Rain Man Review

It may have been a great film for teenagers and adults between 15 to 25 years old, at the time it was made. However for today’s audiences they might find it a little slow, although they may still be interested in the parts when in the casino with its fast pace and party mood.

Hoffman produces an incredibly believable well-researched and polished performance as a character who lives by strict routine and is said to be incapable of forming human relationships because of his disability. For this chosen movie Hoffman won the 1988 Academy Award for Best Actor. Tom Cruise is well cast in the role of Charlie Babbit a young hustler who is trying to get his disabled brother's inheritance. The fact that his character is a young, slick, used car salesman implies he has had some experience in doing sly deals. He's been on his own long enough to know how to work people and situations.

While it is a drama it does have some comedy. The humour in this movie has been used well and shows the change experience by the audience. Originally the humour was about Raymond’s unusual behaviours then it changed from laughing at him to laughing with him and Charlie as they joked around like when they were playing out ‘the old gag’ Who’s on first and What’s on second. The symbolism in Rainman tends to centre around the car. It symbolises many things throughout the movie. In the beginning the image of the car coming down to music symbolises Charlie’s perception of life – money possessions and success all he thinks about. Then it becomes a symbol of Charlie and Raymond new life. It also recaptures their father into their lifes and they are a family again.

As the main protagonist Raymond Babbit (Hoffman) has inherited most of his father’s fortune in spite of him not even understanding what money is for. The themes in the movie are disability, family love and inherited money. Raymond is a high functioning autistic man, who has many special skills - he can count toothpicks as they hit the ground and can even count cards in Poker. This provides an advantage for Charlie and enables him to rake in the cash in Las Vegas. While Raymond’s quirky behaviours provide a challenge for Charlie - breakfast always the same, underwear only from K-mart in Cincinnati, his insistence about no air travel provides them with a valuable opportunity to bond as brothers.  Charlie’s mood turns from anger and frustration to love for his brother, that is when the film is at its most rewarding.

At the railway station it seems to be an impersonal way to break their journey, a preferred ending may have been for Charlie to see Raymond safely home to Wallbrook.