Rating: 
Summary: Always sweet and never sour.......
Review: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: Superb Small Town Drama
Review: Small towns are great, but we wonder how many small town residents are curious about what else life has to offer. What's over the mountain? What's across the river? What does the new maga-grocery store across town look like? This is the theme of Gilbert Grape, a wonderful character study of some real "out there" characters. Young Leo DiCapria is totally convincing as a retarded tower climbing youth. Johnny Depp is strong as the young man in the family, who spends so much of his time caring for his brother and grossly obese mother, that he has no time or energy to care about himself. Juliette Lewis plays the pivotal role of Becky, who literally walks into this plot because her grandmothers car breaks down, and helps Depp open his eyes to his own life. Sometimes funny, occasionally sad, and often touching, this is a beautiful movie.
Rating:
Summary: Depp Does It Delightfully
Review: This has long been a favorite Johnny Depp film, with an engaging storyline, beautiful direction and wonderful performances. Di Caprio was nominated for an Oscar for his amazing performance as the mentally handicapped Arnie Grape, and it's just a pity he didn't win the Academy's vote. However good Di Caprio was, it has to be said that Johnny Depp's performance is also equally enthralling. Depp has the ability to convey so much emotion with his expressive, and astonshingly beautiful face, and it is the subtle, almost understated acting of Depp that requires repeated watching of this movie. The rest of the cast are also excellent, and a special mention has to go to Darlene Cates for her portrayal of Momma, a woman so big that she's literally about to bring the house down! What's Eating Gilbert Grape is the kind of film that allows the viewer to experience it's richness slowly over a period of time, but don't waste too much more time if you have never seen this gem of a film. Check it out soon, if you enjoy it half as much as I do, you will fall in love with it!
Rating:
Summary: One of a kind 4.5 stars
Review: Whats eating gilbert grape is a unique story of a family and gives special attention to the characters and problems in thier life. Story is about a young man played by Johnny depp (gilbert) who is trying to find himself and the purpose of life basically. He lives at home with his 500 pound mother , retarded brother arnie ( played to perfection by leonardo dicaprio) and his 2 sisters. His father passed away and he is now the father figure to his brother arnie and the family. Gilbert always has to look after arnie and can sometimes be annoyed by the stunts he pulls but still loves him. One day gilbert meets juliette lewis and she turns his life around and basically opens his eyes to the world and thinking in diffrent perspectives. The whole film is good and the ending is especially memorable. Great performances by all. Highly recomended.
Rating:
Summary: THIS IS AN ENTERTAINING, ENJOYABLE AND SWEET MOVIE.
Review: "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" is the kind of movie which you don't expect too much before you see it, but after you've seen it, a smile in your face will appear. The movie tells the story of Gilbert Grape, a nice guy trapped in a small town, with a dysfunctional family (as almost every family is), a job without a future and a relationship with a married woman. And despite all this, he is not a sad man, he is not depressed, he is not worried about himself; his main reason to live is to take care of his family. Everything else comes in a second place, including himself. Johnny Depp is the center of the movie and his low-key performance is excellent, but the reason why this movie works so fine is the supporting cast; Leonardo DiCaprio is terrific as the mentally retarded brother, he and Depp are the fuel of the story. The rest of the cast includes: Darlene Cates as the big, big, big mother, John C. Reilly as Gilbert's best friend, Juliette Lewis as Gilbert's new love interest and Mary Steenburgen as the married woman who is having an affair with Gilbert, all of them are terrific in their roles. The main purpose of "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" is to entertain audiences, and it does...a very enjoyable movie.
Rating:
Summary: What's Eating Gilbert Grape
Review: Superb drama that delivers immensely. Johnny Depp stars as a hot-head young man who lives a sorrowful life with his many brothers and sisters on a farm in a small Iowa town. His life is filled with troubles, most notably the tearjerking character of Gilbert's mother who is extremely overweight and his brother (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) who has a disorder. Juliette Lewis plays a sweet girl who entrances Gilbert and makes him believe in himself. Most people who have seen this movie probably think of it as a true gem, and that's how I think of it. It's a classic by every means. From the opening credits all the way to the end credits, this film mesmerizes. Another equally great film for fans of this movie is "Marvin's Room" which is a beautiful and touching film too.
Rating: 
Summary: Intriguing Character Study
Review: Certainly one of Lasse Hallstrom`s better movies ("Chocolat" and "The Cider House Rules", anyone?), this little and subtle drama resembles TV-movie-of-the-week territory, but the honest emotion of the plot and the fine, believable acting turn this into an above-average cinematic experience. Yet another indie movie about dysfunctional families, offbeat characters, little towns and boring lives, "What`s Eating Gilbert Grape" presents a simple yet well-crafted story with some big league actors around (Johnny Depp, Julliette Lewis and a surprising Leonardo DiCaprio). Hardly innovative, this effort proves that what you need to make a good movie is to have solid acting, a decent plot and competent cinematography. Not a masterpiece, just a pleasant and genuine drama.
Rating:
Summary: What's eating Gilbert Grape?
Review: ..Well that's very simple. It's Gilbert's (Johnny Depp) disfunctional family. His brother (Leonardo DiCaprio) is mentally challenged, his mother (Darlene Cates) is morbidly obese, his youngest sister is a brat, there is also a house wife (Mary Steenburgen) who orders groceries from the store Gilbert works at, she has reasons of her own that does not include the need for food. She's quite capable of going to the supermarket herself. Let's just say she has more than a little thing for Gilbert. Gilbert's father passed away years earlier. Now only himself and the older sister seem able to take care of the home and family. I would like to mention that actress Darlene Cates has lost over 200 lbs. since this film was made. What's Eating Gilbert Grape is a wonderful, funny, sad and off beat drama that is sure to have something for everyone. I think it was very silly for one reviewer to say that this film makes fun of obesity and mentally impaired people. Are we not ever to have these types of characters in movies? I'm not sure if this person watched the entire film. It does have a positive message about these issues. This film doesn't make fun it only points out ignorance in people who do. When you see an overweight person do you stare at them? What if they are very overweight? I really liked the scene when Gilbert's mother said "I haven't always been like this." and Becky (Juliette Lewis) said "I haven't always been like this either." As if Becky didn't even notice that Gilbert's mother was of a beyond plus size. I myself work with mentally challenged kids everyday so Arnie just seemed like a kid to me. But in reality I have to say Leonardo DiCaprio was superb. On a less superb note however the DVD has zero extras. Well I guess if you wanna call having a theatrical trailer an extra feature go right ahead. I think a few featurettes and a director commentary is a must now days. Other than the lacks of DVD features this is a must purchase. Add it to your movie library ASAP.
Rating:
Summary: the heart: you'll know it when you see it.
Review: Needless to say this movie is NOT about making fun of the mentally retarded, the obese, grocery store stockers, randy housewives, or anyone else.
This movie is about the human heart, its complexity, pain, love, and cruely.
Gilbert is trapped by his heart. He wants to be a 'good person', but really he's already good enough, and its killing him: his spirit, his hope, and his love.
This is a wonderful movie if you can withstand the bleakness of Gilbert's life and not despair.
In the end, the story is lovely and the actors are marvelous. And where there's a good heart, there's hope.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent!!
Review: This movie is a triumph. It says a lot about the human spirit and poverty...celebrating the human heart. I'd see it again!!
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