his amazement finds that Ray get's his sums spot on. However the doctor then asks Ray "If you had a dollar, and you spent 50 cents...how much money would you have left?" and Ray takes a moment then says "...About 70". So, the doctor then asks Ray "Ray, do you know what "autistic" is?" and Ray says "Yeah" and the doctor asks "Ray, are you autistic?" and Ray after a pause says "I don't think so. No....definitely not".
Another great moment is when Ray and Charlie start to bond as Ray reveals that he was the "rain man" that used to sing to Charlie when he was a baby. And in the scene Ray and Charlie stay in a motel and Ray get's ready for bed as he brushes his teeth and Charlie asks him "Raymond. Remember that doctor asked you those number questions today? How did you do that?" and Ray tells him "I see it". Charlie then asks Ray to put his toothbrush down as he can't hear Ray answer him properly and says "Why do you have to always act like an idiot? Do you think that's funny?" and Ray smiles and says "Funny rain man, funny teeth". Charlie then surprised asks Ray "Was I trying to say "Raymond" and it came out "rain man"?" and Ray says "Yeah. Funny rain man" and Charlie asks him "YOU'RE the rain man?". So, Ray takes out a picture of Charlie as a baby along with his dad.
So, Charlie asks Ray "Were you the one that sang to me?" and Ray says "Yeah" and Charlie, surprised asks "What was it you sang?" and Ray gently sings the opening lines of The Beatles song "I saw her standing there". And after that, Charlie starts to run a bath and Ray suddenly becomes extremely upset and he screams loudly as he desparately tries to wrench the taps out the wall and hits his head frantically, so Charlie quickly turns the water off. And Ray shouts "HOT WATER!! BURN BABY!!" and Charlie tries to calm Ray down and says "Hot water??? What baby? Me??" and Ray anxiously shouts "Yeah!!" and Charlie reassuringly says "I'm not burnt. Look at me. I'm not burnt!". So, Ray starts to calm down and pats Charlie on the head and walks away into the bedroom and mutters to himself "Never hurt, Charlie Babbit...." over and over and Charlie says "That's why they put you away. They thought you'd hurt me" and Charlie puts Ray to bed once he has calmed down.
Another good scene is when Ray and Charlie go to Vegas in an effort to make enough money to salvage Charlie's ailing car business. And in the scene (SPOILER!!) they succeed in making a killing and win over $85,000 and Charlie after their win says "I'm going for a victory piss" and he get's up and says to Ray "Until I get back the sign says "don't walk" and Ray says "Don't walk" and Charlie walks off delighted. Then a hooker sitting near Ray notices him and comes up and chats to him and she says "Are you looking for a date?" and Ray says "I dunno" and she says "My name is Iris, do you like me?" and Ray blankly says "I dunno". Then shortly after, Charlie comes back and says to Iris "He hasn't got any money, honey" and Iris says to him "We're just talkin, sugar" and Ray says "Yeah, we're just talking" and Charlie grins and says "OK, this could be interesting. I'll be right over there" and walks off.
So, Iris then says to Ray re: Charlie "He doesn't seem to like me. Who is he?" and Ray says "He's my brother. I'm living in his room" and Iris says "He seems young to be your brother" and Ray tells her "He was born August 12, 1962. It was a Sunday". Iris then asks Ray "What exactly do you guys do here?" and Ray says "We're counting cards" and Iris asks "You're counting cards?" and Ray says again "We're counting cards" and Iris asks "What else do you do?" and again Ray says "We're counting cards". Iris however starts to become wary of Ray and says "I know that. What else do you do?" and Ray blankly again responds "We're counting cards" and Ray then hits Iris with what passes as his chat-up line "Are you taking any prescription medication?" and Iris finally gives in and get's up and says "Whoa! OK. I'm outta here!" and as she walks off Ray asks "What time is the date?" and as she goes she says "10:00!". So, Ray repeats himself saying "10:00 daylight saving time..." and Charlie comes back, who asks him "You like her? You think she's pretty?" and Ray says "Yeah. She's very sparkly. Definitely very sparkly".
And last of all there is the scene where Charlie and Ray meet with Dr Bruner and a court appointed psychiatrist to determine what's best for Ray's wellbeing, either to stay with Charlie or go back to the institute in Cincinnati. And in the scene the psychiatrist asks Ray "What did you do this week?" and Ray tells him "Counted cards in Las Vegas. Lost $3,000 on the wheel of fortune". The psychiatrist then asks Ray "What else did you do?" and Ray says "Danced with Charlie Babbit" and Charlie explains "He wanted to learn". Ray then says "Danced in the elevator with Susanna. Kissed Susanna in the elevator" and Charlie reacts surprised "You kissed Susanna?" and Ray says "Yeah, in the elevator". So, the psychiatrist asks Ray "Did you enjoy kissing a woman?" and Ray replies "I don't know" and psychiatrist then asks "How did it feel?" and Ray says "It felt wet" and they laugh.
