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Rain Man (1988)
This could have easily been played the wrong way. Hell, initially, it was Martin Brest picture, with Dustin Hoffman in the opposite role and Bill Murray playing Raymond, with a big action sequence planned. Instead, it was directed by Barry Levinson, who turned it into a non-sentimental, sincere and moving film.
I used to honestly believe this was the greatest film of the 1980's and I loved it with all my heart. While I'm not that crazy about it anymore (it still makes the top ten best '80's films, IMO), I still do love it with all my heart, and still emotionally resonates with me. The story of Charlie Babbitt kidnapping his autistic brother Raymond, who he has never met, for a portion of his inheritance is the center of one of the greatest films ever made.
The film isn't very spectacularly shot, or fast paced, but instead, Levinson is very interested in building his two lead characters, and bring forward an understanding, and IMO, he did a fantastic job. Charlie and Raymond aren't stereotypes at all. They are endearing characters who remain believable at all times, and most of that can be attributed to the two leads.
Tom Cruise is bloody outstanding in this. He's utterly convincing as Charlie Babbitt, playing the arrogance, heartless qualities perfectly, and he really sells the character change throughout the entire film. Dustin Hoffman gets deserved recognition for his performance, but Cruise is on another level here. It's in his top 3 performances, along with his work in Eyes Wide Shut and Magnolia.
This is nothing like Forrest Gump, as some seem to think. Whereas that film is lightweight and whimsical, this is very blunt, moving film that I wholeheartedly believe to be one of the greatest films ever made. Easily top 50 stuff for me.
This could have easily been played the wrong way. Hell, initially, it was Martin Brest picture, with Dustin Hoffman in the opposite role and Bill Murray playing Raymond, with a big action sequence planned. Instead, it was directed by Barry Levinson, who turned it into a non-sentimental, sincere and moving film.
I used to honestly believe this was the greatest film of the 1980's and I loved it with all my heart. While I'm not that crazy about it anymore (it still makes the top ten best '80's films, IMO), I still do love it with all my heart, and still emotionally resonates with me. The story of Charlie Babbitt kidnapping his autistic brother Raymond, who he has never met, for a portion of his inheritance is the center of one of the greatest films ever made.
The film isn't very spectacularly shot, or fast paced, but instead, Levinson is very interested in building his two lead characters, and bring forward an understanding, and IMO, he did a fantastic job. Charlie and Raymond aren't stereotypes at all. They are endearing characters who remain believable at all times, and most of that can be attributed to the two leads.
Tom Cruise is bloody outstanding in this. He's utterly convincing as Charlie Babbitt, playing the arrogance, heartless qualities perfectly, and he really sells the character change throughout the entire film. Dustin Hoffman gets deserved recognition for his performance, but Cruise is on another level here. It's in his top 3 performances, along with his work in Eyes Wide Shut and Magnolia.
This is nothing like Forrest Gump, as some seem to think. Whereas that film is lightweight and whimsical, this is very blunt, moving film that I wholeheartedly believe to be one of the greatest films ever made. Easily top 50 stuff for me.