The acclaimed filmmaker behind the 1988 classic Rain Man, Barry Levinson, is renowned for his ability to bring out the best in his actors, even when faced with challenging scenes. In a film where character depth is paramount, even the acclaimed actor like Dustin Hoffman found himself struggling with one sequence.
However, Levinson’s innovative approach and deep understanding of the characters helped Hoffman overcome this hurdle, as he later recalled during an interview, sharing the creative solution he came up with to help the actor.
Barry Levinson’s Brilliant Direction Helped Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man
Barry Levinson’s 1988 film, Rain Man follows a self-centered man who discovers his estranged brother is an autistic savant, leading to an unexpected journey of bonding and self-discovery.
Dustin Hoffman took on the role of Raymond, the autistic savant brother, alongside Tom Cruise in the movie. Portraying such a character was not without its challenges for the actor. In an interview with Emmy, the filmmaker recalled how Hoffman struggled with a particular scene while filming.
Levinson recalled getting a call from the actor, saying,
Dustin called me one day and said, “When Raymond gets anxious, it says in the script that he goes into a pitching motion of winding up and throwing the ball. It takes too long to do it.”
He stated the importance of addressing an actor’s concern, rather than dismissing it, and took the time to think about a better way to convey Raymond’s anxiety.
Levinson suggested that instead of the pitching motion, he could recite the famous “Who’s on First” routine by Abbott and Costello. The filmmaker proposed that Raymond could say the entire routine by himself, like a mantra, without realizing it’s funny, allowing the rhythm of the words to calm him down.
“He tried that and that seemed to solve that,” the filmmaker said. Levinson’s expert direction throughout the film guided the cast to deliver their best performances, ultimately earning Hoffman an Oscar for Best Actor.
Barry Levinson Recalled Stepping into Direct Rain Man in Last Minute
During his conversation with Emmy, Levinson also shared how he unexpectedly became the director of Rain Man. He recalled getting a call from Michael Ovitz, who told him that Sydney Pollack, who was initially set to direct the film, was having some issues with the script.
Michael Ovitz called me and said, “Sydney Pollack is going to direct Rain Man with Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise, and he’s having some problems with the script.”
After Ovitz asked Levinson for his input, he read the script and also discussed it with his wife, who suggested that he should direct the movie. However, Levinson dismissed the idea, saying,
I’m not directing this. Sydney Pollack’s doing it. I’m just reading it. I’m going to talk to him about it and give him some thoughts.
However, a few weeks later he received a call from Ovitz, who told him that Pollack had dropped the movie and asked him if he was interested in taking the job. “I met with Dustin and Tom, and that was the beginning of that,” he recalled joining the film as a director just weeks before filming was scheduled to begin.
The film was a critical and commercial hit, earning $354 million worldwide along with four Oscars, including for Best Picture and Best Director, at the 61st Academy Awards.
Rain Man is available to rent and buy on Prime Video.
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