What's Eating Gilbert Grape Reviews

What’s Eating Gilbert Grape is an examination of one man’s struggle to achieve personal happiness while being weighed down by familiar obligations and co-dependence. Lasse Hallström brings together a gifted ensemble and a tender but tough screenplay to craft something of a minor classic. It doesn’t hurt that Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio are placed into the main roles – do they look like brothers? Not really, but they create a believable and lived in rapport that overcomes that obstacle. In fact, the main reason to watch the film is to see the two of them play these brothers and watch how they interact with each other.

It is primarily a character study, but the film does branch out into the wider scope of life in a small town. Details like the strip mall takeovers of America are handled with a nice touch of real, honest emotion and humor. The major subplot of frustrated infidelity gives Mary Streenburgen a chance to shine as she plays an unhappily married woman desperate to get out of the town and taking this anger out upon herself in a go-nowhere “romance” with Depp’s character. It’s a sad cry for help and reinforces the character’s struggle to get out of this town and remove himself from the co-dependency of his family.

And his family is a well-acted ensemble of actors who create a believable and lived-in unit. Darlene Cates as the obese, emotionally damaged and slightly manipulative mother creates a beautifully realized character. Her speech, late in the film, in which she apologizes for damaging her children due to her mental illness and emotional neediness then confesses to not wanting to be seen a joke is a sight of an actor laying out their truth, going beyond the character, acting and line reading to lay bare a naked emotion that is harrowing and touching in equal measure.

But Gilbert Grape belongs to Depp’s soulful eyes and innate romanticism, qualities which he frequently manipulates into grotesqueries (which is part of the fun of watching him as an actor). It’s nice to see Depp play a normal person, and he keeps Gilbert Grape’s various strands and tones afloat. And DiCaprio proved himself an incredibly talented actor at the tender age of nineteen (although he looks far younger). DiCaprio’s vocal tics and body contortions feel authentic to the character, but it’s the sly twinkle in the eye and intelligence that he keeps simmering beneath the surface that make his performance so extraordinary. So many actors treat characters with disabilities as showboating devices to prove what great actors they are at the expense of the truth and reality of someone in that situation, instead crafting a series of strange choices and calling it a character. Not DiCaprio. He never loses sight of the emotional truth of the person he is playing. And that seems like a great concise way of describing the film – tender yet emotionally moving, no one involved condescends to the situations or people. They’re treated with respect, careful observation and warmth.

Although 'Titanic' is Leonardo DiCaprio's most famous role, 'What's Eating Gilbert Grape' is his best, Johnny Depp is also very good in this one

'What's Eating Gilbert Grape' is original, touching and well-acted but the one who steals the show is Leonardo DiCaprio who earned an Oscar® nomination for his performance and he deserves it, the rest of the cast are also pretty good (Johnny Depp, Juliette Lewis, Mary Steenburgen, Darlene Cates, Laura Harrington, Mary Kate Schellhardt, Kevin Tighe, John C. Reilly, Crispin Glover)

To conclude, 'What's Eating Gilbert Grape' is a masterpiece and definitely worth your time

I adore this film. Johnny Depp and Leonardo Dicraprio are ground breaking and incredible. Lets not forget the stunning Juliette Lewis, or Mary Steenburgen. With a cast this talented and a script to die for you are in for a treat. Leonardo plays a mentally handicapped young man, who lives with his extremely over weight mother two sisters, and brother Gilbert. (played by Depp). This is an emotional ride that will keep you smiling and crying till the very end. I highly recommend this film for any movie goer.

Aaahh.... The good old 90's... When Johnny Depp was one of the best actors around even though he was considered a box-office poison. Back then, he used to make small movies like this one and while the mainstream audience didn't care for his work, I thought he was just awesome but it all changed with Captain Jack Sparrow and, now, it has been a couple of years since he has done something really worthwhile. Concerning Leonardo DiCaprio, before 'Titanic', he did this small movie and what a perfomance ! Until now, even though he has been one of the most dependable actors of his generation and has managed to build up a stellar career, it still remain his best work by far. Together with Johnny Depp, they were just really good in this. On top of that, the story was moving and the directing was great as well. After watching this movie, I became an instant fan of Lasse Hallstrom's work but even though he has made some other decent features, they never really reached the level of this great flick. Finally, it is a realistic movie about the loving but also difficult relationships in a familly when someone has a handicap. To conclude, I think it is a great masterpiece and it is definitely worth a look.

Becky: I love the sky. It's so limitless.
Gilbert: It is big. It's very big.
Becky: Big doesn't even sum it up, right? That word big is so small.

Gilbert has care for his brother Arnie and his obese mother, which gets in the way when love walks into his life.

Johnny Depp: Gilbert Grape

Leonardo DiCaprio first caught our attention as mentally retarded Arnie Grape, cared for by his brother Gilbert in Endora, Iowa. The movie shows how Gilbert is really in charge of the family, as their mother Bonnie (Darlene Cates) is dangerously overweight, and pretty much everything in their destitute world looks pretty grim. Among other things, there's a mega-store destroying the local place. A bleak movie, but with hope.

Lasse Hallstrom brings to What's Eating Gilbert Grape the same great direction that he brought to My Life as a Dog, The Cider House Rules and Chocolat. It's a look at the whole failed state of things in the world. A truly great movie. Also starring Juliette Lewis and John C. Reilly.

''I'm having a birthday party, but you're not invited, but you can come if you want.''

