11: Rain Man

This week, we’re taking a swing at Oscar credibility with Barry Levinson’s 1988 movie Rain Man. Does the film treat its subject matter well? How badly has it aged? Can Cruise hold his own opposite a heavy-hitter like Hoffman? Content warning: insensitive language related to Autism Spectrum Disorder, brief mentions of sex work Unanswered Questions: How has the depiction of ASD changed in the thirty-five years since Rain Man? To what degree can we credit Rain Man with that change? How effective is Hoffman’s method approach to playing Raymond? Does the somewhat unfocused, shaggy-dog middle of the film improve the overall effect, or detract from its emotional impact? Further reading: Hollywood Autism: the good, the bad, and the downright insulting (Outtake) Rain Man made autistic people visible. But it also entrenched a myth (Guardian) Remembering ‘Rain Man’: The $350 Million Movie That Hollywood Wouldn’t Touch Today (Grantland) The Last Star In Hollywood Definitive List Of Tom Cruise Films The Last Star In Hollywood: Production Schedule Thanks for listening! For bonus shows, extra content and more, support The Last Star In Hollywood and the Next Word network by visiting Patreon.com/NextWord! Join us next time as we close out the ’80s and discuss Oliver Stone’s 1989 anti-war biopic Born on the Fourth of July. The Last Star In Hollywood is an independent podcast produced by Elizabeth Rae and Alastair Stephens. Copyright © 2023 The Last Star In Hollywood. All Rights Reserved. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★