Rain Man 4K 1988

A film from my growing up as a film buff. One of my biggest impressions from the late '80s and early '90s, when world hits were easily broadcast by provincial TV pirates on burned-out VHS tapes. I think it was after this movie that I learned to empathize with the characters to the point of tears.

Hoffman and Cruise's doubts about their acting are completely incomprehensible. For Tom, perhaps, this is the first serious (without any quotes) movie, when in addition to a pretty face required more and Great Talent. Well, and the image created by Dustin, in general, will remain forever. Tom Hanks and his Forrest is the only one who came close. The others are far behind.

The entire film is built on dialogue, at times improvisational. The most banal Road Movie trick when the characters seemingly just drive from point A to point B, here is elevated to the rank of a true masterpiece - it is because of the talented dialogues.

Barry Levinson manages to create a special narrative tempo where key, emotionally intense moments alternate with cute comedic interludes. This keeps the viewer rocking in the boat of his experiences, sometimes polar in their direction. Logically, the film should have ended with a tipping of the boat, a cold shower on the open wounds of the heart. But for an American audience (and for ours, too!) the sad ending to this story would have been too cruel an ordeal.

Who knows, I'm guaranteed catharsis after every viewing of 'Rain Man' - and an hour or two of quiet reflection on the value of authentic relationships between people.