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Actor Mel Gibson has won two Academy Awards for his direction despite being more commercially successful as an actor. However, Gibson might just have had a shot at winning an Oscar for acting had he accepted one role in one of the most critically acclaimed movies starring Tom Cruise.
Tom Cruise starred in the 1988 comedy-drama filmRain Man, which was a box office hit and even won several Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Dustin Hoffman. However, Hoffman’s role was initially offered to Gibson, who turned it down. On the other hand, Cruise was equally good in the movie but got snubbed by the Academy.
Rain ManAlmost Starred Mel Gibson Along With Tom Cruise
The 1988 comedy-drama filmRain Man,directed by Barry Levinson, starredDustin Hoffmanand Tom Cruise in the lead roles. Itgrossed$412.8 million at the box office and also won four Academy Awards, including a Best Actor win for Hoffman’s performance as Raymond “Ray” Babbitt.
However, before Hoffman, the role of Raymond, an autistic savant was initially offered to actorMel Gibson. During an interview with host Charlie Rose, Gibson admitted that he was offered the lead role inRain Man, but decided to turn it down.
I remember a while back, Rain Man came. And that was kind of a cool thing. But the great thing about that is [Dustin Hoffman] did it. And he was wonderful in it.
Gibson made the above statement (viaThe Playlist), revealing that while he was offered the part of Hoffman, he did not accept it. However, Gibson did not disclose the reason he decided to turn down the role.
“I have spent many years spending in therapy finding out why”: Dustin Hoffman’s Oscar Win is Eclipsed by His Decision to Reject Steven Spielberg 4 Times After Finding Early Fame in Hollywood
On the other hand, theLethal Weaponstar seemingly had no hard feelings about missing out on the role that won Hoffman an Oscar. Moreover, Gibson was impressed with Hoffman’s performance and praised the actor. Aside from Gibson, Mickey Rourke wasreportedlyoffered the role but also rejected it.
Despite Dustin Hoffman’s Win, Tom Cruise Also Deserved an Oscar Nod ForRain Man
At the 61st Academy Awards,Rain Manreceived eight nominations, more than any other film nominated that year. The film scored four Oscar wins, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Actor. However, actorTom Cruise, who played the role of Charlie Babbitt wasn’t nominated.
Hoffman won the Best Actor award for his portrayal of a character who faced challenges because of autism. While Hoffman’s performance was undoubtedly brilliant and deserved an Oscar nod, many fans feel that Cruise’s performance was on par with Hoffman’s if not better.
OnReddit, fans argued that Cruise deserved to win the Oscar for Best Actor, pointing out that theMission: Impossiblestar’s role was more challenging because he had to portray the complete arc of a selfish man turning empathetic toward his newly discovered brother.
“Pretty doomed… Suffering numerous delays and setbacks”: Mission: Impossible Fans Will Rip Their Hair Out When They Find Out How Much Tom Cruise’s MI8 Needs to Break Even
Ultimately, Cruise definitely deserved to be recognized by the Academy for anchoring the film with his performance and delivering the underlying emotion of the story. If not for the Best Actor, Cruise certainly should have received a nod in the Best Supporting Actor category.
Rain Manis streaming on Tubi and MGM+.
Pratik Handore
Content Writer
Articles Published :1774
With a keen interest in comic book movies and blockbuster franchises, Pratik usually covers news and updates on the DCU, MCU, Star Wars, and more.A die-hard fan of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, Pratik spends most of his time exploring different storytelling mediums that invoke a sense of wonder and adventure. Other filmmakers whose works have deeply influenced him include Alfred Hitchcock, James Gunn, and Guillermo del Toro.
