Rain Man

UK Release Date: 3 March 1989

Certification: 15

Director: Barry Levinson

Cast: Tom Cruise, Valeria Golino, Dustin Hoffman

Rating: 74%

Despite the title there was no rain throughout the runtime.

Review: 

Rain Man released in 1988 - in America - a time where there weren't many, if any, films that showcased autism on a big scale. As a result of this the movie ended up grossing $354 million worldwide and won several academy awards including best actor, best picture and best director. 

The plot is quite thin in Rain Man, not a lot actually happens during two hour runtime. It's essentially a road trip. But what makes the movie entertaining and captivating are the central performances from Tom Cruise, Valeria Golino and Dustin Hoffman. Similarly, to early roles in Cruise's career - before he became the action star that he is today - he plays a fairly unlikeable character in Charlie Babbitt who when we first meet him is only concerned about inheriting $3 million from his father's will. He's not your typical movie villain but you aren't rooting for him either. As the movie progresses he 'slowly' begins to realise that life isn't all about money due to his time with Raymond Babbitt, a brother he didn't know he had. And although Tom Cruise doesn't put a foot wrong, it's Dustin Hoffman that really shines in Rain Man. Whilst Hoffman gives a realistic depiction of an autistic-savant, autism comes in different shapes and sizes, not everybody with autism has extraordinary skills. He was able to capture my attention emotionally but also had impeccable comedic timing. Valeria Golino's Susanna isn't essential to the film but I thought that her performance was impressive. 

When I saw Hans Zimmer's name appear during the credits I knew I was in very capable hands. The main theme is one of his most underrated pieces. He combines classic synth sounds synonymous with the 80's, drums and a didgeridoo in order to build towards a triumphant crescendo. 'Leaving Wallbrook/On the road' is also an iconic piece of music. There's also a brilliant 80's soundtrack in Rain Man that includes The Belles' 'Iko Iko'.

Other than the lack of a clear conclusion, the only thing holding the film back for me was the casino scene. It's always cool to see the famous Vegas lights but to me, it felt like an exploitation of a medical condition.