Charlie Babbitt (Cruise) has just discovered he has an autistic brother named Raymond (Hoffman) and is now taking him on the ride of his life. Or is it the other way around? From his refusal to drive on major highways to a “four minutes to Wapner ” meltdown at an Oklahoma farmhouse, Raymond first pushes hot-headed Charlie to limits of his patience… and then pulls him completely out of his self-centered world. But what begins as an unsentimental journey for the Babbitt brothers becomes much more than the distance between two places. It’s a connection between two vastly different people… and “a poignant, profound and powerful film” (Joel Siegel, ABC-TV).
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Video Quality
Rain Man debuts on 4K UHD Blu-Ray courtesy of MVD Entertainment with a terrific 2160p/Dolby Vision transfer from a 16 bit 4K scan of the Original Camera Negative approved by director Barry Levinson. This release comes with a Blu-Ray disc which is derived from the same 4K master. The film was previously released by MGM on Blu-Ray in 2011 using an ancient master that was in desperate need of an upgrade. While we do not have access to that original MGM disc, it is clear that this new transfer buries it with little effort. There are improvements across the board that will make fans very happy even if they only upgrade to the new Blu-Ray, but the 4K UHD Blu-Ray is a truly wondrous experience that allows this film to look the best it ever has on home entertainment.
The lovely natural film grain remains intact and always resolves naturally free of clumping and swarming. This provides a world of rich texture and detail within the transfer which brings out new facets within the clothing and production design. Previous masters have had a great deal of artificial sharpening implemented which really took away its natural quality. The Dolby Vision provides very nuanced, deep colors throughout which bring out the most in the material. Highlights are much more stable with no blooming, and black levels are deep which allows the image to show off a strong amount of depth and detail in shadowy environments. Skin tones are natural, and the clarity of the transfer gives you a rich amount of facial detail. MVD Entertainment has impressed with their first 4K UHD Blu-Ray release.
Audio Quality
The 4K UHD Blu-Ray presents the movie with a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio lossless track that brings this journey to life without fail. While some may want a new Dolby Atmos surround track in addition to the original audio, this track captures this material perfectly while maintaining its artistic integrity. The classic dialogue comes through clearly and remains in balance with competing elements. The track is able to balance all the facets of the sound design so nothing gets muddled.
The surround channels provide some wonderful texture to the world so that each stop along the trip is given a chance to establish its own personality. The placement of the sound is precise throughout with nothing seeming off in terms of direction. The low end adds some texture when the scene calls for it. The Hans Zimmer score does some emotional heavy lifting from the very beginning which radiates out with pleasing fidelity. This audio presentation is top notch all around. There is a French dub provided in DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio and a Spanish dub in DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mono. There are optional English SDH subtitles provided.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary: Director Barry Levinson delivers the first archival commentary track in which he recalls various aspects of the production including the development of different scenes, his motivations for certain choices, the shooting locations, the visual aesthetic of the film, the casting and much more that is worth a listen.
- Audio Commentary #2: Writer Barry Morrow provides a personal commentary track in which he provides a unique perspective that explores how his personal experiences led to this story.
- Audio Commentary #3: Writer Ronald Bass provides the final commentary track which explores how Bass handled a rewrite of this story. It probably would have been a better idea to record some of these tracks together, but there is some great material from each one.
- The Journey of Rain Man: A 22-minute archival featurette which provides interviews with the creative team as they discuss the bumpy development of the project, the dynamics between the characters, the handling of autism within the narrative, the reception of the film and more.
- Lifting The Fog – A Look At The Mysteries Of Autism: A 20-minute archival piece in which various doctors and real-life autistic savants discuss the history of autism within the cultural awareness, the impact of the movie in this regard and more.
- Deleted Scene: A two-minute unused scene is provided in which Raymond has difficulty in a convenience store.
- Original Theatrical Trailer: The two-minute trailer is provided here.
Final Thoughts
Rain Man is a film that has always struck a connection thanks to its sensitive heart. There are certain elements when it comes to the portrayal of autism that feel dated, but for the time the film handles the material with a fair degree of sensitivity. Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman are in top form as each handle the delicate balance of their characters admirably. The film uses its lengthy runtime to naturally establish and build up the dynamics these siblings have with one another, and the results are genuinely moving. MVD Entertainment has given this one a 4K UHD Blu-Ray upgrade with a favorable A/V presentation and a deep array of legacy special features. If you love this film, this is the release you have been dreaming of for years. Recommended
Rain Man is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray and Blu-Ray.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: MVD Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.