What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

Lasse Hallström

Writers (WGA):

Peter Hedges (novel)
Peter Hedges (screenplay)

Release Date:

25 joulukuu 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Arnie knows a secret. His big brother Gilbert is the greatest person on the planet.

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Grocery Store | Hydrophobia | Beating | Iowa | Quirky

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 4 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Johnny Depp	...	Gilbert Grape
Leonardo DiCaprio	...	Arnie Grape
Juliette Lewis	...	Becky
Mary Steenburgen	...	Betty Carver
Darlene Cates	...	Bonnie Grape
Laura Harrington	...	Amy Grape
Mary Kate Schellhardt	...	Ellen Grape
Kevin Tighe	...	Ken Carver
John C. Reilly	...	Tucker Van Dyke
Crispin Glover	...	Bobby McBurney
Penelope Branning	...	Becky's Grandma
Tim Green	...	Mr. Lamson
Susan Loughran	...	Mrs. Lamson
Robert B. Hedges	...	Minister
Mark Jordan	...	Todd Carver

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for elements of mature subject matter.

Runtime:

118 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #32522) | Iceland:L | France:Unrated | South Korea:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Canada:PG | Finland:K-10 | Germany:6 (f) | Netherlands:12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | UK:12

Filming Locations:

Austin, Texas, USA

Company:

J&M Entertainment

Trivia:

Leonardo DiCaprio created Arnie's trademark flicking his finger against his nose, describing it as a sort of "brain wipe... like Arnie is massaging the inside of his brain."

Goofs:

Continuity: In the diner, after the undertaker discusses the reality of death, Gilbert picks up his coffee cup twice between shots without having enough time to put it down.

Quotes:

Gilbert: Ellen?
Ellen Grape: What?
Gilbert: Could you not talk with your mouthful?
Ellen Grape: Excuse me?
Gilbert: You're making me sick, I'm gonna throw up.
Ellen Grape: Oh, okay, dad. Sure thing, dad.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Psych: Tuesday the 17th (#3.15)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

Waterfalls

The family that binds us

Truly, this is one beautiful movie. It doesn't go for cheap tears but in the end you must feel something, otherwise you simply don't have a heart. It's about a town, Endora, where nothing ever happens. In that town live the Grapes, a fatherless family that consists of a mother of elephant-like proportions, two sisters and two brothers (one of them being retarded).

All the acting ranks from very good to excellent. Johnny Depp is so lovable as Gilbert Grape, the twenty-year-old son who tries to do good for everyone but doesn't know quite what he wants for himself yet. Leonardo DiCaprio is simply amazing as the retarded Arnie. He rightfully got an Oscar-nomination for his roll. At the time I saw this movie, I didn't know him yet, so at some moments I actually thought that he really could be a retarded actor (that's a big complement, isn't it?).

The plot isn't too spectacular, but keeps you interested 'cause actually a lot of things do happen to certain character's in this sleepy town. A lot of things the characters say and do seem superficial, but actually aren't meaningless as they lead to other events in the story. And the arrival of Becky (Juliette Lewis) and her mother make things interesting for Gilbert. The ending is unexpected, very solid and sad. And then there's the little epilogue...

This simply is a great movie: Good story, good acting, good directing. And that's all it takes. Watch it and allow yourselves to be moved by the Grapes.