Customer Reviews

What's Eating Gilbert Grape (Special Collector's Edition)

5 star:		(228)
4 star:		(35)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

"What's Eating Gilbert Grape" is a deeply moving glimpse into the frustration, sadness and triumph of love in what some would classify as a dysfunctional family. As the mentally retarded Arnie, Leonardo DiCaprio turns in an incredibly realistic performance; his gestures, his often repetitive speech...everything about his acting seems so perfect for the role he plays. (And I say this as one who has worked with the mentally retarded). It is no wonder he received an Oscar nomination. The story is told mainly through the eyes of Johnny Depp's character, Gilbert who despite his deep love for Arnie is still frustrated by the limitations that caring for Arnie places on his life. Top that off with a morbidly obese mother whom Gilbert is (reluctantly) ashamed of and a younger sister who is an oftentimes irritating troublemaker and you can see why Gilbert sometimes yearns for life to be a little easier. As a clerk in the local grocery store, Gilbert has fallen into a relationship with an older married woman (played by Mary Steenburgen) but finds himself drawn to a new girl in town (Juliette Lewis) with whom he develops a friendly, then caring relationship. Strained relations with the town's law enforcement officials ensue after Arnie repeatedly climbs the water tower and Arnie is arrested. Gilbert's mother played by Darlene Cates) who hasn't left the house in seven years, takes matters into her own hands and the results are at once triumphant and tragic. Depp is marvelous as Gilbert. His sense of despair and self hatred after he loses control and hits Arnie seem totally realistic and understandable. The younger sister who seems like such a brat at the beginning becomes more humanized as we see her vulnerability. The mother's battle with shame and humiliation over her obesity makes us all more attuned to our own shameful insensitivity. Quirky, no doubt, sad - no doubt again. But ultimately, "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" turns out to be a testament to love, caring and family loyalty. A marvelous movie.

Set in the fictional town of Endora, Illinois (quite a pregnant name for a city), "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" focuses on the down but not yet out Grape family: a mother (Darlene Cates) who weighs over 500 pounds, two sisters (Laura Harrington and Mary Kate Schellhardt) with enough bottled up anger to drown a desert town, a mentally retarded brother named Arnie (Leonardo DiCaprio) who's about to turn 18 despite assurances that he'd never live a third that long, and Gilbert (Johnny Depp), the glue that holds them all together. The burdens of the family, be they running errands in his truck or bathing his brother, all fall on Gilbert's shoulders. The purpose of this particular story is to find out what happens when that burden is too heavy a weight to bear.

Everyone in the film is constantly expecting a lot from Gilbert. Whether it's the plea from his momma that he's "gotta do better", the complaints from his sisters that he never does anything (when in fact, he does everything), or the selfishness of the married woman (Mary Steenburgen) with whom he's having an unfulfilling affair, Gilbert can't seem to ever be good enough. Contrast this with the just-happy-to-be-here existence of Arnie, who blithely tells anyone that will listen, "I can go at anytime." It's a wonder that Gilbert ever has the strength to go on.

But go on he does, using just as much effort to keep the family together as he does repressing his own anger. The film's title is ironic, in that Gilbert shows little anguish; it just appears that something is "eating" at him. It's a rather benign description of his state of mind, but on the surface it works quite well. For the most part, he vents his anger in passively destructive ways. One early scene features a couple of kids standing by the side of the road, staring at the Grape house. When Gilbert sees them, he motions one over. All the kid wants to do is get a gander at the 500 pound woman inside, and Gilbert resignedly obliges, even going so far as lifting the kid up so he can see through the window. It's a very mean moment from a young man who is angelic by most accounts. But when he lets loose of his control, when his primal nature comes out, the anger and violence and wrath and fear is very apparent.

The actors are uniformly good, with a few who should be pointed out for special recognition.

Darlene Cates, who legend has it was discovered after an appearance on "The Sally Jessy Raphael" show, plays Momma. It was important for the story that Momma not be played by an actor in a fat suit; the audience needs to be as repulsed by her as the townspeople are. But it is equally important that the audience comes to understand her plight, and feel for the woman. Cates is authentic looking, and, more importantly, authentic acting. The pathos of Momma is apparent in every defeated sigh. And when she's called on for anger, as she is in one pivotal scene where she makes the terrifying choice to leave the house, it's painfully real.

