Today, for the first time on my blog, I'm going to review a movie that won the Academy Award for Best Picture. I've tried to stay away from movies that have won this accolade, but since most people I know have never actually heard of the movie, let alone seen it, I'm going to make an exception. The subject of today's review is the 1988 quadruple Oscar winner Rain Man.
Directed by Barry Levinson (who won the Oscar for Best Director) and starring Dustin Hoffman (who won the Oscar for Best Actor In A Leading Role), Tom Cruise and Valeria Golino. The movie follows 2 estranged brothers on a road trip across America following the death of their wealthy father. It has a heartwarming story, spectacular performances, a witty screenplay, some genuinely emotional moments, and became a landmark film in regards to the fictional depiction of mental illness.
Charlie Babbitt (Cruise), a bad-tempered car salesman is forced to travel to Cincinnati, Ohio, after learning of his father's death. Charlie maintained a complicated relationship with his father, but now that he has passed away, he decides he needs to sort out his dad's estate, with the hopes of receiving what he feels he deserves. Unfortunately, he discovers that $3 million dollars from his father's estate has been left to an unnamed beneficiary. Much to his chagrin, Charlie finds out that the money has been left to a man named Raymond (Hoffman), an autistic savant who also happens to be Charlies brother, whom Charlie was completely unaware of.
In order to coax his 'share' of the money out of the mental institute Raymond is living in, which is holding the inheritance money, Charlie takes Raymond out of the institute and drives him to Los Angeles to meet up with his attorney and sort out the matter at hand. During the trip, Charlie becomes increasingly frustrated with Raymond's autistic behaviour, such as his poor communication, constant repetition, and his unwillingness to adapt to different routines.
Their trip across the United States tests Charlie to his limits, since he believes that Raymond's condition is make-believe, and that he is deliberately irritating him and wasting his time. But as time passes, he comes to appreciate, and even empathise with his brother and his handicap.
The real beauty of watching this film is witnessing the bond which forms between our central characters, one of whom is allegedly incapable of standard human interaction. While Hoffman's performance has been recognised as one of the most sensitive and accurate portrays of autism in cinema history, I think Cruise's performance also deserves credit. He starts off brash, arrogant and basically detestable, but over time he comes to appreciate Raymond, and connects with him on an emotional level. It's definitely one of his most under-appreciated roles.
On top of the acting, the movie boasts funny, intelligent and touching dialogue. The movie can swing from funny to facetious within a matter of seconds, and does so on a number of occasions. It's a road movie like you've never seen before. One of the most overlooked Best Picture Winners, and one of my favourites.
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