Narrative Essay, Rain Man Is A 1988 Movie Review / Analysis

Movie Review/Analysis
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Movie Review/Analysis
Rain Man is a 1988 movie that was directed by Barry Levinson. Levinson is indeed a genius because few directors, if any, have managed to create such a masterpiece. A significant portion of the world’s population would rightly argue that disabilities are stressful, and so are the daily financial problems people often find themselves in. Combining these two successfully is no mean feat, and Levinson deserves a lot of credit because he not only proved cynics wrong but also made sure that he won the hearts of many critics. One critic by the name Elliot Panek had the following to say about the movie: “This is a quiet, understated gem of a film, one that richly rewards the patient viewer with an unforgettable emotional experience.” However, other reviewers also felt that Hoffman (Raymond) and Tom Cruise (Charlie) gave their best in the film. For example, Emma Cochrane said, “Hoffman and Cruise give signature performances in this thoughtful, and hugely enjoyable, classic.” Everything in the movie gelled well and the actors completed the director’s prowess.
The movie tells the story of two brothers, Charlie Babbitt (Tom Cruise) and Raymond (Dustin Hoffman). The two were completely different and also had different personalities and perceptions about life. On the one hand, Charlie was a despicable, unlikable, and materialistic individual who only thought about himself. He was driven by the desire to make money and everything had a price for him. Conversely, Raymond was an autistic individual who had a high-functioning brain as well, as an excellent memory recall. However, he was not in touch with the world and seemed to understand less or even take notice of what people are doing. Raymond was also afraid of change and always adhered to strict routines. He was oblivious to the world or their views of him and most of the time never understood what was said to him. The two brothers were separated while they were young and it is the death of their father that finally brings them together.
After learning about the death of his father, Charlie decides to postpone his vacation with his girlfriend, Susanna. However, when he arrived and sought to know the contents of his father’s will, Charlie realized that his father had only left him the 1949 Buick convertible and the house. The bulk of it which is $3 million went to a trust fund which was to be distributed to someone. Being money-minded and materialistic, Charlie decided to employ his amateur detective skills to determine the individual behind the trust. Charlie was always defiant and rebellious since his childhood days, and even in his mid-twenties, he still behaved like a spoilt child albeit industrious. When Charlie finally comes to discover that he has a brother, he asks the question “Why didn’t somebody tell me I had a brother?” which permeates the movie. While doing all this, Charlie’s main goal was to get half of his ‘rightful’ inheritance, but as the movie progresses, he moves through different stages of perception and finally comes to understand and perceive life from a different angle than before. After meeting Raymond, Charlie devices ev...