What's Eating Gilbert Grape, is a story of the title character who looks after his mother, brother and two sisters in the home that their father built just before he was 'hung out to dry' 17 years earlier in Endora, Iowa, 'where nothing ever much happens and nothing will.'
Mama (Darlene ... Read review
Meet Gilbert Grape (Johnny Depp), a young man who lives in Endora, Iowa, population 1,091. ... more
Describing it, says Gilbert, is like dancing to no music. Gilbert lives with his mother, whose 36 stone frame is slowly destroying the fragile Grape homestead, h...
Endora, Iowa has never been the most exciting place in the world but it can be the most ... more
complicated. Just ask Gilbert Grape. Since his father decided to hang himself in the basement, Gilbert has become the designated head of the family. Now his life revolves around catering for the emotionally demanding needs of his distraught, monstrously obese mother, his battling sisters and his autistic younger brother. That's not to mention his disastrous affair with a bored, sexually demanding housewife and the prospect of his job being threatened by the arrival of a giant Foodland. But things are about to change with the arrival of the beautiful and free spirited Becky and soon Gilbert must choose between obligation and personal freedom.What's Eating Gilbert Grape? is a multi-layered slice of life that confidently parallels offbeat humour with poignant drama.
Life is a terrible thing to sleep through. Meet Gilbert Grape (Johnny Depp) a young man ... more
who lives in Endora Iowa population 1 091. Gilbert lives with his mother whose 36 stone frame is slowly destroying the fragile Grape homestead his brother Arnie (Leonardo DiCaprio) who was never expected to survive childhood and his two sisters. Gilbert's only excitement is his affair with Mrs. Betty Carver (Mary Steenburgen). Besides that Gilbert's life is weird. And he doesn't seem to enjoy it. But one day a mysterious beautiful girl named Becky (Juliette Lewis) moves into town with her grandmother and Gilbert's world begins to change...
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Arizona Dream: Johnny Depp plays Axel a young drifter caught between the dreams of youth ... more
and the responsibilities of adulthood. Enticed back to his Arizona hometown the oddball residents take more than a passing interest in him. His wheeler-dealer uncle badgers him to take over the Cadillac salesroom. What's more Axel becomes the pinnacle of risque love triangle with a wealthy widow and her stepdaughter... What's Eating Gilbert Grape: Meet Gilbert Grape (Johnny Depp) a young man who lives in Endora Iowa population 1 091. Gilbert lives with his mother whose 36 stone frame is slowly destroying the fragile Grape homestead his brother Arnie (Leonardo DiCaprio) who was never expected to survive childhood and his two sisters. Gilbert's only excitement is his affair with Mrs. Betty Carver (Mary Steenburgen). Besides that Gilbert's life is weird. And he doesn't seem to enjoy it. But one day a mysterious beautiful girl named Becky (Juliette Lewis) moves into town with her grandmother and Gilbert's world begins to change... Dead Man: William Blake (Johnny Depp) set out on an exciting journey to start his life over in a new town with a new job. He never could have prepared himself for what was to come. Through a mysterious chain of events he becomes involved in a love triangle that ends in a double murder--with him as the suspect. Alone and scared he tries to escape but soon discovers that he is being hunted down by men who have been paid to find and kill him and befriends a Native American loner 'Nobody' (Gary Farmer) who believes that he is the English poet 'William Blake' teaches him to face the dangers that follow a "dead man." With tremendous performances from the likes of Johnny Depp Gary Farmer (later reprising the same role in Jarmusch's 'Ghost Dog') and movie-legend Robert Mitchum; the amazing rock score by Neil Young drifts in and out superbly as William Blake journeys through Jarmush's monochrome vision of the old west. Sleepy Hollow: Master storyteller Tim Burton (Batman Edward Scissorhands) weaves an eerie enchanting version of this classic tale of horror. Johnny Depp is Ichabod Crane an eccentric investigator determined to stop the murderous Headless Horseman. Christina Ricci is Katrina Van Tassel the beautiful and mysterious girl with secret ties to the supernatural terror... Lost In La Mancha: "Making a film is essentially about two things: belief and momentum" - Director Terry Gilliam. Lost In La Mancha may be the first "un-making of" documentary. In a genre that exists to hype films before their release 'Lost In La Mancha' presents an unexpected twist: it is the story of a film that does not exist. Instead of a sanitised glimpse behind the scenes 'Lost In La Mancha' offers a unique in-depth look at the harsher realities of filmmaking. With drama that ranges from personal conflicts to epic storms this is a record of a film disintegrating.
