Key Takeaways:
– Steven Spielberg expressed regret over prioritizing his friendship with George Lucas over directing Rain Man.
– He was in line to direct the popular road dramedy featuring Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman but chose to oversee Lucas’ Indiana Jones 3 instead.
– He voiced his regret in a past interview, especially after Rain Man received eight Academy Award nominations and won four categories including Best Picture and Best Director.
– Spielberg believes Barry Levinson excellently managed Rain Man, stating the film might not have won as much if he had directed it.
Friendship versus Career in Hollywood
The bond between renowned filmmakers Steven Spielberg and George Lucas is legendary in the film industry. However, Spielberg seems to have questioned his loyalty when he reflected on the success of the movie ‘Rain Man’, directed by Barry Levinson, starring Tom Cruise and starring Dustin Hoffman.
Spielberg’s Dilemma
At one point, Spielberg was in the run to direct ‘Rain Man’, however, his loyalty to Lucas led him to choose the latter’s ‘Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade’. Reviewing his past decision, Spielberg couldn’t shake off a sense of regret.
After it debuted, ‘Rain Man’ received rave reviews for everything from its casting to the storyline and Levinson’s direction. Notably, it won four out of eight nominations at the 61st Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Director.
Spielberg’s Remorse Revealed
The realization of what he missed out on became apparent to Spielberg in an old TV interview. Asked by BBC’s Barry Norman if leaving ‘Rain Man’ caused him pain, Spielberg confessed that it indeed did. He admitted to pondering whether he should have overlooked his friendship with Lucas and let someone else take up the third installment of ‘Indiana Jones’.
Nonetheless, ‘Indiana Jones 3’ saw its fair share of positive reviews and three nominations at the 62nd Academy Awards. However, it did not win Best Picture, Best Director, or Best Screenplay, and Spielberg was neither nominated nor won a single award for his direction.
Spielberg’s Statement on Levinson’s Direction
Although Spielberg expressed regret for not directing ‘Rain Man’, he believes Levinson’s work was phenomenal. He strongly suggested that even if he had directed it shot-by-shot like Levinson, he would not have been nominated for Best Director, and the film might not have bagged as many awards.
The Plot of ‘Rain Man’
‘Rain Man’ is an enthralling narrative about two brothers, Charlie Babbit, played by Tom Cruise, and Raymond Babbit, portrayed by Hoffman. The plot thickens as Charlie discovers his father‘s massive fortune is bequeathed to his autistic savant brother Raymond, which triggers a journey that brings significant transformations in Charlie.
In Conclusion
Even as Spielberg relived his past decision with a tinge of regret, his commitment to his friendship with Lucas remains unshaken, indicating that in Hollywood, sometimes it’s about more than just bagging the biggest movie project. It’s about valuing relationships too. The hit films ‘Rain Man’ and ‘Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade’ are now available on Prime Video and Disney+ respectively.
