"Rain Man" is the kind of congenial multiple Oscar-winner that it seems churlish to dislike, although its execution is by no means virtuoso.
September 20, 2006 (Press Release) --
RAIN MAN FACTS
Charlie Babbitt (Tom Cruise) is a selfish, money-minded car dealer who's beside himself after learning that the majority of his father's fortune has been left to his autistic brother (Dustin Hoffman), from whom he was separated in early childhood. After a snafu with one his shipments, Charlie is strapped for cash, so he tracks down his brother, who's been in an institution for most of his life. Charlie kidnaps Ray and together they travel cross-country. Charlie is fascinated by his brother's abilities (memorizing the phone book, instantly solving complex math problems) and frustrated by his stubbornness (he won't fly, and definitely must watch The People's Court every day at the same time). Charlie's patience is tested to the breaking point, but through it all Ray makes Charlie a better, more loving person and a real brother.
"Rain Man" is the kind of congenial multiple Oscar-winner that it seems churlish to dislike, although its execution is by no means virtuoso. What sets it apart from the norm is Hoffman's absorbing performance as idiot savant, Raymond Babbitt. In deference to this, director (and frequent Hoffman collaborator) Barry Levinson provides a soft touch to the relatively simple buddy movie formula.
Distasteful 80s archetype, Charlie Babbitt (Cruise), learns that he has inherited a negligible portion of his estranged father's fortune. The uncomprehending heir to the millions is his previously unknown autistic brother. A desperate state of finances results in equally desperate measures. He kidnaps Raymond, and thus begins a journey through a landscape drenched in Americana (the nostalgic variety of television, baseball, and cars, harking back to Levinson's debut, "Diner", rather than the trigger-happier version we're also familiar with from the movies).
Exhibitions of Raymond's phonebook-memorising genius or hysteria provoked by breaks in his routine provide the bulk of the content. The scene in which he refuses to fly any airline but Qantas was reportedly cut from all in-flight movies bar those of the Australian company whose unsullied safety record the film champions.
Source: http://search.msn.com
Charlie Babbitt (Tom Cruise) is a selfish, money-minded car dealer who's beside himself after learning that the majority of his father's fortune has been left to his autistic brother (Dustin Hoffman), from whom he was separated in early childhood. After a snafu with one his shipments, Charlie is strapped for cash, so he tracks down his brother, who's been in an institution for most of his life. Charlie kidnaps Ray and together they travel cross-country. Charlie is fascinated by his brother's abilities (memorizing the phone book, instantly solving complex math problems) and frustrated by his stubbornness (he won't fly, and definitely must watch The People's Court every day at the same time). Charlie's patience is tested to the breaking point, but through it all Ray makes Charlie a better, more loving person and a real brother.
"Rain Man" is the kind of congenial multiple Oscar-winner that it seems churlish to dislike, although its execution is by no means virtuoso. What sets it apart from the norm is Hoffman's absorbing performance as idiot savant, Raymond Babbitt. In deference to this, director (and frequent Hoffman collaborator) Barry Levinson provides a soft touch to the relatively simple buddy movie formula.
Distasteful 80s archetype, Charlie Babbitt (Cruise), learns that he has inherited a negligible portion of his estranged father's fortune. The uncomprehending heir to the millions is his previously unknown autistic brother. A desperate state of finances results in equally desperate measures. He kidnaps Raymond, and thus begins a journey through a landscape drenched in Americana (the nostalgic variety of television, baseball, and cars, harking back to Levinson's debut, "Diner", rather than the trigger-happier version we're also familiar with from the movies).
Exhibitions of Raymond's phonebook-memorising genius or hysteria provoked by breaks in his routine provide the bulk of the content. The scene in which he refuses to fly any airline but Qantas was reportedly cut from all in-flight movies bar those of the Australian company whose unsullied safety record the film champions.
Source: http://search.msn.com
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