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Movie, music and celebrity photographs are perfect for fans looking for a memento of their ... more
favourite film, film star, music icon or celebrity. High quality photography that you can be proud to display in your home cinema/theatre, living room on your office desk or around the home.
Postage & Packaging:£1.50 Availability:Usually dispatched within 4-5 business days...
Drama - Director: Kevin Smith - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Ben Affleck, Liv Tyler, George Carlin, Jennifer Lopez, Jason Biggs, Matt Damon
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
Advantages: A Beautiful Moving Film Disadvantages: None
What's Eating Gilbert Grape, is a story of the title character who looks after his mother, brother and two sisters in the home that their father built just before he was 'hung out to dry' 17 years earlier in Endora, Iowa, 'where nothing ever much happens and nothing will.'
Mama (Darlene Cates) used to be the 'prettiest gal in these parts' but is now a 600lb mountain of a woman and who hasn't stepped out of the front door for at least ... ...infrastructure of the house they still live in.
Gilbert's (Johnny Depp) younger brother Arnie (Leonardo Di Caprio) is mentally handicapped and was never expected to survive much beyond childhood, and may not much longer. In fact, it could be any day now. As Gilbert sums it up in one line, 'Sometimes you want him to live. And sometimes you don't. His older sister, Amy (Laura Harrington), is a home-maker who yearns for normal domestic ... more
What's Eating Gilbert Grape, is a story of the title character who looks after his mother, brother and two sisters in the home that their father built just before he was 'hung out to dry' 17 years earlier in Endora, Iowa, 'where nothing ever much happens and nothing will.'
Mama (Darlene Cates) used to be the 'prettiest gal in these parts' but is now a 600lb mountain of a woman and who hasn't stepped out of the front door for at least seven years and whose oversized proportions play havoc with the infrastructure of the house they still live in.
Gilbert's (Johnny Depp) younger brother Arnie (Leonardo Di Caprio) is mentally handicapped and was never expected to survive much beyond childhood, and may not much longer. In fact, it could be any day now. As Gilbert sums it up in one line, 'Sometimes you want him to live. And sometimes you don't. His older sister, Amy (Laura Harrington), is a home-maker who yearns for normal domestic bliss while the youngest, Ellen( Mary Kate Schellhardt), has just turned 15 and had her braces removed.
Gilbert's troubles, however, stretch far beyond his family, extending to his friends, employers and customers. He works at Lamson Groceries which is battling against the huge Foodmarket where everyone else shops on the outskirts of town; he's having an affair with Mrs. Betty Carver (Mary Steenburgen); and his best friend, Tucker (John C Reilly), is going crazy about the opening of a franchise burger joint, the best employment opportunity, he thinks, to hit Endora since, well, since he can remember.
Into this self contained world bursts Becky (Juliette Lewis) and her grandmother (Penelope Branning), caravanning tourists who find themselves stranded in the dead-end town for a while with mechanical problems. It is where Becky is forced to involve herself with community life during her brief stay and, of course, Gilbert.
At the heart of the movie, though, is Gilbert's indecision - whether to remain loyal to his family responsibilities, or whether to pursue his own freedom for happiness - in the shape of Becky.
My Thoughts ----------------
On the surface Gilbert seems like a pretty sort of normal guy, but underneath something is going on. There is hostility and rage and yet he is only allowed to express it a couple of times in the film. Imagine the feeling of being stuck in a place, whether it is geographical or emotional. I personally can understand the rage of wanting to completely escape from it and from everybody and everything you know and start a new life. This is how Gilbert felt and from that point of view, it is not difficult to appreciate the appeal of the film or the character. At some point or another Gilbert allowed himself to die inside, slowly killing or martyring himself for his family, becoming a surrogate father - even to his mother. That kind of loyalty may have started out as pure love, but it worked against him, with love and devotion turning into resentment and guilt and losing himself, which is the worst thing he could do - because then he hated others because of what he had done to himself.
The film was based on a novel written by Peter Hedges in 1993 and not long after the book had been published Lasse Hallstrom (The Cider House Rules, Chocolat) was considered to be the best director for the film. Hedges knew he would bring great humanity to the characters in the film rather than making fun of them. Johnny Depp was chosen to play the role of Gilbert not only for his physical beauty but also for his sensitivity which had already been illustrated in Benny and Joon and Edward Scissorhands. Johnny slipped into his character pefectly and I cannot fault his acting at all.