So, then the psychiatrist (OK I'll just say doctor) asks Ray a crucial question to determine whether he is able to decide for himself what he wants. So, the doctor asks "You wanna stay with your brother?" and Ray takes a moment and says "Yeah" and the doctor asks Ray again and again Ray says "Yeah". However the Doctor then asks Ray "Can I ask something else? Do you want to go back to Wallbrook?" and Ray then answers "Yeah". And from then on its quite apparent that Ray can't decide for himself and the Doctor then says to Ray "Do you wanna stay with your brother or go back to Wallbrook? They are two separate things" and Ray starts to become a bit agitated, so Charlie interrupts to stop the questioning. And after that Dr Bruner and the psychiatrist leave the room to have a chat and Charlie and Ray share a little moment together as Charlie realises that Ray must go back to the institute. And as Charlie kisses his brother on the forehead and stands up, Ray says
"C-H-A-R-L-l-E. C-H-A-R-L-l-E. Main man.
Valeria Golino next is very good as Charlie's compassionate girlfriend, Susanna, who get's caught up between the two men and she becomes angry at Charlie when she learns that he has taken Ray from the institute in order to get his half of his dad's estate but later they reconcile as Ray begins to bond with his brother.
And Valeria has some good moments of her own such as the scene where Charlie tells Susanna the story about how he was arrested for joyriding in his dad's car when he was a teenager, who decided to leave him in jail for two days as punishment. So after Charlie tells her the story, Susanna says "Charlie, after a year we've been together... this is the first time I've heard this story. It's strange, huh? I mean, how can you keep all this inside you and not say anything?!". And Charlie remembers and says out loud "When I was a kid and I got scared, the Rain Man would come and sing to me...." and Susanna, puzzled asks Rain what?". So, Charlie explains "You know one of these imaginary childhood friends" and Susanna asks "What happened to him?" and Charlie says "Nothing. I just grew up" and Susanna says "Not so much....".
Then there is the scene where Charlie, Ray and Susanna stay in a motel and Ray overhears the two of them have sex and walks in on them while they are in the act and Charlie yells at him to get out. So after this, Charlie goes into Ray's room and tells him off and to go to sleep and he goes into the bathroom where Susanna is now having a shower. So, Charlie tries to touch her face and she pushes his hand away annoyed "No. You don't listen to me!" and Charlie asks "What are you talking about?" and Susanna tells him "I asked you to apologize. You went there and insulted him again!". And Susanna says "Charlie, you're his brother! They tell you today that you have a brother... and I don't see in your face one little reaction!".
Charlie then becomes annoyed and says "You don't know what I'm going through here!" and Susanna says "What are you going through? Because I don't know. You don't tell me anything. You just give me lies!". And Charlie defensively says "Lies?! What lies?!" and Susanna says "This thing that Dr. Bruner asked you to bring him here, this is bullshit. I know it's not true. So tell me, why is he here?!". So, Charlie explains that he is pissed at his dad for cutting him out his will and he intends to keep Ray until he get's his share of the estate, which prompts Susanna to get out the bath, get dressed and ready to leave Charlie. So, Charlie goes after as he get's ready to walk out and says "What's my crime here?!" and Susanna angrily tells him "You're using Raymond! You're using me! You use everybody!". And Charlie finally asks Susanna as she is about to exit "My father stuck it to me all my Life. What do you want from me?!" and she says "Out!" and she leaves.
And last of all is the scene where Susanna feels sorry for Ray when they are in Vegas and he is stood up on the supposed date he was to have with Iris and the two of them in the scene are in an elevator together and she stops the elevator to dance with him. And Susanna says "You think you could show me how you were going to dance with Iris?" and Ray says "Yeah" but he is clearly anxious that Susanna has put the elevator on hold. So, Susanna asks Ray "Show me how" so the two of them start to slow dance just as Ray taught him and she smiles and says "It's nice. You're very good. Iris missed a beautiful dance. And a kiss". And Susanna asks Ray "Have you ever kissed a girl?" and Ray says "I don't know" and she tells him "Open your mouth..." and Ray uncomfortably opens his mouth and she leans in and kisses him softly on the lips. Then Susannna asks Ray after "How was that?" and Ray responds "Wet" and Susanna laughs and puts the lift back off hold.
And last of all is Jerry Molen who is very good in his role as Dr Bruner, Ray's doctor, who has taken care of him at the institute for 20 years or so and becomes concerned when Charlie suddenly uproots Ray from the institute in exchange for half his dad's estate.
