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Movies / On DVD / What's Eating Gilbert Grape
What's Eating Gilbert Grape

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What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)

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Reviews Counted:40

Fresh:36

Rotten:4

Average Rating:7.5/10

Runtime: 2 hrs 8 mins

Genre: Dramas

US Box Office: $0

Synopsis: 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... 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 water tower). Caring, passive Gilbert is burdened beyond reason, living a dead-end life in a dying small town, stocking shelves at a grocery store whose business being taken over by the new mall 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-traveled, straightforward Becky (Juliette Lewis) and her nonconformist grandmother (Penelope Branning) come to town. Their camper 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. 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. [More]

Starring: Johnny Depp, Juliette Lewis, Mary Steenburgen, Leonardo DiCaprio

Starring: Johnny Depp, Juliette Lewis, Mary Steenburgen, Leonardo DiCaprio, John C. Reilly, Crispin Glover

Director: Lasse Hallstrom

Director: Lasse Hallstrom
Screenwriter: Peter Hedges
Producer: David Matalon, Bertil Ohlsson, Meir Teper
Composer: Alan Parker

[See More Credits]

Reviews for What's Eating Gilbert Grape

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21 - 40 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

With an eccentric charm that falters only in a few places, the movie makes a strong statement against conformity and the franchising of America by celebrating a cast of characters and a storyline that don't fit into a mold.

Full Review Source: Palo Alto Weekly | comment Comment
05/20/03
Susan Tavernetti
Susan Tavernetti
Palo Alto Weekly

Small-town drama has big moments thanks to Johnny Depp, Juliette Lewis and a superb Leonardo DiCaprio.

Full Review Source: Netflix | comment Comment
11/07/02
James Rocchi
James Rocchi
Netflix

An overrated film. DiCaprio gives a great performance as a mentally retarded boy. It's so good, in fact, that's it's difficult to watch.

comment Comment
09/27/02
Larry Carroll
Larry Carroll
Countingdown.com

No review available.

comment Comment
08/01/02
Karina Montgomery
Karina Montgomery
Cinerina

No review available.

comment Comment
07/26/02
Scott Weinberg
Scott Weinberg
eFilmCritic.com

A quirky study of altruism that It shows how love in a family context can be transformed and renewed again and again.

Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice | comment Comment
12/08/01
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Spirituality and Practice

As a formula movie, it is a failure. As an interesting and likeable piece of offbeat filmmaking, it’s a very pleasant -- if modest -- success.

Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | comment Comment
12/04/01
Brian Webster
Brian Webster
Apollo Guide

A fantastic look at the anachronisms of small-town life and the myriad problems of coping with a go-nowhere existence.

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
11/23/01
Christopher Null
Christopher Null
Filmcritic.com

On the strength of DiCaprio and Depp's performances, What's Eating Gilbert Grape is a fantastic look at the anachronisms of small-town life and the myriad problems of coping with a go-nowhere existence.

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
11/23/01
Christopher Null
Christopher Null
Filmcritic.com

It's expertly handled, well-written material that knows and understands its many different characters. There are moments in this film that cover the entire emotional spectrum, and not a second is wasted on insincere emotion, making it a real winner.

Full Review Source: Q Network Film Desk | comment Comment
02/27/01
James Kendrick
James Kendrick
Q Network Film Desk

Swedish director Lasse Hallstrom and his fine cast have endowed the story with a good deal of behavioral truth and unstressed comedy.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
02/13/01
Todd McCarthy
Todd McCarthy
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

There is a warmth and wit and insightfulness here that brings the film significantly up a few notches from the usual fare on this subject, and the performances are all excellent.

Full Review Source: Deseret News, Salt Lake City | comment Comment
01/01/00
Chris Hicks
Chris Hicks
Deseret News, Salt Lake City

Director Lasse Halstrom and cinematographer Sven Nykvist do their best to disguise the predictability with their own grace notes. But all the music in the world can't hide a tone this false.

Full Review Source: Washington Post | comment 1 Comment
01/01/00
Desson Thomson
Desson Thomson
Washington Post
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

There is a good idea for a movie hiding here, but Halstrom has buried it beneath a load of charmless shtick.

Full Review Source: Washington Post | comment Comment
01/01/00
Hal Hinson
Hal Hinson
Washington Post
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Well-written (albeit a little too long) and competently acted.

Full Review Source: ReelViews | comment Comment
01/01/00
James Berardinelli
James Berardinelli
ReelViews

All tics, flailings, and full-open, drooling laughter, DiCaprio seems to have captured the damaged heart and soul of Arnie Grape.

Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
01/01/00
Marc Savlov
Marc Savlov
Austin Chronicle

A story that could easily have been mishandled by making Gilbert too sugary noble, but Hedges and Hallstrom create characters of depth and resonance.

Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews | comment Comment
01/01/00
Mark R. Leeper
Mark R. Leeper
rec.arts.movies.reviews

One of the most enchanting movies of the year.

Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment Comment
01/01/00
Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

DiCaprio is perfect to the last twitch and squeal, and anyone who has ever spent time with mentally challenged kids will be hard-pressed to spot a flaw.

Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews | comment Comment
01/01/00
Scott Renshaw
Scott Renshaw
rec.arts.movies.reviews

First, the good part. There is a 20 second clip of an architecturally interesting courthouse. The rest of the show is either boring or unbearably depressing.

Full Review Source: Internet Reviews | comment Comment
01/01/00
Steve Rhodes
Steve Rhodes
Internet Reviews
 
 
21 - 40 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2
all

Latest News for What's Eating Gilbert Grape

September 15, 2005: That Crazy Carell Lands Yet Another New Gig
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