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"RAIN MAN" (1988) (Tom Cruise, Dustin Hoffman) (R) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Mild Minor Heavy Mild None Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Moderate None Moderate None Extreme Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Heavy Mild Heavy Heavy Mild QUICK TAKE: Drama: After his father's death, an estranged son learns that he has an autistic brother. PLOT: At risk of having to owe a significant amount of money he doesn't have due to his imported cars not passing the emission standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency, small-time car dealer Charlie Babbitt (TOM CRUISE) does not have time to worry about anything beyond how to fix the problems looming in front of him that threaten to put him out of business. His girlfriend Susanna (VALERIA GOLINO), who works with him at this business, notes his silence and asks him to open up to her, but he won't. He never has. In fact, it looks like he's never opened up to anyone in his life. At the worst possible moment, when he and Susanna are on the road to a much-needed-or-insanity-reigns weekend in Palm Springs, he receives a call that his father died, whom he has been estranged from for years. With Susanna, he goes back to Ohio to learn that his father left him his Buick and his prized rose bushes, but not what Charlie sees as the big prize, the one that could help him pull his sinking business up from rising waters: $3 million dollars. That money, he learns, goes to an unnamed beneficiary, which, after some brief strategic detective work, leads him to Wallbrook, an institution for the severely disabled. It's there that Charlie learns that he has a brother, Raymond (DUSTIN HOFFMAN), an autistic savant. Charlie is not happy at this development, particularly since he never knew about Raymond, even in the years he was growing up. But he has a plan: Take Raymond with him from the institution and refuse to bring him back unless he gets half of the three million dollars, which causes Susanna to leave him for a time until he can learn to open up and be a better person. Getting back to Los Angeles right away to attend to his failing business is impossible because of Raymond's vehement aversion to flying, so Charlie is forced to make this a road trip and is unhappy about what he sees as a huge burden. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? Older teens may be interested to see Tom Cruise circa the late 1980s, while those possibly interested in the history of the Oscars, will want to see this Best Picture winner, and so will fans of anyone in the cast. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R No official reason is given, but it's likely for strong profanity and brief sexual content. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: TOM CRUISE plays Charlie Babbitt, a small-time imported car dealer who, at the exact moment of dealing with his potential failings in the business, learns that his father has died and left a sizable fortune to his brother Raymond, an autistic savant, with the fortune overseen by his doctor. Charlie decides to take Raymond away from the institution he lives at, until his doctor gives him half of that money. He uses strong profanity, smokes, appears bare-chested at length, and has sex deep under the covers in bed with his girlfriend Susanna. DUSTIN HOFFMAN plays Raymond Babbitt, Charlie's autistic brother, who has his routines and sticks close to them at an institution called Wallbrook, where he lives. This includes certain days to have pancakes, fish sticks, pizza, and what television shows to watch, such as "The People's Court." He can also solve complicated math problems in an instant, and becomes a big help to Charlie when he decides to use him to play blackjack at Caesar's Palace. His routines are upended a few times when Charlie decides to take him away from Wallbrook until he gets the money he wants. VALERIA GOLINO plays Susanna, Charlie's girlfriend, who doesn't like how closed off he is to the world, and especially to her, not telling her much of anything about himself. That's especially true after his father has died and only then from her prodding does he let out a story about how his father seemed to love material things more than his son. His scheme to keep his autistic brother Raymond with him until he gets half of the money Raymond was given by his father pushes Susanna away and out of his life for a time until he gets it together, so to speak, according to her. She has sex with Charlie deep under the covers in bed. JERRY MOLEN plays Dr. Bruner, Charlie's caretaker at Wallbrook who is totally against what Charlie has done by taking Raymond away from the institution, but does not seek to press charges or send the cops after him. He just wants Raymond back and hopes that Charlie will do the right thing. Later, he reiterates to Charlie in person that he believes the best thing for Raymond would be to remain at Wallbrook. