What's Eating Gilbert Grape - 8 stars out of 10

What's Eating Gilbert Grape - 8 stars out of 10

I have been hearing about "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" for years but this was far from what I expected.  This is a very honest film about the trials of a dysfunctional family who cannot escape their tiny Iowa town.  Johnny Depp plays the titular role and serves as the hub around which the subplots connect.  The story is interesting in that Gilbert could escape his circumstances and take care of any one of his burdens, but it is the combination of these issues that keeps him tied down.  The setting is pretty bland (as it needs to be) so the empathy for Depp is what creates an emotional attachment to the story.  The main hardship is his mentally retarded brother, Arnie.  Gilbert is the only one that can actually control Arnie and the burden of being his main caretaker makes it difficult for Gilbert to have his own life.  Arnie is played by Leonardo DiCaprio in an absolutely inspired performance.  We rave about DiCaprio's acting today but this makes it easy to see that his masterful acting is nothing new.  His Oscar-nominated performance (which really should have been a win) is reason enough to see this film.  His tics and speech are precise and chilling, almost difficult to watch at times because they are so realistic.  The second issue is his mother, morbidly obese and requiring constant care from her children.  Like DiCaprio, she is difficult to watch at times, especially when kids dare each other to look into her window to get a look at her and subsequently mock her.  Next is Gilbert's loyalty to his job at a family-run grocery store that is being put out of business by a chain store.  This is one of the only sources of comedy, along with John C. Reilly's obsession with the soon-to-arrive "Burger Barn."  As if this wasn't enough, he falls in love with a girl who is temporarily stranded in the town and will leave soon.  This is one of the only instances in film history where the actor (Depp) looks amazing with long hair and his love interest (Juliette Lewis) looks amazing with a butch cut.  You could shave Depp's head and make a wig for Lewis, but it wouldn't look nearly as good.  The final issue is the older woman who is trying to have an affair with Gilbert.  I always enjoy Mary Steenburgen and she looks great in this film, but it was a little disturbing to see her in this role.  The film is a lot of drama and doesn't have a lot of feel-good content, not even at the end.  But the story, a snapshot of hardship, ends with perseverance and leaves a sense of hope for the future.