Important to his portrayal, was the fact that there were things that had happened in his own life that were parallel to those in Gilbert's. For Johnny, playing the small town son who takes care of his mother and retarded brother was, in many ways, a throwback to his own childhood; his parents' divorce, looking after his heartbroken mother, and picking up the support cheques from his father. I am sure it must be taxing to play something that's so close to reality.
Just as Depp played the role of Gilbert with precision and sensitivity, Leonardo Di Caprio was brilliant as his mentally handicapped brother, Arnie. But it didn't happen by accident. Apparantely, it was one of the hardest roles he has ever played. He wanted to be able to get into the mind of somebody with a disability like that. He spent a few days at a home for mentally retarded children where he was able to focus on the mannerisms of some of the people he had met. I thought he gave Arnie a child like quality, playing him very free and open. He was a great counterpart to Johnny's Gilbert who is solemn and serious about life. At times I did think that Di Caprio stole some of Johnny's scenes. All the same they were a marvellous combination.
The rest of the cast took shape around the core of Johnny and Leonardo. Juliette Lewis, best known at the time for her role in Woody Allen's, 'Husbands and Wives' portrayed Johnny's love interest. She played the caravanning tourist, Becky, with stillness and a sense of logic. She was smart and sensitive but at the same time free-spirited. Mary Steenburgen was wonderful as the small town wife. And as for Darlene Cates, she actually did weigh 600lbs and came to the part almost by accident. She was spotted by Hedges on a chat show about obesity and the problems associated with it, and although not a professional actress, she turned out the perfect choice. Not merely for her size, but also for the understanding she would have for the character.
My favourite scene with Cates in is one which is painfully real. The scene where she leaves the family home for the first time in seven years and is driven by Gilbert to the police headquarters to fetch Arnie from the cell he has been thrown into. His recent climbing escapades have left both police and emergency services alike in a quandary as to what to do with him for his own safety, so for the time being they lock him up.
Gilbert's mother is outraged, and storms into the police station to demand that her boy is released right there and then. No one, of course argues. Not even Gerry, the Duty Sergeant. With Arnie back in safe hands, the family leave as they arrived - together, amidst a crowd of onlookers who stop dead in thir tracks to stare at the spectacle.
I like this scene because I think an integral part of the film is letting people see how much bigotry and cruelty big people go through.
Final Comment -------------------
This is an extraordinary film that is emotional and will make you cry. Lasse Hallstrom has created a movie that is simplistic but allows you to get to know all the characters. Johnny Depp plays his role with subtlety but at he same time makes you care about what happens to his family. He relies mainly on his facial expressions rather than the sparse dialogue. Leonardo Di Caprio is utterly convincing as Arnie, his mentally handicapped brother. His facial expressions, body movements and diction are very real. Together, they are awesome. To say that Cates has never acted before her performance is admirable.
The musical score is quiet and still for most of the film except for a few light piano touches. The lighting and cinematography are both naturalistic and beautiful. It is a film without cliches - it is just perfect and one you will watch over again. Highly Recommended.
Advantages: Superb performances from Depp and DiCaprio Disadvantages: None
...I am deeply fond of What's Eating Gilbert Grape and it is one of the few films that I regularly get out to watch time after time. It is gentle, but heart-warming without being overly sentimental, and it always leaves me with a smile on my face. If you are looking for something low-key to watch, but don't want to compromise on the acting, then this film is perfect. Highly recommended. The DVD is available from play.com for £4.72.
Classification: ...
sunmeilan 18.05.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of What's Eating Gilbert Grape? (DVD)
Advantages: Characters, Story. Disadvantages: A little slow to begin with.
It's quite easy to dismiss What's Eating Gilbert Grape as being another clichéd love story if you choose to judge the film purely for its tagline "a film about the love you find... in the last place you look." If you choose to venture deeper, beyond the fairytale publicity, you will find that this film is actually a lot more realistic than the headlines attempt to make out. What's Eating Gilbert Grape is a family story with plenty of surprises, based ... ...family around him. Overall, What's Eating Gilbert Grape is an intriguing character drama, studying the lives of a number of different human beings that don't fit into the trend of normality. It does take a while to settle into the film, but when you eventually do you'll be met by a very touching tale of human emotion, devoid of the usual condescending stereotypes that we see in a majority of other films with characters of similar appearance. (C) ...
andycarrington 02.07.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of What's Eating Gilbert Grape? (DVD)
Advantages: Riveted Disadvantages: Upsetting at times
...wife persuaded me to watch What's Eating Gilbert Grape, and I found myself transfixed to the screen throughout, particularly mesmerised for DiCaprio's phenomenal turn as a mentally handicapped teenager.