Molen has some good scenes also that include the one where Charlie first meets Ray at the institute and Charlie, who is bewildered when he first sees Ray, who knows all these personal things about his father and mother. So, Charlie asks Bruner "Bruner, who is this guy??" and Bruner tells Charlie "Raymond is your brother" and Charlie surprised says "Brother?? I don't have a brother!". And the two of them have a chat about Ray and Charlie asks "Is he crazy or what?" and Bruner tells Charlie "He's an autistic savant. People like him were called "Idiot Savants". They have certain deficiencies and abilities". Bruner then continues to explain "Raymond has a problem communicating and learning. He can't even express himself or probably even...understand his own emotions in a traditional way".
Charlie then asks Bruner how long has Ray been at the institute and Bruner says "I came here in 1960. He was 18 or 20 then. I have to check the records". So, Charlie then tries to work it out "So that's '65, '75, '85--I was almost three years old" and he defensively says to Bruner "You knew he had a brother! You knew I was his brother!". Bruner then asks Charlie "Yes, but what's the point?" and Charlie angrily says "What's the fuckin point?! The point is why didn't anyone tell me I had a brother??!" and Bruner angrily asks him "What would you have done about it?!" and Charlie takes a moment and says "I don't know". Charlie then asks Bruner "Does he know how much money he has been left?" and Bruner says "No, he doesn't understand the concept of money". Charlie reacts with disbelief and asks "He doesn't understand the concept of money???" and he laughs to himself and says "That's fuckin poetic, don't you think? Good old dad!".
And lastly there is the scene where Dr Bruner meets with Charlie in private and offers him a big cheque to walk away from Ray. So Bruner says to Charlie "Let me tell you something. Your father put me in charge of all the money. It doesn't matter whether or not you win custody of Raymond. I won't have to pay you a dime. It's at my discretion". Charlie then asks "So, you can't lose?" and Bruner says "I can lose Raymond. I care about your brother's Life and the treatment he receives. I made a commitment to your father some 20 years ago... and I'm not willing to gamble with that". So, Bruner then produces an envelope and Charlie asks "What's this?" and Bruner says "Its a very big cheque. $250,000. And no strings attached. Just walk away, Charlie. This isn't about you and me. It's not about winning or losing". And Charlie then tells Bruner its no longer about the money, its more about why didn't anyone tell him he had a brother as he would have liked to have known him alot longer than he has and hands the cheque back to Bruner and walks away.
DIRECTOR AND MUSIC
Moving onto the director, Barry Levinson does an excellent job here and he even one the Oscar for best director and picture here, which I have to say it pretty well merited. And Levinson with the film has created a moving story and builds up the character relationships very well between Cruise and Hoffman's characters. Levinson also even appears in the film himself at one point as the psychiatrist that is sent to meet with Charlie and Ray along with Dr Bruner to determine what is best for Ray's wellbeing. So, overall this remains one of Levinson's best films.
As for the music, well its another very solid score by Hans Zimmer, who provides some very good moments in the soundtrack and its overall quite a charming one that has some emotional parts that help fit the tone of both Charlie and Ray's journey. It does also have some more trendy synthesized parts to the score, particularly when Charlie and Ray head to Vegas, which does date the score a little but overall its still a good one from Zimmer even if it doesn't stand as one of his very best.
FLAWS
As for flaws....well, Rain Man hasn't got too many glaring ones story wise but I would probably say one of its problems is to do with pace, which is a bit too leisurely at times and there are moments where the film lags just a little but these are usually few and far between.
Another issue I had was to do with the whole idea of Charlie taking Ray from the institute and how it breaks from Ray's daily rituals on a pretty significant level and its surprising that he doesn't become even more anxious that he is off the grounds of the institute for so long! So, the film does try and compensate for that by showing Ray's anxiety as he keeps quoting the Abbot and Costello routine of "Who's on the first..." as Charlie and Ray move from motel motel in their cross country car trip as well as coming really agitated at the idea of missing one of his favourite TV shows "Wapner".
Further to this I found it a bit strange how Charlie doesn't even get why Ray is getting anxious when they move from place to place and he keeps quoting "Who's on first..." as Vern at the institute explains that to Charlie earlier in the film. Yet, Charlie somehow just doesn't seem to understand this and asks him "I don't know why you keep doing every time we move to a new motel??" when its clear that this is just a coping mechanism for Ray when he goes to a new unknown place.
And there are also moments where Ray becomes very agitated for reasons such as he doesn't like to be hugged or generally touched yet he doesn't mind having a dance as much, which certainly involves close contact. So its OK for Charlie to teach Ray how to dance but he can't hug him after, or perhaps maybe its about being suddenly grabbed or touched that Ray doesn't like. Achhh, I don't know.
Anyway that's it for the flaws.
SUM UP
So to sum up, Rain Man to this day still remains a charming, moving comedy-drama that certainly deserves the praise it got and it sees both leads in Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffamn put in excellent performances. The film also features solid direction and a good score by Hans Zimmer and after almost 30 years its still a film I'd recommend.
Right, so that's it for now and I will be back with another post soon.
Till then its bye for now!
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