What's Eating Gilbert Grape?
WHAT'S EATING GILBERT
GRAPE? (15)
D: Lasse Hallström
Paramount (Meir Teper, Bertil Ohlsson & David
Matalon)
US 1993
118 mins
Drama
W: Peter Hedges [based on his novel]
DP: Sven Nykvist
Ed: Andrew Mondshein
Mus: Alan Parker
Johnny Depp (Gilbert Grape), Juliette Lewis
(Becky), Leonardo DiCaprio (Arnie Grape), Mary Steenburgen (Betty Carver), Crispin Glover (Bobby McBurney), John C. Reilly (Tucker Van Dyke), Darlene Cates (Momma
Grape)
What's Eating Gilbert Grape is a whimsical story set
in small town America, starring Johnny Depp as the placid title character, a morose grocery clerk who supports his entire family, including his obese, stay-at-home mother and his
mentally-handicapped brother. Gilbert's attitude changes though when he meets and falls in love with a new girl in town.
Depp's breakthrough performance as a serious actor is
unfortunately upstaged by Leonardo DiCaprio's Oscar-nominated turn as Arnie Grape. Still, all the performances are simply perfect in this offbeat and frequently sentimental
drama.
8/10
