Tom Cruise achieved peak stardom in 1988. He’d had hits with Risky Business and Top Gun. He’d helped Paul Newman finally win an Oscar for The Color of Money. But ’88 he’d proven he was beyond bank with Cocktail, a fluff tale of a bartender. The film made a mint as people flocked to the theater to see Tom shaking up drinks. Tom Cruise could have just kept out cranking out light weight flicks that made millions based on his grin. But the actor wanted to do work with a bit of weight. That Christmas audiences saw the new superstar playing against another big name and taking the less flashy role. Rain Man had Cruise being a complete jerk to Dustin Hoffman (The Graduate). Audiences loved him even more in a serious and prestigious film than his time mixing up a vodka martini.
Charlie Babbage (Cruise) has imported four grey market Lamborghini sportscars from Europe that aren’t street legal in America. He has a lot of cash tied up with the cars. He can’t legally complete selling to buyers until the EPA signs off on their emissions. In the midst of this crisis, he gets a call that his rich father has died. He’s got something in the will. Charlie hated his rich dad so he’s eager to get the will read so he can collect. The reading turns into a disaster since all he gets left is a classic car from 1949 and rose bushes. The rest of the $3 million is being given to a mysterious beneficiary. He uncovers it is a mental institution. Why would his father do this? Turns out Charlie wasn’t an only child. He meets Raymond (Dustin Hoffman), his older brother. His father had Raymond institutionalized to help him. Raymond is an autistic savant. Charlie needs money fast and lures Raymond out of the institution and to a hotel. He tells the doctor that he’ll return Raymond for half of his father’s estate or else he’ll take his brother back to Los Angeles. This turns out to be hard since Raymond refuses to fly. The brothers embark on a cross country road trip that allows Charlie to get to know his long-lost brother, but also learn the challenges of living with someone who needs things on a regular basis such as watching The People’s Court and underwear from K-Mart. Can he really handle an adult who can’t be left on his own? At the same time, Charlie’s life is falling apart as he’s stuck between angry buyers and impatient creditors on the car deal. Things aren’t looking great for the Babbage brothers on their journey.
When Rain Man came out, the movie did get a lot of people interested in the nature of autism. The movie made us understand that not everyone with autism are autistic savants that can break a casino. Over the decades, it feels like I know more people who have children on the autism spectrum. It’s helped to understand their relationship from remembering how Raymond interacted with Charlie. It’s tough and you have to be beyond patient.
While the conversation always turns to Dustin Hoffman’s performance as an autistic person, we don’t pay enough attention to Tom Cruise work as Charlie. He is also a character that doesn’t emotionally connect to people. He treats everyone around him as something to use and abuse. He grabs Raymond as part of a plot for the money and not help them begin bonding as brothers. Shame there’s not a scene where Charlie gets examined to see if he’s on the Spectrum. Tom Cruise makes Charlie such a horrible character who proves capable of emotionally connecting during the road trip. He was doing more than putting on sunglasses and flashing a smile to make the role.
Rain Man proved to be a critical success when it was released before Christmas of 1988. Besides making major critics’ Top 10 lists, the movie won the Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original screenplay and Dustin Hoffman won Best Actor. It’s rather shocking that Tom Cruise didn’t even get nominated. Even more amazing is that Rain Man was top of the box office bringing in $172 million on a budget of $25 million. There was a time when people flocked to a film that wasn’t about superheroes although Raymond did have a superpower when it came to counting cards.
Rain Man remains relevant and entertaining after 35 years.
The Video for the 4K UHD (2160) is scanned from the original camera negative and approved by director Barry Levinson. The film looks great during the scenic parts of the car ride. The Audio is English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio. You’ll hear clearly all the times Raymond declares he’s “an excellant driver.” The is also dubs in French 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and Spanish Mono. The movie is subtitled in English on the 4K UHD. The Blu-ray includes French and Spanish subtitles.
Audio Commentary by Director Barry Levinson gets into how he actually read the script while a friend was going to direct.
Audio Commentary by Writer Barry Morrow explores how this was his second script about an autistic character.
Audio Commentary by Writer Ronald Bass digs into his sister being a major help.
Original Theatrical Trailer (2:16) puts the brothers on the road.
DISC TWO: BLU-RAY DISC
Audio Commentaries by Director Barry Levinson, Writer Barry Morrow, Writer Ronald Bass are the same as the 4K UHD.
The Journey of Rain Man (22:09) has Barry Levinson was the fourth director attached to the film including Steven Spielberg. When Barry was given the script, Sydney Pollack was lined up to direct. Barry was merely giving his pal a few notes. A few weeks later, Barry was signing to direct. Barry Morrow points out the film was shot during the writers strike. He also said there was always an issue figuring out the proper tone for the ending. Barry wanted the film to be simplified and focused on the brothers. Ronald Bass had his sister help him with the autism element in his work on the script. Diane Bass points out that Raymond can’t change over the course of the film. The change has to all be in Charlie. This was from the 15th anniversary release.
Lifting the Fog: A Look at the Mysteries of Autism (20:15) has medical professionals discuss autistic savants. Barry talks about how his friend Bill and the real-life Rain Man inspired the script. We meet Joseph Sullivan who is a math whiz and Peter Guthrie who knows Rod Stewart hits.
Deleted Scene (2:13) has Raymond enter a drugstore looking for cheese balls.
Original Theatrical Trailer (2:16) has Charlie discover Raymond is his brother.
MVD Marquee Collection presents Rain Man. Directed by Barry Levinson. Screenplay by Barry Morrow and Ronald Bass. Starring Dustin Hoffman, Tom Cruise, Valeria Golino, Jerry Molen, Ralph Seymour, Michael D. Roberts, Bonnie Hunt, Beth Grant, Lucinda Jenney & Barry Levinson. Running Time: 134 minutes. Rating: Rated R. Release Date: June 13, 2023.
