Rain Man [DVD]

Some people question the authenticity of Hoffman's portrayal of autism. Surely it is not a documentary, and Dustin Hoffman is an actor. I find his portrayal an amazing crystallization of the most important features of autism--the rigidity, the anxiety, the difficulty in making connection, the strange prosody, the panic in times of distress, the comfort in routines, the comfort in knowable facts. I am not at all bothered by his portrayal as a savant--his character does not need to be the poster child for the "typical" person with autism, especially as there is no such thing. The only complaints I have are the inference that all even high functioning adults are unsafe without supervision, and the false idea that persons with autism do not appreciate humor or are unable to understand any pragmatics such as how much something costs--just need experience like anyone else is all. A certain unnecessary infantilization if you will. The Vegas scene is Hollywood, as it must be, but I think pretty true to character--not all new and shiny environments have to be meltdown inducing every time--and certainly worth it for the fun of it. Another point where realism fails is the way the film regards the money. Charlie thinks Raymond will be rich for inheriting the three million. Very few families could in reality afford anything like the "Woodbrook" institution where Charlie finds Raymond, and all resources would be quickly depleted in keeping him there. The real dilemna facing modern families would be how to get any services at all for their struggling family member once they reach adulthood and leave school. Sounds like some original top reviewers of the film felt that Dustin Hoffman's performance was "virtuosic but to little effect" (I think that was Vincent Camby). They felt an amazing portrayal of human behavior was of lesser value if that character did not change or emote visibly in front of us in the dramatic manner and predictable arc to which they are accustomed. I feel that VERY much reflects a certain intolerance, bigotry if you will, of neurodiversity. I think it's wrong and unobservant to state that Raymond did not change, its just that his changes were kept understated and internal, which Dustin Hoffman deserves all accolades for staying true to character with. Tom Cruise as well was ideally cast and the chemistry between the two was just excellent. Apparently the two of them worked on it together for over two years, and it shows. I think it's an amazing, almost perfect, very moving film.

I first watched this movie not long after it was released in 1988. One scene in particular has stuck with me lo’ these many years later. Brothers, played by Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman are in the Cincinnati airport, scheduled for a flight to Los Angeles. Hoffman, who is playing the part of an autist savant, is “freaking out” about the thought of getting on an airplane. He rattles off a number of airplane crashes, naming the airline, date, place and the number of dead. Hoffman tells his brother only one airline has never crashed: Qantas. Cruise’s patience is pushed to the limit: “But Qantas does not fly between Cincinnati and Los Angeles. We’d have to get to Melbourne first.” So… they decide to take one of the classic road trips across America. I decided to check with Google as to the truth of Hoffman’s assertion. The answer is “sorta” true. The last time Qantas crashed was in 1951; since the adoption of the commercial jet engine, it has never crashed. (Who among us has ever flown on a commercial prop plane?) Purportedly no airline would show this movie as an in-flight movie… except Qantas!I appreciated this movie even more the second time around. Cruise is a “hustler,” portraying a thoroughly dislikable character. He has an Italian girlfriend. His father, to whom he had been estranged, since his teens, dies. There is the will, the money, the tension, and the discovery that he has a brother, Raymond (Dustin Hoffman), who is in an institution for the mentally impaired.Hoffman is such a brilliant actor, who does his homework. The credits indicate the number of people and the various institutions consulted on the nature of autism… an ever-changing label… and that sub-category that are “savant.” Hoffman perfected the stilted walk. This sub-category can be infuriating, with rigid needs in terms of food and surroundings. They can far excel most “normal” human beings in terms of their ability at math, being as fast as a calculator for long numbers, but unable to state correctly if a cucumber or a house is more expensive. It is a lack of what we call “common sense.”The road trip across America, taking seven days was fun. Had to stay off the interstates, and bravo for that, because Hoffman knows all about the crashes. Several scenes in the “miteux” motels of old, where you parked in front of the door, of a one-story building. Another highlight was when Cruise figured he could use Hoffman to “count cards” in Vegas. They even purportedly stopped in Tucumcari, New Mexico, but I now know, having been there several times, that they were not in the real Tucumcari, based on the mountains in the background.A classic American film, in which Hoffman dazzles yet again. And autism is even more prominent in the consciousness of America, three decades later. 5-stars for the film.

Tom Cruise plays a rather greedy, entitled, and self-centered man who views money as the be all and end all. So when he finds out that much of his father’s estate goes to care for his developmentally disabled brother Raymond or Rain Man, he sets out to get him released from the institution where he currently lives and into his care, so that he can get his hands on the old man’s money.This movie raised a lot of intriguing questions particularly for me as a person with a disability. Such as: Who gets to decide what is best for those who are clearly not able to decide for themselves? Even more intriguing was the idea that Rain Man, even as disabled as he was, still had value and worth to someone and that is a message that really needs to be spread throughout the disabled community with the challenges we still face. I appreciated this movie’s ability to make this viewer think about things through sober eyes.This is a very powerful story and if it does not tug at your heart strings, you must be made of stone.

I bought this film because it's about family, disability and extraordinary talent. I've seen this film before but didn't see how it started or ended. I like the older films generally and the actors like Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise make better understanding for the audience of human behaviour.What I did not like is the reality of human behaviours like greed and insensitivity towards disability. It's ofcourse one of the main changes and storyline.In terms of film production, there isn't this fancy dress and perfect body that so many contemporary actors have. It's more realistic and emotional. Most people connect/attach to emotions rather than physical appearances and wealth.

this is an amazing film, very economical and bautifully shot. Dustin Hoffman's performance was nominated for an oscar, and it is a very touching and nearly realistic portrayal of an autist.But it's the young Tom Cruise's performance which jumps off the screen: his changes of mood, his switches from exasperation to tenderness - so economically expressed, often just with the eyes - make me happy to re-see the film any time.

I enjoyed the film more than I did when I first saw it, maybe I have matured quite a lot since then.

Rain man is a heartwarming film with a incredible performance from Dustin Hoffman atrue masterpiece of a film

The quality of the dvd is excellent. This was a replacement for one which I had purchased many years ago -presumably loaned to a friend and never returned! Thank you it brought back many memories. Good valuefor money.