What's Eating Gilbert Grape (DVD)

A touching piece of Americana.Lasse Hallstrom's coming of age drama What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993) is an enduring classic of Americana as it depicts small town living Iowa. Hallstrom shows the absolute degradation of a young man forced to take care of his mentally challenged brother, morbidly obese mother, desperate unhappy married girlfriend, all while working a dead end job in a quiet little town he despises. What's Eating Gilbert Grape feels so real as every character is like someone you know in real life. They are so ordinary country people. This film is a testament to the average American. It really is a shimmering example of rural America.Peter Hedges' script is directly adapted from his novel of the same name. He creates a warm environment of brotherly love, empathetic understanding, economic stress, familial struggles, and familial love. His words all ring as if these characters might actually speak. The grounded realism of What's Eating Gilbert Grape enables it to persevere as a timeless film.Hallstrom's direction allows for his actors to breath in an open scene full of life's little growing pains. His shots look so natural and sympathetic to his struggling characters. There is no judgement, only a realism that is deeply affecting. Sven Nykvist's cinematography harks back to his glory days as Ingmar Bergman's cinematographer. The outside wide shots make Iowa look serene, if desolate. Nykvist's cinematic look brings you to the heart of characters and their emotions indoors, while his shots look so profoundly ponderous outdoors. He captures a certain contemplative look in his close-ups and a sense of these people dreaming of something more than a small town life. Nykvist held dreams in his hands with his camera, while Hallstrom breathed life and compassion for unhappy people with his direction.Alan Parker and Bjorn Isfalt's score is filled with mesmerizing piano melodies that soar across Hallstrom's skies and landscapes. The score to What's Eating Gilbert Grape creates an enchanting musical aura of tender affinity for these simple regular characters trying to get by in life.Johnny Depp is phenomenal as Gilbert Grape. His eyes and face convey a deeper sadness and discontent with his life underneath his kindly actions. Depp portrays one of cinema's kindest heroes. His selfless actions and thoughts make you relate and care about Gilbert. Depp plays him so sincerely that Gilbert feels like you are watching a friend rather than a stranger.Likewise, Leonardo DiCaprio is outstanding as the young brother to Gilbert Grape named Arnie Grape. DiCaprio portrays Arnie with a keen optimism and a debilitating mentally challenging condition. DiCaprio looks like he is having so much fun alongside Johnny Depp that you cannot help but like his character. DiCaprio delivers a convincing and an engaging performance despite his young age. DiCaprio was destined to be a great actor from the start.Juliette Lewis gives one of her most likable and endearing roles as Gilbert Grape's girlfriend and Depp's love interest Becky. Her pixie haircut, energetic disposition, and sweet persona make Becky a delightful character to watch. She exhibits a dreamy quality that gives Becky an alluring mystique and blunt confidence. She is so fun and interesting opposite Depp as his love interest and foil. Their chemistry is apparent and believable. I completely fell for Lewis in What's Eating Gilbert Grape.I must mention Darlene Cates as Gilbert's mother Bonnie Grape. Her brave portrayal of a woman suffering from morbid obesity is simultaneously revolting and heartbreaking. She makes you despise how lazy and not nurturing Bonnie is, then you sympathize with her once she's mocked and apologetic towards Gilbert. Cates' notable speech to Depp in her bed is so moving and captivating that Cates could never top this performance as What's Eating Gilbert Grape is sadly her only film role essentially. At least she is immortalized affectionately forever within What's Eating Gilbert Grape.On the other hand, Mary Steenburgen is so hilarious as the naughty desperate housewife Betty Carver. Her performance is gripping as a miserably unhappy woman longing for Gilbert's love. Her forward flirtations and desperate attention seeking is entertaining as well as sorrow laden. Steenburgen is amazing in What's Eating Gilbert Grape.Lastly, What's Eating Gilbert Grape features several perfect supporting roles. Laura Harrington is so nice and motherly as the Amy Grape, who must take care of the house since her mother will not. Mary Kate Schellhardt is so funny as the mean teenage sister Ellen Grape. Kevin Tighe is perfectly pathetic as the loser husband Ken Carver, who has been cuckolded by Gilbert Grape sleeping with his wife Betty. Crispin Glover is creepy and hilarious as the good humored mortician friend to Gilbert named Bobby McBurney. Finally, John C. Reilly is so nice as the handy electrician and contractor friend to Gilbert named Tucker Van Dyke. These actors and actresses all contribute to What's Eating Gilbert Grape's realistic vibe.In all, What's Eating Gilbert Grape is a triumph of beautiful direction and tender sentiment with excellent acting set to lovely music.

I love re-watching this movie every few years, noticing a different amazing element of the film every time. This is exemplary of Johnny Depp’s talent and the films that are his bread & butter. Highly recommend!

Thought this was a zombie film. Disappointed. Was still pretty good. Now my daughter runs around yelling "say where's Arnie" all the time. Makes no sense and now they're holding her back a year in preschool.

Really good movie

DiCaprio and Depp. It doesn't get any better than that. Wonderful movie.

Loved this movie!!!

It's a crime that Di Caprio was nominated for an Oscar when it should have been Johnny Depp. This is one of his best dramatic performances ever. The film is a testimony to what happens when a family lives under chronic stress, and depression, and what happens when children have to parent because parents abdicate their responsibilities. This is a complex portrait of Midwest America and the people who find joy and meaning in their community.

Love this movie and it’s inspiring and teaching us about family.

This is another Johnny Depp film I was unaware of before Amazon brought it to my attention through a recommendation email, a big thanks to Amazon! as this is a fantastic film, a straight role for Johnny Depp perfectly executed, but an absolutely amazing performance from a young Leonardo DiCaprio, wow! he plays the part of Gilberts (Depp) younger brother who has severe autism, Leonardo was only 19 when he made this film, and he puts in a stunning and thoughtful portrayal of someone with autism, his acting ability is without question astonishing. Two superb actors side by side, telling a very touching story.

Having recently read the wonderful book, I was pleased to see that Peter Hedges also wrote the screenplay.An excellent performance from a young Johnny Depp is totally eclipsed by that of the, then, 19 year old Leonardo DiCaprio. His depiction of Arnie who suffers from autism is nothing short of amazing. Indeed his performance is so convincing that at the time of release (1993) critics thought DiCaprio was actually autistic!Not to be missed.

I saw this movie years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it, so saw it at a great price and treated myself 👍 fast delivery too!

Love the film, quality for a blu ray is so so. No subtitles on the disc and no additional features. I could of just stuck to my old DVD. Obviously the movie is a classic and if you don't already own it on DVD, then go for the blu ray. But it's not worth paying out for just to upgrade the picture quality. Very grainy.

A really nice film that will stay in your memories as just brilliantly performed by the cast of this lovely film.