Leonardo DiCaprio, in the years since this film came out, has polarized moviegoers in to two camps. There are those who swoon at the mere mention of his name, "Titanic"-philes and Tiger Beaters all. And there are those turn up their noses at the pretty boy actor, who will always be more style than substance. Neither of these groups will enjoy what Leo does in "Gilbert Grape". They may have to scrub clean all benefits of hindsight, or at the very least time travel back to 1993, to fully enjoy his performance. And oh what a performance it is. Common wisdom states that roles with physical or mental challenges, despite being the most often praised, are actually the easiest to play. Actors develop a series of ticks, and voila! A character! Leo, to his credit, is more than just a collection of ticks as Arnie. Sure, he's got messy hair, dirty fingernails, a nose in constant need of wiping, and a primal scream laugh. But he so disappears into his character, that any preconceptions you might have about the actor get lost, and a character fully emerges. It's a seamless and highly endearing performance.

As poignant as Cates is, and as flashy and sublime as DiCaprio is, it is Depp who holds the movie together. He has to play Gilbert close to the chest for the most part, relying more on his facial expressions rather than on the sparse dialogue to communicate what the character is all about. It's not an outwardly remarkable performance, but it is supremely effective. He gets drawn out of his shell, bit by bit, when Becky shows up. Becky, Juliette Lewis in star-child mode, is a perfect contrast to Gilbert. She's open and honest and willing to let others in. Lewis is charming here, a trait she doesn't get to show often enough. She and Depp have fine chemistry together, as they try to feel their way through young love.

But for most of the movie Depp plays a kind of straight man to DiCaprio's goofball antics. They have a wonderful chemistry together, for not only do they mine some restrained comedy from these scenes, but they also ably portray a strong brotherly bond. Gilbert will care for Arnie till the day he dies; Arnie loves and trusts Gilbert, even if he has not the mental capacity to understand why.

Lasse Hallstrom has a wise knack for silences, not just in the performances, where silence is golden, but also in the film's musical score. For the most part, except for some light piano work in the most important moments, everything is quiet and still. Which perfectly mimics the solitude of the small town, in which this heartbreaking, but ultimately life-affirming story, takes place.

What's Eating Gilbert Grape is my favorite movie. I have seen it dozens of times and I never get bored with it. The reason...Leonardo DiCaprio. Never mind "Titanic". If you want to see DiCaprio at his best, this is the film to see! As many times as I watch it, his portrayal of Arnie, a retarded soon to be 18 year old boy, never ceases to amaze me! His performance is captivating. DiCaprio becomes Arnie. This film is an extremely touching story of family loyalty, albeit dysfunctional family loyalty. The title character is played exceptionally well by Johnny Depp, but it is difficult to focus on anyone but Leonardo DiCaprio. The best scenes in the film are those between Depp and DiCaprio. Gilbert is Arnie's primary caretaker. His love for Arnie is undeniable but marred by frustration and on occasion, resentment that he has been saddled with the burden of being his brother's keeper. He sums it up best with the line, "Somedays you want him to live, somedays...you don't". Gilbert is not as cruel as that makes him sound. It's just that he has no life other than Arnie and a "going nowhere" fling with a married woman. His two sisters are kept pretty busy taking care of their obese Mother, whom Gilbert describes as a "beached whale". It all takes place in a small town where it seems just about all of it's residents want more out of life. Gilbert learns there is more to life when he meets a free spirited young woman who is passing through town. Naturally, this further complicates his already complicated life. I will most likely watch it dozens more times. What's Eating Gilbert Grape is a beautiful and moving film.

It's rare for a movie to catch two actors on the cusp of superstardom. "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" does just that, with Leonardo di Caprio as the mentally retarded Arnie, and Johnny Depp as his stoic older brother Gilbert. "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" is a wonderful comedy-drama about Gilbert, his mentally retarded brother Arnie, his mother, his two sisters, and the townspeople. John C. Reilly has a small part as a genial carpenter who repairs the Grape's delipidated house as a favor.

I can't praise this movie enough. There isn't much of a storyline, it just follows the Grape family in the weeks leading up to Arnie's 18th birthday party. But there isn't a weak link in the cast, and I've rarely seen a family film that's so touching and unsentimental. Darlene Cates in particular gives an amazing perfomrmance as Momma Grape, who is so obese the children have to carry the kitchen table into the living room for meals. There are some subplots, one involving Gilbert's affair with an unhappy housewife (Mary Steenbergen), and another involving Gilbert's romance with an peripetetal young woman (Juliette Lewis). But mostly this movie is a slice of life, rather than a 3-part drama.