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: The following is a brief summary of the content found in this R-rated drama. Profanity consists of at least 18 "f" words, while other expletives and colorful phrases are uttered. A sexual encounter is heard, with movements under bed covers and moaning. Minor cleavage is seen later at a bar, and a male character appears bare-chested at length. Violence consists of one character grabbing another by the neck, another character banging himself and his head against a door, as well as frustration taken out on luggage and the roof of a car. Potentially imitative behavior is present, as are bad attitudes and tense family material, while some alcohol is present in several scenes, as is some smoking, and there's a little crude humor. Should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home, you may want to look more closely at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE On the phone in his hotel room, Charlie orders pizza and beers. A drink sits on the bar where Charlie was. A waitress delivers drinks to a table at a bar. A waitress passes behind Raymond and Susanna, carrying a full drink and a nearly empty glass on a tray. BLOOD/GORE In the phone booth with Charlie, Raymond says, "Uh-oh, fart. Uh-oh, fart." Charlie then says to Raymond, "Did you fart, Ray? Did you f*ckin' fart?" About all the money won at Caesar's Palace that Charlie can use to pay back what he owes, he says to Raymond, "I'm free and clear. I'm gonna go take a celebration piss." DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE Charlie tells Susanna about how he took his father's prized car out for a drive without permission, because of a good-enough report card that his father wouldn't acknowledge, respecting his car more than his son, at least from Charlie's perspective. Charlie is sarcastic toward his late father's lawyer about an unnamed beneficiary getting his father's estate, and him getting his father's Buick and rose bushes. Charlie takes Raymond off the grounds of Wallbrook without seeking permission, intending to return him only if the doctor in charge of Raymond agrees to pay him half of the $3 million Raymond has inherited. Raymond says "I don't know," in response to Charlie asking him what he was doing in his room. "'Course there were noises," he says. Charlie replies, "Well those noises are none of your business. You understand that? Put the phonebook down, stop acting like an idiot, and go to sleep." As Susanna leaves, Charlie asks Raymond loudly, "Am I using you, Raymond?" Raymond replies, "Yes," and Charlie shouts, "Shut up!" Charlie grabs Raymond by the neck, who exclaims "Ow!" twice, brings him over to him and says, "Stop acting like a f*ckin' retard." He then grabs Raymond's notebook away while asking, "What the f*ck is this?" Raymond screams in the airport in response to Charlie saying that they're going to get on the plane, despite Raymond saying that he doesn't want to. Charlie says on the way back to his car about Raymond, "This guy's a f*cking fruitcake." Charlie says to Raymond about his autism, "You don't fool me with this sh*t for a second." Charlie shouts at Raymond, "Shut up!" Some may be highly offended when Charlie says to Raymond, "I think this autism is a bunch of sh*t. 'Cause you can't tell me that you're not in there somewhere." As Charlie gets back in the car, he says to Raymond, "We're going to have to make a little stop and find a psychiatrist, because you're driving me crazy, man." A driver says to Raymond, who's standing in the middle of the street because of a "Don't Walk" sign, "Hey you! Hey dipsh*t. Move it!" Charlie tells Raymond not to "rock and moan." "Just shut up and stand there." Charlie lies to a woman at a farmhouse about why he's there, claiming he's from A.C. Nielsen, the TV ratings company, then tells her the truth, that Raymond needs to watch "The People's Court." Charlie uses Raymond and his card-counting abilities to win big at blackjack at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. FRIGHTENING SCENES Raymond screams at the sight of hot water gushing into the tub and shouts "Scary bad!" Charlie asks Raymond, "What's scary bad?" and Raymond replies, "Hot water burn baby." Smoke starts pouring from a toaster oven that Raymond turned on, but couldn't open. The smoke detector starts beeping and Raymond, dropping a bottle of maple syrup to put his hands over his ears, tries to get out of the kitchen, but can't open the door. Raymond then bangs himself and his head against the door too. GUNS/WEAPONS None IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "What's the f*ckin' point?" "That is f*cking poetic," "Where is my f*ckin' half?" "Stop acting like a f*ckin' retard," "What the f*ck is this?" "What, are you f*ckin' kidding me?" "Just grab the f*cking bag," "This guy's a f*cking fruitcake," "…did you hear what I f*cking said?!" "F*ck!" "Did you f*ckin' fart?" "I don't give a sh*t about your problems," "This is bullsh*t," "Let's just cut through the bullsh*t, ok?" "You don't fool me with this sh*t for a second," "Hey dipsh*t," "I think this autism is a bunch of sh*t," "Who the hell are you?" "Hey, I'm talkin' to you!" "Shut up!" "You crazy!" "Bet your butt," "Bitch!" "Uh-oh, fart," "Scary bad!" and "Son of a bitch!" Many of Raymond's actions, such as repeating phrases (like a radio station's slogan while on the road), may be tempting to imitate. Susanna punctuates a few of her questions to Charlie with "no?" as in, "Maybe we're not supposed to be looking around, no?" Some of the actions by the patients at Wallbrook may be tempting to imitate, such as one patient walking with legs wide apart. JUMP SCENES None. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) A moderate amount of dramatic music occurs in the film. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) None. PROFANITY At least 18 "f" words, 8 "s" words, 2 S.O.Bs, 2 hells, 2 asses, and 1 use each of "G-damn," "Oh God," and "Jesus." SEX/NUDITY Susanna says to Charlie, "Listen, I don't want to be demanding here, but do you think that you could possibly say, I don't know, 10 or 12 words before we get to the hotel? Hm? Consider it foreplay." Raymond hears Charlie and Susanna having sex in the room across the hall, and imitates the moaning. He walks into the room, sits down at the foot of their bed and keeps imitating the moans as well as the final sounds. After, Raymond says "I don't know," in response to Charlie asking him what he was doing in his room. "'Course there were noises," he says. Charlie replies, "Well those noises are none of your business. You understand that?" Charlie is bare-chested in Raymond's room as he berates him, and in the bathroom where Susanna sits in the tub, her shoulders seen. Later, Susanna gets out of the tub, and the most we see is her back. Charlie sits on a side table with his shirt partly open. A hooker strikes up a conversation with Charlie at a bar in Caesar's Palace, but nothing is said about her profession. A waitress delivers drinks to a table at a bar, showing a bit of cleavage in a side shot. SMOKING Charlie smokes at least twice, emitting a large puff of smoke the second time, and a miscellaneous man also smokes twice while sitting at a slot machine at Caesar's Palace, though that's seen very briefly. Cigarette smoke rises from an ashtray near Charlie at a table in a diner. A closer shot reveals that he holds a cigarette in the ashtray. At Caesar's Palace, one man has a cigarette in his mouth as he sits at a slot machine. Another man has a shortened cigarette in his mouth at another slot machine. Charlie lights a cigarette at a blackjack table. TENSE FAMILY SCENES Charlie takes Raymond off the grounds of Wallbrook without seeking permission, intending to return him only if the doctor in charge of Raymond agrees to pay him half of the $3 million Raymond has inherited. Raymond says "I don't know," in response to Charlie asking him what he was doing in his room. "'Course there were noises," he says. Charlie replies, "Well those noises are none of your business. You understand that? Put the phonebook down, stop acting like an idiot, and go to sleep." As Susanna leaves, Charlie asks Raymond loudly, "Am I using you, Raymond?" Raymond replies, "Yes," and Charlie shouts, "Shut up!" Charlie grabs Raymond by the neck, who exclaims "Ow!" twice, brings him over to him and says, "Stop acting like a f*ckin' retard." He then grabs Raymond's notebook away while asking, "What the f*ck is this?" Raymond screams in the airport in response to Charlie saying that they're going to get on the plane, despite Raymond saying that he doesn't want to. Charlie says to Raymond about his autism, "You don't fool me with this sh*t for a second." Charlie shouts at Raymond, "Shut up!" Charlie says to Raymond, "I think this autism is a bunch of sh*t. 'Cause you can't tell me that you're not in there somewhere." As Charlie gets back in the car, he says to Raymond, "We're going to have to make a little stop and find a psychiatrist, because you're driving me crazy, man." Raymond screams at the sight of hot water gushing into the tub and shouts "Scary bad!" Charlie asks Raymond, "What's scary bad?" and Raymond replies, "Hot water burn baby." Charlie reaches over to give Raymond a hug and he screams and pushes Charlie away. Smoke starts pouring from a toaster oven that Raymond turned on, but couldn't open. The smoke detector starts beeping and Raymond, dropping a bottle of maple syrup to put his hands over his ears, tries to get out of the kitchen, but can't open the door. Raymond then bangs himself and his head against the door. Charlie runs in, turns off the toaster oven and tries to calm Raymond down. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT Autism. The contentious relationship Charlie and Raymond have at first, where Charlie sees Raymond as a burden, despite his reason for traveling with him, which soon becomes a connection. Susanna complains that Charlie doesn't open himself up to her, doesn't tell her anything, and soon leaves him for a time because of it. Charlie uses Raymond to win big at blackjack at Caesar's Palace, but is soon found out by the management, though they don't know how he did it, but don't care and want him to leave the state. Dr. Bruner has one opinion about Raymond's care, in continuing to keep tabs on him, and Charlie has another after he begins to like having his brother with him. The scenery of the United States, with sunsets and lighting that brings up many emotions. How the score by Hans Zimmer makes one feel while watching various scenes. VIOLENCE Charlie grabs Raymond by the neck, who exclaims "Ow!" twice, brings him over to him and says, "Stop acting like a f*ckin' retard." He then grabs Raymond's notebook away while asking, "What the f*ck is this?" Charlie bangs his hand against his luggage out of frustration from Raymond not wanting to fly, and this becoming a road trip. Charlie bangs his hand on the roof of his car in response to someone honking at him from behind, and exclaims, "I hear ya!" Charlie reaches over to give Raymond a hug and he screams and pushes Charlie away. Smoke starts pouring from a toaster oven that Raymond turned on, but couldn't open. The smoke detector starts beeping and Raymond, dropping a bottle of maple syrup to put his hands over his ears, tries to get out of the kitchen, but can't open the door. Raymond then bangs himself and his head against the door. Reviewed off DVD / Posted February 16, 2009