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 310 Ratings

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8.5

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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

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

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

NycoleC.

Mar 25, 2008

i personally agree that this movie is a great drama. it has a good reality case as in some circumstances this issue does occur and it is very touching. Hoffman's acting is fantastic. Overall a great movie.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

MovieGuys

Sep 19, 2013

Hoffman plays the autistic Charlie with such a sense of innocence and nonchalant-ness that we feel for his character and want Tom Cruise to burn in hell for what he's doing to his brother. (To be honest, a lot of people want Tom Cruise to burn in hell anyway!

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

ahmedaiman9999

Aug 4, 2018

I finally got to watch this movie. It really was on my radar for a very very long time. The movie's story is not unconventional by any means, but thanks to Levinson's smart direction, Ronald Bass' powerful script that adds a lot of fresh details, and the terrific performances from the leads,I finally got to watch this movie. It really was on my radar for a very very long time. The movie's story is not unconventional by any means, but thanks to Levinson's smart direction, Ronald Bass' powerful script that adds a lot of fresh details, and the terrific performances from the leads, Rain Man feels very original. In fact, I can even see how the ending would be from the beginning, but that didn't make the slightest issue for me. Barry Levinson presented the movie in a way that manages to generate emotion in their audience without ever feeling melodramatic. That's because Levinson avoided many clichés, the most important one of them is the typical way of storytelling. Instead of making a movie that relies on drama, he made road-trip movie that produces a catharsis of emotions more than you would ever imagine. As a matter of fact, the movie feels as if it has a character-driven story, except it's actually not. And the result is a movie that has a very restricted and bound plot, but it never feels that way. While watching the movie, I felt that I can't expect anything. I felt as if I was watching a movie with a picaresque tale, but it's actually far from being that. Unlike Wag the Dog, Rain Man has a lot of memorable moments that will stay with you forever. In other words, Barry Levinson made Rain Man feels more cinematic than Wag the Dog. But I'll say it again, the movie never feels overly sentimental. Dustin Hoffman gave one of the Best Performances in his career, but I really can't say if he had deserved the Oscar more than Tom Hanks in Big or not. Tom Cruise's performance is really what stands out in my opinion. I think he gave one of, if not his best performance ever. I don't want to spoil anything for who haven't watched this wonderful film yet, but there are a lot of scenes that show Cruise's acting abilities, and prove that he is underappreciated as an actor who really can deliver some exceptional dramatic performances, not just doing incredible stunts and running. I think he deserved to be nominated for an Oscar at the least. That being said, I have some issues with Rain Man. The first one is that the beginning was a bit rushed and very fast-paced for its own good. Specially because the drama kicks off very early, and the movie should have taken its time to represent it. The entire message of the movie has been literally revealed near the end by Tom Cruise, so that's an obvious, and a bit annoying problem.

Also, the ending could have been a little bit shorter. However, the last 15-20 minutes has some of the smartest, and most powerful dialogue ever written. And it also has the most intense and moving moments in the movie. The moments that show Raymond math prowess were very hilarious and funny at the beginning, then they became kinda overused, but after that they were taken advantage of very cleverly.

Overall, I loved Rain Man so much, and I really don't know why there are many people who think it didn't deserve the Oscar for Best Picture. It's meticulously written, impressively directed, beautifully shot, superbly acted, engaging, moving, touching, and above all that, it's very enjoyable. Also, Zimmer's score is electrifying!

(8.5/10)… Expand

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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