Leonardo di Caprio's exuberant, warm, hilarious performance as Arnie was justly praised (he got an Academy award nomination). di Caprio's Arnie can't stay still: he's always climbing trees, or running away from baths, or jumping up for a piggyback. Leo steals every scene he's in. I especially love how he gave his character a "tic": constantly flicking his nose. This could have been a one-note performance but it isn't. di Caprio's Arnie is sweet and even manipulative. In one of my favorite scenes, he wimpers to his mother that he could have "drownded" after Gilbert left him alone during a bath. Johnny Depp is also wonderful, albeit more understated, as Gilbert. Depp doesn't verbalize or exaggerate Gilbert's frustration at having so many responsibilities. You just assume it's there, and you empathize with the way he matter-of-factly deals with every new crisis.

Nowadays Leo and Johnny are Grade-A superstars, and every project is big news. It's unlikely either will agree to make a film like this again. So watch these two fine actors on the brink of superstardom. It's richly deserved.

I reserve the five-star treatment to items that are well worth repeated viewing/listening/reading. This is one such film.

The story of Gilbert Grape is a coming-of-age story like none other. His father committed suicide when Gilbert was a preteen, and since then he's been the man of the family. And oh, what a family. This is as dysfunctional a lot as anyone you know.

But the great thing about the film is that they don't look down on this gang of misfits in any way. They are handled with dignity and realism, and Gilbert's stuck-in-a-rut life is as understandable as a stop sign. While the "and then enters the beautiful girl" plot line could easily become a too-easy Hollywood cliche, it doesn't come close.

Naturally I could say much about the plot here, but won't spoil it for those who haven't seen this masterpiece. Leonardo DiCaprio, in his debut as a featured movie performer, steals the show as mentally incapacitated Arnie, blowing away anyone's thought that he's just another pretty face. Johnny Depp is dead-on as the perpetually frustrated Gilbert, who's finally about to stop holding it together. And Mary Steenburgen, who's always wonderful, is again, as the small-town wife who's also hiding a dysfunctional family.

It's an emotional ride, this film, so be ready to shed some tears. No "chick flick" by any stretch, this is a film that manages to hit the bull's eye in every frame....and the bull's eye, you'll find, is painted squarely on your heart.

There aren't words enough to praise this picture. I've watched it more times than I can count, and I buy copies of it to give to other people. Leonardo DiCaptrio gives a performance a viewer will never forget; but equally invaluable is Depp's understated and perfectly sustained role as the hero. Depp can do anything as an actor! No one falters here ever, and the ultimate impact is huge and transformative. Make this part of your collection and share it with others. A great life affirming, love affirming and superbly crafted work. It's extremely entertaining as well. In fact, it's delightful. It's all that and absolutely magnificent at the same time.

What's Eating Gilbert Grape? Plenty! A simple, beautifully told story of family loyalty and brotherly love. I was thoroughly impressed by the performance of Leo DiCaprio - I thought that he definitely should have WON the Oscar - he was nominated - for his beautiful playing of Arnie! DiCaprio plays Depp's little retarded brother in such an utterly convincing and realistic way that one is captivated by the subtlety and amazing naturalness of talented DiCaprio's playing. Johnny Depp is excellent as usual as Arnie's concerned big brother (the title character) and Juliette Lewis (with a bad hair-day!) is adequate as Becky, the girl who wants to know what makes him tick. Darlene Cates does very well as the housebound (due to obesity) mother. I just think that Di Caprio's playing should be seen because it is deserving of kudos galore - his performance is like a lesson in screen acting!

What's Eating Gilbert Grape? 1993, 117 minutes. Based on the novel by Peter Hedges.
Directed by Lasse Hallstrom
Cast Featuring: Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Juliette Lewis, Mary Steenburgen, Darlene Cates, Laura Harrington, Mary Kate Schellhardt, Kevin Tighe, John C. Reilly, and Crispin Glover.

DiCaprio was nominated for the Academy Award, Best Supporting Actor, and the Golden Globe Award, Best Supporting Actor.

