Released: 1988
Cast: Dustin Hoffman, Tom Cruise, Valeria Golino
Oscar Wins: Best Picture, Best Actor (Dustin Hoffman), Best Director (Barry Levinson), Best Original Screenplay (Ronald Bass, Barry Morrow)
Oscar Nominations: Best Cinematography (John Seale), Best Art Direction-Set Decoration (Ida Random, Linda DeScenna), Best Film Editing (Stu Linder), Best Music, Original Score (Hans Zimmer)
SUMMARY: Charlie Babbitt (Tom Cruise) deals in imported luxury cars, and after a business deal gets held up, is in need of a large sum of money. Soon after, Charlie learns that his long-estranged father has died. After the funeral, Charlie learns that his father has left him a classic car and his prize-winning rosebushes, but has left his $3 million estate to a trustee. An incensed Charlie manages to learn that the trustee is involved with Walbrook, a mental institution. When he goes to Walbrook with his girlfriend Susanna (Valeria Golino), Charlie learns that the trustee is the head of the institution. As he is about to leave, Charlie meets a man named Raymond (Dustin Hoffman), who has recognized the classic car as his father’s. To his surprise, Charlie learns that Raymond is his brother, whom he never knew about. From Dr. Bruner (the trustee), Charlie learns that Raymond is an autistic-savant, and is very high-functioning. Raymond has an incredible ability to remember information, but expresses virtually no emotion (unless he is upset). Seeing an opportunity, Charlie sneaks Raymond out of the institution and essentially holds him hostage: he tells Dr. Bruner over the phone that when the doctor hands over half of the $3 million, he will bring Raymond back. When Dr. Bruner refuses to give in, Charlie decides to take Raymond to California, where he will attempt to get custody of Raymond (and therefore, the money). Susanna, upset at what Charlie is doing, leaves; Charlie is left alone with Raymond.
The next day, the brothers go to the airport, but Raymond, who remembers every airline crash in recent history, refuses to fly. An irked Charlie decides to drive to L.A. Very quickly, he becomes incredibly frustrated with Raymond, whose routines disrupt the road trip. Raymond insists on watching the same TV shows every day, no matter where they are; he cannot sleep unless the room is arranged exactly the same as his one at Walbrook; and he wants to eat the same food that is served at Walbrook. When he gets nervous, Raymond begins reciting Abbott and Costello’s “Who’s on First” routine. Charlie also learns that Raymond is a math savant – he can do incredibly complex math problems almost immediately in his head, and he can count hundreds of objects at extreme speed. Eventually, Charlie realizes that he had met Raymond: what he had always thought was an imaginary friend, Rain Man, was actually his older brother. When Raymond accidentally harmed the toddler Charlie, he was put in Walbrook. Just after the boys pass Las Vegas, Charlie learns that needs $80,000 to cover his business deal. Remembering Raymond’s talent for calculating and remembering, Charlie teaches him to count cards. They then return to Vegas, where they win big at the blackjack table. That night, Charlie also teaches Raymond how to dance, and Susanna comes back to Charlie. When they finally get to Los Angeles, Dr. Bruner is waiting for them. He offers Charlie a lump sum of $250,000 to essentially forget about Raymond, but Charlie refuses. During the hearing, he tells Bruner and the psychiatrist (who is hearing the arguments) that while he was initially after the money, he know cares more about Raymond. When Raymond is asked where he wants to live, he is shown to be incapable of deciding; he also becomes upset at all the questions. Charlie stops the questioning, and in a private moment, tells Raymond that he is glad to have him for a big brother. The next day, Charlie takes Raymond to the train station, where he will be traveling back to Walbrook with Dr. Bruner. Charlie promises to visit Raymond in two weeks.
MY TAKE: I love this movie, and I’m also very intrigued by it. In 1988, when the movie was made, autism was not nearly as well-known as it is now. Obviously, there were also not as many known methods of dealing with it. This becomes clear when Charlie and Raymond visit the doctor during their road trip: the nurse has never even heard of autism. This movie kind of brought the issue into the public eye. One of the things I really like about the movie is that it shows how frustrating it can be to deal with somebody with autism. Some of the things Raymond does are funny and endearing (insisting that you have to dance on a date, being very specific about the kind of underwear he wears), but other habits can be incredibly hard to deal with. Charlie knows that Raymond has autism, and he knows that Raymond isn’t trying to frustrate him, but he still gets incredibly annoyed. I think that this movie does a terrific job of showing this dynamic, because it is a reality. I think that there is a perception that if you know somebody is autistic, you are able to deal with that person without any problems. In my experience, this isn’t true, simply because things that give somebody with autism comfort, like repeated phrases or motions, as well as their (relative) inability to adapt, are naturally annoying to most people. It’s not a prejudice, it’s just nature. Someone without autism has no problem skipping “Wapner” (The People’s Court) for one day, but for Raymond, it means a disruption in his routine, and his routine is what makes him feel secure. Raymond is actually really high-functioning, and does well adapting to a lot of changes really quickly (when Charlie takes him on the road – strange person, strange places, new room every night, etc.). Of course, in the end Charlie comes to understand and love Raymond. One of the most touching moments in the film is at the end, during the hearing: Raymond does not like to be touch, and does not usually touch others. However, at this time, he leans his head over and presses it against Charlie’s head. It’s a clear sign that though he cannot express it, Raymond loves his brother.
RATING: Wonderful.
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