The film introduces us to the quiet little town of Endora, Ohio, with expansive fields and small town mentality elements giving off the false impression of an idyllic setting. For, beneath it all, there is tension and heartbreak, as we meet the Grape ... ...years ago, and weighing it at over 600 lbs, Momma Grape has had to rely on her children, Ellen, Gilbert and Amy to look after her and their brother, mentally handicapped Arnie.
The film takes us through a relatively short period of their lives together, showing the stresses and strains that can be placed on family life in such situations, with the emphasis very much on Gilbert (Johnny Depp) as he struggles to fit in a job with looking after the ...
pmcds 02.04.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of What's Eating Gilbert Grape? (DVD)
Advantages: Fantastic acting, moving, emotional Disadvantages: No real plot line
What's Eating Gilbert Grape? is the story of a family living in a small town in the middle of nowhere.
It stars a young Johnny Depp as main character Gilbert, who sees himself as being the head of the household after his father killed himself a few years back. Of course, this is no ordinary household - his mother hasn't left the house in seven years and is therefore frequently described by Gilbert as being a whale, and his younger brother Arnie ... ...that according to the specialists, he should already be dead.
This film is an odd one in that, well, not much seems to really happen. There is no main plot to the story, it is more of a look at daily life for the family. This is exactly the sort of movie that I normally dislike and question why I am bothering - but this was not the case with this movie. I actually really enjoyed the random little events that took place in Gilbert's daily life, from ...
hi_nicola 08.04.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of What's Eating Gilbert Grape? (DVD)
Advantages: Di Caprio Disadvantages: A little long, maybe
di Caprio, unless you're female and about 14. For me, one of the most upsetting things about Titanic was seeing an actor with such genuine and remarkable talent wasted on such a non part, and watching his transformatin into teen idol rather than serious actor.
A few years ago, it was all so different. That was when Gilbert Grape came out, and Leonardo made everyone take notice.If you have ever doubted Leonard's talent, this movie will change your ... ...Gilbert Grape (Johnny Depp) and it is the performance of a lifetime. It is a portrayal of such observation and sensitivity that it has to be seen to be believed. And it totally steals the film, even against the beautifully understated performances of Depp and Juliet Lewis, who plays Depp's sort-of love interest.
The movie is set in Iowa, in the middle of nowhere, where Depp lives with his family, with Arnie and his vastly overweight mother. It's ...
ImogenW 04.01.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of What's Eating Gilbert Grape? (DVD)
Gilbert Grape lives a boring life with his overweight mother, sickly brother, and his two sisters in Endora, Iowa. His only excitement is his affair with Mrs Betty Carver. But one day a mysterious girl moves into town with her grandma and Gilbert's life begins to change.
Release details
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DVD
Studio(s)
ENTERTAINMENT IN VIDEO; CINRAM LOGISTICS, OPTIMUM HOME ENTERTAINMENT; ELEVATION SALES; SONY DADC, PRISM LEISURE
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 EATING GILBERT GRAPE. Johnny Depp is Gilbert, the eldest brother in a large family of a very large (morbidly obese, actually) mother (Darlene Cates) who hasn't left the house since her husband committed suicide years before. Leonardo DiCaprio, who received an Academy Award nomination for his role, is Arnie, Gilbert's retarded teenage brother who needs constant supervision (he's often found scaling the town's water tower). Caring, passive Gilbert is burdened beyond reason, living a dead-end life in a dying small town, stacking shelves at a grocery store whose business is being taken over by the new supermarket. Gilbert's best friends (Crispin Glover and John C. Reilly) see their futures in the form of undertaker and Burger Barn owner, and Gilbert's other social life is taken up with a random affair with a frustrated and reckless housewife (Mary Steenburgen). Everyone needs the constantly patient Gilbert, whose future seems equally grim until well-travelled, straightforward Becky (Juliette Lewis) and her nonconformist grandmother (Penelope Branning) come to town. Their camper van is in need of repair, so Becky stays long enough to actually have an effect on Gilbert, making his new life spiral in wild ways, awakening him to the fact that he is not living his own life. Based on the novel by Peter Hedges (who also wrote the screenplay), WHAT'S EATING GILBERT GRAPE is quirky, irresistible, and endearingly eccentric without being a freak show.
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