Review of What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993) by Ruhan R — 07 Apr 2010

A Grape Worth Biting.

Whatâ??s Eating Gilbert Grape was a strange but entertaining film. Gilbert did state in the beginning of the film that nothing really happens in Endora, so one can not complain about a mundane plot or a lack of action. The filmâ??s strength lies in its rich characters and the brilliant acting by the cast. It was interesting how an interesting story took place in such a dull setting. This film bore resemblance to the more recent Napoleon Dynamite, which also followed the lives of various individuals in a dead-end rural town.

Johnny Depp is often reason enough to watch a movie, and he proves why with his excellent portrayal of the protagonist, Gilbert Grape. His chemistry with Leonardo Di Caprio, who played Gilbertâ??s disabled brother, Arnie, was fantastic. Di Caprio showed just how magnificent of an actor he was by taking on this difficult role. All of his actions and mannerisms were quite accurate and not at all exaggerated, which is a difficult feat to accomplish when performing as a mentally disabled person. The supporting actors and actresses all performed well too, John C. Reily was a humourous addition. The way Tucker rambled on and on about Burger Barn was simply hilarious.

The script was not a string of memorable monologues or dialogues, but there were some heartfelt lines. The scenes with Gilbert and Becky contained some intriguing conversations. Becky was an interesting character; her significance was well portrayed by the director, Lasse Hallstrom.

This film could have ended up a terrible mess if it wasnâ??t for Hallstrom. It is a prime example of how a good cast is useless without a strong director to pull the strings. Hallstrom did a fine job of utilizing various camera shots and lighting techniques to illustrate emotion in a scene, particularly the scene with Gilbert and his mother after her great physical feat. The props and costumes were well designed and put together, they truly complimented to the setting of the film. The soundtrack complied with the movieâ??s overall tone as well, a good balance of light-hearted and soft, emotional songs was achieved. The general cinematography of the film was well-done and it reflected the overall theme of the film. Whatâ??s Eating Gilbert Grape is a bizarre but touching film that will be enjoyed by anyone with a taste for an emotionally-driven plot.