What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)

After his father's death, Gilbert has to care for his mentally-disabled brother, Arnie, and his morbidly obese mother. This situation is suddenly challenged though, when love unexpectedly walks into his life.

Director:

Lasse Hallström

Writers:

Peter Hedges (novel), Peter Hedges (screenplay)

Stars:

Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Juliette Lewis

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 8 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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 (as Rev. Robert B. Hedges)
Mark Jordan	...	Todd Carver

Storyline

What's Eating Gibert Grape is a beautifully shot movie of tenderness, caring and self-awareness that is set amongst the fictional working class one street town Endora. Centred around the Grape family Ellen and Amy and their two brothers Arnie and Gilbert, who, along with their morbidly obese widowed mother Bonnie Grape are striving to survive and coexist with the absence of a father figure, low wage work and seventeen-year-old Arnie's severe mental condition. It is in this awkward and extremely one sided affair that the unfortunate Gilbert has to constantly, while working for the town's slowly dying convenience store, take care of his younger brother Arnie. Gilbert's life, his future, is thwarted he knows this, but it is in this guardian angel that his love and bond for Arnie cannot, and will not, be let go. That is until the free spirit of Becky arrives in town, and with her grandmother are stranded for the week while waiting for parts for their vehicle. This realization unties new ...

---

Plot Keywords:

mentally challenged | small town | countryside | rural setting | responsibility | 

---

Taglines:

A story about the love you find...in the last place you look.

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for elements of mature subject matter

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 March 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

Gilbert Grape

Filming Locations:

Georgetown, Texas, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$11,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$9,170,214

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Gilbert (Johnny Depp) is ringing up Mrs. Carver's (Mary Steenburgen) gro ceries after her husband's funeral the total on the cash register is 69.63, which is Depp's date of birth - June 9, 1963.

---

Goofs

When Gilbert is eating watermelon, the first couple of shots show only two seeds. Then when the camera goes back to him once again, there are a lot of seeds, yet this is supposed to be the same piece.

---

Quotes

Gilbert: We don't really move. I mean, we'd like to, but... my mom is sort of attached to the house. Attached is, I guess, not the right word. She's pretty much wedged in.

---

Connections

Referenced in Saturday Night Live: Martin Lawrence/Crash Test Dummies (1994)

---

Soundtracks

Waterfalls
Written and Performed by Joseph S. DeBeasi

User Reviews

Very well-done

I thought I wouldn't like this. I decided to see it because I'm a fan of Johnny Depp who appeared in some of my favorite movies [ Edward Scissorhands, Benny and Joon, etc. ] I knew what the plot was: a guy who lives with his 15 year old sister, his 18 year old mentally disabled brother who could die at any time and his morbidly obese mother always has to do everything for his family and something happens that changes his life. It sounded like it was a typical sappy drama. I usually hate dramas like that. Movies in which the only point is to feel bad for the characters. But this one was quite different.

The plot in this movie is unclear, which makes it appealing in my opinion. There isn't a lot of events in the movie, really. It all revolves around Arnie's birthday and Gilbert's meeting with the new girl. The movie is very slow paced and doesn't rely on action and shock to catch his viewer's attentions. It's moving, but the dialogues are also very simple. You might expect this movie to be over-dramatic but it's everything but that. The situation and story are extremely sad, but I never felt overwhelmed by this. Keep in mind that I can't usually handle dramas very well.

The movie is about partly about Gilbert, but it also describes life in this town very well. Gilbert's family often has a big impact on the other people in this town, so it's natural that they would be the family that the movie is about. What's also really nice is that Gilbert isn't portrayed as a hero in this movie. He has flaws, and he can make mistakes even if he's taking care of everyone. He is not the typical good-hearted young adult or teenager who's taking care of everyone and wants to give everything for his family. He actually has feelings of his own and he is trying to find himself. The whole movie is about his quest to find who he really is, if he isn't Gilbert Grape, the guy who's always running after his brother Arnie.

Another good point about this movie is the way it was filmed. The visuals are great and the way the movie was made makes us feel like we're seeing life in a different way than usual.