RAIN MAN (1988)
Who: Dustin Hoffman (Chester in drama series Luck, 2011 – the only season is on Showmax) and Tom Cruise (Agent Ethan Hunt in the Mission: Impossible movies, 1996-current – the first four movies are on Showmax). What: Two very different brothers – an indebted playboy (Tom) and an autistic genius with a flair for numbers (Dustin) – go on a roadtrip after their dad dies. What starts as a way for the selfish younger brother to make money in casinos using his brother turns into a bonding session where the men find their bearings in relation to each other in a bittersweet way.
Why: Dustin put in a year’s worth of studying autistic savants to play his Academy Award-winning role. It’s based on real-life mathematical savant Kim Peek. And the movie took home four Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Writing & Screenplay for its script.
Did you know? Late singer Johnny Clegg’s (inset) 1982 song Scatterings Of Africa plays in the beginning – keep your ear out for that!