This is Gilbert Grape's story, and his recollection of what was to be just another ordinary and uneventful moment in the life of him, his family and his, almost sleepy, town. Centred around the Grape family, sisters Ellen and Amy and their two brothers Arnie and Gilbert, who, along with their widowed mother, morbidly obese Bonnie Grape are striving to survive and coexist with the absence of a father figure, low waged work and seventeen-year-old Arnie's severe mental condition.
It is in this awkward and extremely one sided affair that the unfortunate sibling Gilbert has to constantly watch over his younger brother Arnie, played to such depth and conviction by a very young Leonardo DiCaprio, while still holding down a job for Lamson's Groceries and looking after, also, their housebound mother. Gilbert's life, his future, his dreams is thwarted, he know this, but it is in this Guardian Angel that his love and bond for Arnie, and his family, cannot, and will not, be let go.
That is until the free spirited Becky (Juliette Lewis) arrives in town, and stranded with her grandmother for the week while waiting for parts for their vehicle. This realization, this new fresh face unties new feelings, new thoughts and new hope for the put upon Gilbert, something new is eating Gilbert Grape.

Iowa born, Peter Hedges (b. 1962) novel has been turned into a fine work of emotional art, with the reassuring and delicate touch from Swedish director Lasse Hallström (b. 1942). While the dialogue is somewhat nondescript, but at the same time is never wasted on distractive trivialities, it is the inner core of the narrative that projects What's Eating Gilbert Grape as a tender and caring movie of self-sacrifice, devoted love and long full companionship.

''You don't hurt Arnie, you just don't.''

The cast here are all relatively young, a younger than nineteen looking DiCaprio and Lewis, with its much more than capable co-stars. This gifted young cast are individually exceptional and hold their qualities well, to the point that at times we are mistaken for thinking we are seeing more home video than movie. Rita Darlene Guthrie's (1947) first acting role is astounding, her natural instinctive character, as mother Grape, protrudes more than we expect, as the backbone of this family, she holds together a family of highly individual children under one union, and their respect and love. We are also seeing their new and young lives unfold before us, and the inevitable hand of fate that both bad timing and misplaced destiny has dealt them.

This movie ties us in with compassion and enlightenment through it main character Arnie, here we are given an insight into the daily responsibilities of this family toward his special needs. DiCaprio excels himself as the much loved youngster whose unintentional care-free and more than often care-less mind can at times bring domestic harmonies to boiling point and, sadly, beyond breaking point, even for the closest of families. Often surprising, often enduring but always touching.

This is perpetuated by the music of soft acoustic guitar that plays on the musical heartstrings for this gentle love story and with the work of the late Sven Nykvist (1922-2006) as its Swedish cinematographer, illuminating both the beauty of the surroundings and the bleak realities. We are also shown, subconsciously, that there is nothing wrong in being poor and that being from the side where the grass is not so green is not too bad after all, with just the right amount of stable influences that can support anyone through the hardships of life, most thing's can happen. This has been proved by the photograph of the third Grape brother seen on the fridge door, and the families pride in him gaining a University Degree, and ultimately, starting a new life outside of Endora.
The subplot, though minor, is still a harsh reminder that even the best of people can become too isolated, too familiar in their lives. Mary Steenburgen's middle-aged Betty Carver has a nice family, a nice house and a nice middle-aged husband, but is still not happy. Her affair with Gilbert is just a fleeting glimpse into the perspective of human companionship gone sour between old love.

Leonardo DiCaprio lost out to Tommy Lee Jones for his part as Marshal Samuel Gerard in The Fugitive(1993) at the 1994 Academy Awards for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. Losing out to such an uninspiring role did not harm his winning the 1994 Chicago Film Critics Association Awards for Most Promising Actor as well as National Board of Review 1993 Award for Best Supporting Actor. With just three years after Edward Scissorhands(1990) and a year before Ed Wood(1994) this little movie proves that Mr. Depp can still take chances and win, and with Gilbert Grape, he has succeeded in proving versatility, depth and charm.

Momma: You're my knight in shimmering armor. Did you know that?
Gilbert: I think you mean shining.
Momma: No shimmering. You shimmer, and you glow.

"You don't hurt Arnie, you just don't."

What's Eating Gilbert Grape is an amazing movie. The performances are absolutely sublime, the script is fantastic, the score is remarkable...and the overall result is near perfect.

Gilbert Grape (Depp) lives in a small town with essentially no future. He works at the unsuccessful local grocery store, and is stuck caring for his mentally challenged brother Arnie (DiCaprio) as well as his morbidly obese mother (Cates). A small family of campers are stranded in the town, and a young teenager named Becky (Lewis) takes an interest in Gilbert.

The whole film is an emotional journey that is told exceptionally. Although the film seems to go no-where at times, each scene is carried by flawless performances from everyone.

Depp is just brilliant. He played his character extremely well, and even at a young age he can still act superbly. DiCaprio's performance (which earned an Oscar nomination) just blew me away. Because he plays a mentally challenged boy, you'd need a damn fine actor to sell this and DiCaprio did it perfectly. When I watched the movie, it honestly seemed like DiCaprio wasn't acting because he played the part so well. Juliette Lewis does a great job here as well.

The film expertly combines some compelling scenes of drama with a few good laughs and some very heart-warming moments. No matter who you are, you will be in tears by the end of it. The score accompanying the already perfect acting was just inspirational.

By putting Leonardo DiCaprio and Johnny Depp together in a movie, you are guaranteed a winner. What's Eating Gilbert Grape is unmissable, unforgettable and heart-warming. In short: if you haven't seen this movie, you MUST. Highly recommended!

This movie is just brilliant. Johnny Depp was the star, but woah.. Leonardo DiCaprio was amazing aswell. Its a sad, but sweet story that is certainly unforgettable and touching.