What's Eating Gilbert Grape
1993
Lasse Hallstrom directs this beautifully photographed, critically acclaimed drama about small-town life and the contraints that a young man's family responsibilities put on his independence. The screenplay is written by Peter Hedges who also wrote the novel of the same name.Bizarre, whimsical, and touching scenes mark WHAT'S .. Read more
| Starring | Johnny Depp, Juliette Lewis, Mary Steenburgen, Leonardo DiCaprio |
|---|---|
| Director | Lasse Hallstrom |
| Genres | Drama |
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Critics' reviews (3)
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Johnny Depp has spent most of his working life trying to avoid the sort of Hollywood career his pretty boy looks would seem to demand, and this gentle oddity is a case in point. Depp takes the title role, playing the sensitive but level-headed teenager who has his hands full coping with an enormously obese mother (Darlene Cates), who won't leave the house, and a mentally disabled younger brother (Leonardo DiCaprio). The latter steals the show, but the entire cast which also includes Juliette Lewis, Mary Steenburgen and Crispin Glover turns in winning performances. Director Lasse Hallström, who made his name with My Life as a Dog, lets sentiment creep in, but still demonstrates a sharp outsider's eye for the quirkiness of Americana.
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Hallström's finally struck a chord with the Americans, though it's much the same cocktail of whimsy and worry, the... read more on Time Out
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Gentle, unsentimental drama, but so low-key that it does not always engage the interest.
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Most helpful members' reviews (3)
View all -
29 out of 30 people found this review helpful
ASTOUNDING
Absolutely brillint movie. Fantastic performances from Johnny and Leonardo. If you aren't already in love with Johnny Depp, you will be after watching this movie! His portrayal of Gilbert Grape is charming and intense. I cried so much watching the scene between Gilbert and his 'Moma' Gibert has the world on his shoulders caring for his overweight mother and retarded brother (Decaprio) He also feels he has had to take the place of his father who commited suicide 17 years ago. Gilbert sems to be in a waking coma and has no real life of his own. A new girl in town (Juliette Lewis - also great in this movie) helps show Gilbert the way to a happier life. A really lovely movie. I watched it twice, 2 days in a row, but I'm not watching it again for a while - I cry so much at the end! Also a great performance from the lady who played 'Moma' - She wasn't even an actress when she got the part. They needed an overweight person to play the role and discovered her on the Sally Jessy Raphael Show - She hadn't left her house for 5 years. She was amazing.
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18 out of 19 people found this review helpful
Do It For DiCaprio
'What's Eating Gilbert Grape?' is one of my all time favourite films. It is a very slow and contemplative film, about a poor American family and the eldest son's (Depp) discovery of personal happiness. Depp is fantastic as always, but the star of the show is Leonardo DiCapro as Gibert's mentally handicapped younger brother. He delivers a wonderfully controlled portrayal of the character with incredibly moving effect. Anyone who believes he cannot act should watch this film.
Providing you are someone with good concentration (don't expect fireworks and explosions) then you will not fail to take away something from this movie. -
14 out of 18 people found this review helpful
Quirky film, worth a watch
This is a really good film - great cast, the acting is supurb - Leonardo di caprio is exceptional as Arnie - Gilberts handicapped brother. It manages to be sad and funny at the same time....a nice little story.
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Most recent members' reviews (2)
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Nice film - bit of a mover, but none-the-less very much worth the watch. Some very nice moments and look out for a FANTASTIC (have I just said that?) Leonardo Cappucino...
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4 out of 4 people found this review helpful
Amusing Little film
I watched this films years back and have never seen or heard of it since until now.
Great early performance from De Caprio and Depp as normal is great.
Its an amusingly odd family fable set in a small town.
Cant wait to see it again, if you havnt seen it rent it now.
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29 out of 30 people found this review helpful
ASTOUNDING
Absolutely brillint movie. Fantastic performances from Johnny and Leonardo. If you aren't already in love with Johnny Depp, you will be after watching this movie! His portrayal of Gilbert Grape is charming and intense. I cried so much watching the scene between Gilbert and his 'Moma' Gibert has the world on his shoulders caring for his overweight mother and retarded brother (Decaprio) He also feels he has had to take the place of his father who commited suicide 17 years ago. Gilbert sems to be in a waking coma and has no real life of his own. A new girl in town (Juliette Lewis - also great in this movie) helps show Gilbert the way to a happier life. A really lovely movie. I watched it twice, 2 days in a row, but I'm not watching it again for a while - I cry so much at the end! Also a great performance from the lady who played 'Moma' - She wasn't even an actress when she got the part. They needed an overweight person to play the role and discovered her on the Sally Jessy Raphael Show - She hadn't left her house for 5 years. She was amazing.
