Rain Man (1988)

User Rating:

8.0/10   

Director:

Barry Levinson

Writers (WGA):

Barry Morrow (story)
Ronald Bass (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

16 December 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Selfish yuppie Charlie Babbitt's father left a fortune to his savant brother Raymond and a pittance to Charlie; they travel cross-country.

Plot Keywords:

Savant | Convertible | Autistic Savant | Inheritance | Desert

Awards:

Won 4 Oscars. Another 19 wins & 13 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Mon. Nov. 23

2:30 PM

AMC

Cast

Dustin Hoffman	...	Raymond Babbitt
Tom Cruise	...	Charlie Babbitt
Valeria Golino	...	Susanna
Gerald R. Molen	...	Dr. Bruner (as Jerry Molen)
Jack Murdock	...	John Mooney
Michael D. Roberts	...	Vern
Ralph Seymour	...	Lenny
Lucinda Jenney	...	Iris
Bonnie Hunt	...	Sally Dibbs
Kim Robillard	...	Small Town Doctor
Beth Grant	...	Mother at Farm House
Dolan Dougherty	...	Farm House Kid
Marshall Dougherty	...	Farm House Kid
Patrick Dougherty	...	Farm House Kid
John-Michael Dougherty	...	Farm House Kid

Runtime:

133 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:12 | Iceland:L | Ireland:15 | Brazil:Livre | Australia:MA (DVD rating) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | New Zealand:PG | Norway:10 (original rating) | Norway:11 (re-rating) | Peru:14 | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Caesar's Palace - 3570 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Company:

United Artists

Trivia:

Warner Brothers had, at one point, the opportunity to make both "Rain Man" and Forrest Gump (1994)_ but ended up with neither because of concerns they were too similar. Peter Guber and Jon Peters' production company, which had picked up the script for "Rain Man", had a first look deal with the studio. However, Roger Birnbaum, an executive with the production company, felt that because Warner Brothers was also developing Forrest Gump (1994)_, they would likely let "Rain Man" die if they were to pick it up, because of the script's perceived similarity. So, reportedly, he purposely gave a weak pitch to the studio in the hopes that they would reject it and allow it to be pitched to another studio. This did in fact occur and United Artists ended up making the film. After the movie's enormous success, Warner Brothers decided to pass on Forrest Gump (1994)_ because they felt that audiences would be unlikely to go to a movie with such a similar theme as "Rain Man". Forrest Gump (1994)_, which most people would consider to be an entirely different type of film than "Rain Man", ended up being made by Paramount and became one of the most successful movies of all time, grossing almost $330 Million in U.S. theaters.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: Laundromat scene was supposed to be in Tucumcari, N.M. The town of Tucumcari is larger and has no tall, red-rock mountains in the background. It's on the edge of the high plains, but does have some small mesas west of town.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Charlie: [on telephone] Now it's five and a half weeks and I'm still sitting on four Lamborghinis that can't meet spot emissions standards. Now, how many times you wash out with EPA?
Lenny: [on a separate line] Uh, yes sir, they're finally, uh, clearing EPA; uh, just one or two more days.
Charlie: Three times? You're really on a roll here, my friend; four cars, three times each - that's zip for twelve. What are you, a... mechanic, or a NASA engineer? Now listen, now, I told you I've never dealt with these Lamborghinis before, and yet you assured me that you can deliver these cars within that time frame. Don't, don't tell me that, 'cause I - I'm not even listening.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "Spin City: Casino (#4.14)" (2000)

Soundtrack:

Lovin' Ain't So Hard

My favorite

I have seen this movie probably 7 or 8 times in the past three years, wrote a paper about it for my college film class last semester, and basically regard it as my favorite movie of all time. Where to begin with the praise for this movie? Let's start with the acting. Dustin Hoffman is my favorite actor, and has been for a while. I'd watch him in any role. I was amazed at the way he was able to pull off this role. I've never seen a more deserved Oscar win. The vacant stare, the monotone voice, the screaming, it was unbelievable. Each time I watch it I am floored by his talent. Tom Cruise is also good, the villain of the story who undergoes such a subtle change that it's almost not visible until nearly the end. He is, however, perfectly suited for the flashy, egotistical character of Charlie, and I think he did a great job. The directing was unobtrusive and beautiful, for the most part just letting the action unfold, which is exactly the way it should have been done. It's a feel-good movie that does that and more, and I think nothing I've seen in the movies is as touching as the scene in the motel where Charlie discovers who "Rain Man" really is. I give this movie a 9.5 out of 10. Absolutely wonderful.