Rain Man

Name: Rain Man
Genre: Drama
Released: December 16, 1988
Duration: 133 min
Rating: 65
Cast: Dustin Hoffman, Tom Cruise

1988

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 18 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 285 Ratings

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Rain Man

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Movie Details & Credits

MGM/UA Distribution Company | Release Date: December 16, 1988 | R

Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Tom Cruise

Summary: What begins with a cold-hearted attempt by one man to steal his autistic brother's inheritance evolves into a cross-country odyssey of love, family and self-discovery.

Director: Barry Levinson

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: R

Runtime: 133 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Mike Clark

There've been few screen moments more moving this year than Cruise's initial reaction to his brother's almost superhuman math prowess. [16 Dec 1988]

David Ansen

In every detail - the superb soundtrack, the rich cinematography, the dinstinctively edgy editing - Rain Man reveals itself as a movie made with care, smarts, and a refreshing refusal to settle for the unexpected. [19 Dec 1988]

Roger Ebert

How can you make a movie about a man who cannot change, whose whole life is anchored and defended by routine? Few actors could get anywhere with this challenge, and fewer still could absorb and even entertain us with their performance, but Hoffman proves again that he almost seems to thrive on impossible acting challenges. Read full review

Dave Kehr

Though it's well directed, written and performed, Rain Main still slips irreversibly into the so-what category. [16 Dec 1988]

Staff (Not Credited)

It's a mature assignment for Cruise and he's at his best in the darker scenes. Read full review

Richard Schickel

Rain Man's restraint is, finally, rather like Raymond's gabble. It discourages connections, keeping you out instead of drawing you in. [19 Dec 1998]

Hal Hinson

It's Hoffman's failure, though, that sinks the picture. He is working here with his usual meticulousness, but there's no relaxation in his performance, no sense that he has ever merged with his subject, that he has found Raymond's center and is simply acting out of it. Read full review

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User Reviews

SimonS.

Dec 5, 2007

I love this movie! So touching, so well made. Cruise and Hoffman feed well off each other, great chemistry.

2 of 3 users found this helpful

csw12

Apr 2, 2012

Rain Man is heartwarming and a sad film. The acting is superb by both Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise. The characters validate each other's existances like no other pair in any movie, be it drama, romance or comedy.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

StevenF

Apr 12, 2013

The masterful parts about Rain Man derive from the fact that the movie never tries to be masterful. The situations are realistic, it doesn't paint an overly joyous happy ending and the characters of Dustin Hoffman's 'Raymond' and Tom Cruises 'Charlie' are equally important, relying on eachThe masterful parts about Rain Man derive from the fact that the movie never tries to be masterful. The situations are realistic, it doesn't paint an overly joyous happy ending and the characters of Dustin Hoffman's 'Raymond' and Tom Cruises 'Charlie' are equally important, relying on each other for gratification rather than playing to the fact that Raymond is in fact autistic, but the writers have perfectly created the Cruise character to balance out a well crafted and touching drama.
Charlie is a hotshot car dealer who must try and close a deal before the end of the day otherwise he will lose his clients, but he finds out that his father has died, and Charlie must go to Cincinnati along with his girlfriend to attend the funeral, and look over the will that his father left.
To Charlie's shock, his father has only left him his car (which he never let Charlie drive when he was younger) and nothing else. He then discovers that his fathers inheritance has been placed in a trust fund in a mental institute, where Charlie discovers his autistic brother, someone he never knew existed.
Charlie's selfishness is soon tested as we learn more and more about Raymond, his routines must happen, his anxious behaviour helps him cope, and he must be in bed and lights out by 11pm, these little things are Raymond's life, and Charlie at first has difficulty dealing with them.
As their road trip continues, Charlie learns valuable lessons about his brother, and about himself, simply because he learns to accept that Raymond cannot change, but that he is remarkable in his own right, especially his memory and his mathematical skills.
Its a truly touching film with superb acting, Hoffman portraying an obviously controversial character, but one that truly stands out in his loveable and fact-based self, Cruise is forever seeking to change his brother, but his determination cannot be ignored, but the chemistry between Cruise and Hoffman is realistically wonderful.
Truly, the film absolutely deserved the Academy awards simply for the fact that it doesn't try to be glam, but it gives the message that you don't have to reach for the stars to be happy, that it could indeed be right in front of you.
Superb film that has aged well and certainly one that is still a powerful reminder of the dramatic effects of human behaviour, in this case with and even without autism, because it isn't always the disabled person with the biggest problems.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

TheMovieScene

Jun 18, 2016

One of the year’s most intriguing film premises – a callow young hustler (Tom Cruise) must gain the confidence of his autistic brother (Dustin Hoffman) in order to pry away from him an enormous inheritance.

Hoffman’s character Raymond Babbitt is an autistic savant, a person extremelyOne of the year’s most intriguing film premises – a callow young hustler (Tom Cruise) must gain the confidence of his autistic brother (Dustin Hoffman) in order to pry away from him an enormous inheritance.

Hoffman’s character Raymond Babbitt is an autistic savant, a person extremely limited in some mental areas and extremely gifted in others. His younger brother, hard-driving luxury car dealer Charlie Babbitt (Cruise), has his limitations, too – mostly in the areas of kindness and understanding.