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18 out of 19 people found this review helpful
Do It For DiCaprio
'What's Eating Gilbert Grape?' is one of my all time favourite films. It is a very slow and contemplative film, about a poor American family and the eldest son's (Depp) discovery of personal happiness. Depp is fantastic as always, but the star of the show is Leonardo DiCapro as Gibert's mentally handicapped younger brother. He delivers a wonderfully controlled portrayal of the character with incredibly moving effect. Anyone who believes he cannot act should watch this film.
Providing you are someone with good concentration (don't expect fireworks and explosions) then you will not fail to take away something from this movie. -
14 out of 18 people found this review helpful
Quirky film, worth a watch
This is a really good film - great cast, the acting is supurb - Leonardo di caprio is exceptional as Arnie - Gilberts handicapped brother. It manages to be sad and funny at the same time....a nice little story.
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11 out of 12 people found this review helpful
SUPERB
Great performances all round. Definately worth a watch. Depp is especially fantastic as the somewhat downtrodden son caring for his overweight mother and disabled brother.
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10 out of 11 people found this review helpful
Bitter-sweet offering from Lasse Hallstrom
I'd often wondered about this film, after enjoying more recent Lasse Hallstrom films like 'The Shipping News' and 'The Cider House Rules'.
Like both of those, this film is set in the middle of nowhere, in a community apparently stuck in the past - in this case, a small town in Iowa, where, according to Gilbert (Johnny Depp) life is like 'dancing to no music'.
Depp gives a moving performance as Gilbert, the 24-year-old son sleepwalking through his life, as he struggles to look after his heavily overweight mother (Darlene Cates, in an astonishing first-time role) and his mentally disabled brother, Arnie. The teenage Leonardo DiCaprio is a revelation as Arnie, with not one false note in his portrayal. He thoroughly deserved his Oscar nomination - anyone who thinks Leo is just a pretty face should watch this and think again!
The whole film has a downbeat feel about it, but I don't agree with comments that it is depressing. For me this is a gem - and I'll be looking out the rest of Hallstrom's work. -
9 out of 11 people found this review helpful
Loved it
A must see family film with comedy, tears and some outstanding acting.
De Caprio needed a medal for this one.
Gilbert is a trapped young man who works in a grocers, look's after his brother Arnie who's mentally ill and cares for his over weight momma, until Becki arrives in town…
Clean family movie worth a go. -
11 out of 18 people found this review helpful
Absolutly Fantasic
This is a must see film - me being a Johnny Depp fan i had to see this film and when i finally did i fell in love with it. Johnny Depp plays a young teenager troubled by everyone else's lifes which gives him no life for him. The main job he has is to look after his retarded brother played by Leonardo DiCaprio who is unbelievable in the film. If noone knew who Leo was they would believe he was a real retarded boy. The acting skills in this is perfect and the film will make you laugh, think, care and even cry. You must see this film.
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5 out of 5 people found this review helpful
A Must See Film
This is truly one of the best movies of the 90's. Lasse Halstrom brings the powerful subtlety that is his trademark(see My Life as a Dog)to this exceptionally touching story. Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio's performances cannot be missed. This is without question DiCaprio's best performance. In fact,it outshines even The Basketball Diaries.As for Johnny Depp, though no one can deny that he is a fantastic actor, I yearn for the days that he returns to this kind of acting.
I saw this movie for the first time in 1994 and have seen it numerous times since. Each time, it is just as powerful. A true gem. -
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful
What's Eating Gilbert Grape
Did not watch it in the end - did not appeal to me!
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5 out of 6 people found this review helpful
capturing&touching
This is definitely one of the must see movies. The success of the movie depends on its ability of displaying such a fragile subject as the difference between the life and existence before the eyes of the audience by using such a simple story.
Critics' reviews (3)
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Johnny Depp has spent most of his working life trying to avoid the sort of Hollywood career his pretty boy looks would seem to demand, and this gentle oddity is a case in point. Depp takes the title role, playing the sensitive but level-headed teenager who has his hands full coping with an enormously obese mother (Darlene Cates), who won't leave the house, and a mentally disabled younger brother (Leonardo DiCaprio). The latter steals the show, but the entire cast which also includes Juliette Lewis, Mary Steenburgen and Crispin Glover turns in winning performances. Director Lasse Hallström, who made his name with My Life as a Dog, lets sentiment creep in, but still demonstrates a sharp outsider's eye for the quirkiness of Americana.
-
Hallström's finally struck a chord with the Americans, though it's much the same cocktail of whimsy and worry, the... read more on Time Out
-
Gentle, unsentimental drama, but so low-key that it does not always engage the interest.
Buy from the LOVEFiLM shop
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What's Eating Gilbert Grape
Lasse Hallstrom directs this beautifully photographed, critically acclaimed drama about small-town life and the contraints that a young man's family responsibilities put on his independence. The screenplay is written by Peter Hedges who also wrote the novel of the same name.
Bizarre, whimsical, ...
-
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