This magnificent drama unfolds in a small Iowa town that has seen better days. Gilbert's (Depp)sole purpose in life is to be the backbone of his dysfunctional family. One that consists of a mentally retarded younger brother, an obese momma, a teenage sister, as well as an older sister.

We are guided through a time in Gilbert's life that rides like a roller coaster.

Endora is a quiet simple town with very little progress. Gilbert is stuck in a dead end job at the local grocery store. Arnie, the mentally retarded brother, has a tendency of running off to climb the water tower. These adventures always bring the police. Even Gilbert's affair with a lonely married housewife doesn't go without a scandal. And where would we be without friends? Gilbert's friends consist of an underworked funeral director, and Tucker, who's big concern is owning a Burger Barn someday.

The Grape's house is falling apart, which of course is Gilbert's responsibility. The family is in the middle of planning Arnie's 18th birthday party, a birthday they were told he'd never see. Sounds simple enough..... however, like everything else in Gilbert's life even this produces chaos.

As if all this weren't enough on Gilbert's plate..in walks love. Good or bad timing? The connection between Gilbert and Becky (Lewis) helps him through some rough times. The downfall being, Becky is a traveler and only by the mere fate of her aunt's vehicle breaking down do they meet. Once fixed Becky is soon on her way out of Endora.

Gilbert quickly learns that what is today isn't always tomorrow.

This movie is definitely 5 star. The cast is amazing from Depp's downplayed hero to DiCaprio's stunning performance as Arnie. It has everything you could want love, compassion, friendship, and fate.

I teach the film, "What's Eating Gilbert Grape?" at the high school and college level. It's the best vehicle I know of to teach symbolism, foreshadowing, tone, irony (all those English Teacher things that kids usually think of as BORING). Generally speaking, my students love this movie as much as I do. I only teach the film, not the novel. I was disappointed when I finally found and read the book because, in it, Momma is very much the pitiful un-funny joke that she fears herself to be. I do, however, include excerpts from the book to illustrate how differences in tone can change the impact of the story. This is the most carefully crafted film I've ever seen. Every scene, almost every line, reinforces the theme and illuminates the main characters' motivations. In my opinion, "What's Eating Gilbert Grape?" is as nearly perfect as play writing gets.

He's got a mother that weighs 400 pounds, or maybe it's 600. There's a married woman who can't keep her hands off of him whose husband would like to kill him. He's got a younger brother that is cuckoo, and he's responsible for him. He's got to take care of him. He works in a grocery store. His life is about groceries. Honk if you've got groceries...

He's trapped in Endora, somewhere, probably Kansas or Nebraska or Iowa (actually filmed in Texas), somewhere in the heart of the Heartland--by the way this is the sort of American film that plays as a foreign film in, say, France or Sweden. Along comes Juliette Lewis who's a bit of a short-haired punk to his long-haired country ("Get in the car, longhair"). He is wallowing in self-pity and she sees it. "What about you?" she asks. "What do you want?"

She attracts him and frightens him. She may make him upset his predictable life as Job. And then one day, he loses it and hits Arnie, and hits him again. Who can blame him? But you don't hurt Arnie. He is just a boy who will always be a boy.

Johnny Depp is Gilbert Grape, Leonardo DiCaprio is Arnie, Mary Steenburgen is the married woman, Juliette Lewis is Becky and Darlene Cates is Mama. They all give sterling performances. The script and direction are flawless. You've probably seen bits and pieces of this movie on TV. See the whole thing. It is an outstanding flick. Gilbert is an America hero. He knows the good and the bad, and he always tries to do the good. But it's tough. Life is an embarrassment and a boredom, and when it isn't boring, it's scary emotionally. Depp is perfectly cast as a man whose loyalty to his family and his love for them has trapped him. And they are using him, and they don't appreciate him. His father disappeared. His older brother is gone. Gilbert has the responsibility. And he knows it. And he can't escape it.

But it's hard, and when Becky comes along, she is something different. She is something he's never seen before. She isn't predictable, and she is striking. And she is smart and sensitive, like him.

Don't answer the phone. Don't answer the door. This is a heartland masterpiece about real people living real lives, and director Lasse Halstrom (The Cider House Rules (1999) Chocolat (2000) after many Swedish films) doesn't flinch and he doesn't do cliches, and he gets it right. You will be moved.

But see this for Johnny Depp and see why women love him.