Unaware of Raymond’s existence (he’d been institutionalized when Charlie was very young) until his estranged father dies, Charlie is brought up short when he learns the old man’s entire $3 million fortune has been willed to his brother.

After a trip to the East Coast institution where Raymond resides, Charlie shanghais him, without regard for his welfare, into a cross-country trip to L.A., dangling a Dodger game as bait. Meanwhile, he threatens Raymond’s guardian, the bland Dr. Bruner (Jerry Molen), with a custody battle unless he hands over half the fortune.

Director Barry Levinson (“Diner,” “Good Morning, Vietnam,”) lingers long on the road trip segment, building the relationship between the brothers degree by degree and decorating it with spectacular, if self-conscious, landscapes shot through tinted lenses. Result is lightly engrossing, buoyed here and there by emergence of Raymond’s unique abilities (for example, he can memorize half a telephone book in an evening and also can perform extravagant multiplications in a flash).

f an actor with more range than Cruise had been cast, pic might have gone over the top in its final scenes. As is, it stops a little short. It’s a mature assignment for Cruise and he’s at his best in the darker scenes. When the executor of the will shields information from him, the actor displays an utterly grim, brickheaded determination that is frightening.

Hoffman achieves an exacting physical characterization of Raymond, ftom his constant nervous movements to his rigid, hunched shoulders and childish gait. Though he can neither look anyone in the eye nor engage in real conversation, Raymond certainly can be funny, with his well-timed offhand responses to Charlie’s hammering questions. (Cruise: Raymond, am I using you? Hoffman: Yeah.)

Italian actress Valeria Golino strikes just the right chord as Charlie’s sensitive, long-suffering girlfriend.

“Rain Man” does offer some delightful scenes of droll comedy in running gags between the two brothers, built around such daily trivia as maple syrup and boxer shorts.

Locations, costumes and tech contributions are good, particularly considering pic was lensed in a rushed nine weeks of location work.

The music by Hans Zimmer is fresh and provocative.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MATM

Apr 22, 2021

“Rain Man” definitely knocks out one of the tenants of a great movie by allowing the audience to step into someone else's shoes to see a new protective. Along the way, it is also pretty entertaining. I give it a B, next time you’re in the mood for a movie, this one won’t disappoint.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

FilipeNeto

Aug 23, 2020

There are excellent films, bad films, average films... but there are also films that, although they're good, are clearly stilted, as if they were great without, in fact, being that excellent. This film, for me, fits that description. It is a good film, and that is indisputable, but it is notThere are excellent films, bad films, average films... but there are also films that, although they're good, are clearly stilted, as if they were great without, in fact, being that excellent. This film, for me, fits that description. It is a good film, and that is indisputable, but it is not as good and as remarkable as many have said. The film won four Oscars, namely Best Film, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and Best Actor, and with all fairness, but against weak competitors.

The story is simple: Charles Babbit is a skilled car dealer who is in a delicate business situation when he is informed of the death of his father, with whom he had not spoken for years. Counting on inheriting his fortune, he is angry to know that he inherited only a classic car and all the money will be managed by a fund in favor of a brother he did not know, who is in a clinic because he is autistic. Determined to contest the will, he kidnaps his brother and takes him to Los Angeles on a long road trip, where they will have the opportunity to get closer.

The story that the film brings us is good but I didn't find it particularly credible. Its hard to believe that a hardened selfish person like Charlie could change in a few days. Although the idea is pleasant, it seems naive. There are also some points where the film seemed illogical to me, such as the ease with which Charlie removed his brother from the clinic. In any case, if we are willing to accept the story, the film will compensate us because its good, has a lot of quality, no dead moments and manages to keep us interested.

If the plot is good, dialogues and cast performances are even better. The dialogues are excellent, particularly the lines given to Dustin Hoffman, where we have a lot of references to North American cultural landmarks and some tributes, such as the quotations by Abbott & Costello. In fact, Hoffman is the most striking actor, with a superb interpretation of an autistic character. It is difficult to play handicapped characters without it looking like a caricature or a bad taste joke, but Hoffman has managed to put soul and elegance into his work and to look authentic. Less interesting to me was Tom Cruise, but he's a good actor and did an excellent job by giving us an acid and disagreeable character, but who the audience would have to give a chance for redemption, so he couldn't be just hateful. Much less positive was the performance of Valeria Golino. She was left the most of the film and is quickly set aside.

Technically, it is a fairly regular film. It has a pleasant cinematography, with good color and light and great beautiful cars (they are an important element of the film). The trip allows the use of good landscapes from several places of the United States, with emphasis on vibrant Las Vegas. The costumes are awful, but they were the fashion in the Eighties, a decade with no sense of taste at all. The soundtrack, by Hans Zimmer, is decent but does not stand out, if we exclude the opening song, known enough to be in the ear.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

silverstar

May 20, 2016

Although the movie was not that impressive. This movie did cause serious harm to the reputation of autistic people. This movie basically says: "Forget Albert Einstein, this is the real autistic person." The release of this movie was detrimental to people suffering from this disorder. ItAlthough the movie was not that impressive. This movie did cause serious harm to the reputation of autistic people. This movie basically says: "Forget Albert Einstein, this is the real autistic person." The release of this movie was detrimental to people suffering from this disorder. It limited studying possibilities and general social discrimination. I'm surprized nobody citicized or sued MGM/ UA Communications or Barry Levinson over the effects of this movie.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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