Everyone in the film is constantly expecting a lot from Gilbert. Whether it's the plea from his momma that he's "gotta do better", the complaints from his sisters that he never does anything (when in fact, he does everything), or the selfishness of the married woman (Mary Steenburgen) with whom he's having an unfulfilling affair, Gilbert can't seem to ever be good enough. Contrast this with the just-happy-to-be-here existence of Arnie, who blithely tells anyone that will listen, "I can go at anytime." It's a wonder that Gilbert ever has the strength to go on.

But go on he does, using just as much effort to keep the family together as he does repressing his own anger. The film's title is ironic, in that Gilbert shows little anguish; it just appears that something is "eating" at him. It's a rather benign description of his state of mind, but on the surface it works quite well. For the most part, he vents his anger in passively destructive ways. One early scene features a couple of kids standing by the side of the road, staring at the Grape house. When Gilbert sees them, he motions one over. All the kid wants to do is get a gander at the 500 pound woman inside, and Gilbert resignedly obliges, even going so far as lifting the kid up so he can see through the window. It's a very mean moment from a young man who is angelic by most accounts. But when he lets loose of his control, when his primal nature comes out, the anger and violence and wrath and fear is very apparent.

The actors are uniformly good, with a few who should be pointed out for special recognition.

Darlene Cates, who legend has it was discovered after an appearance on "The Sally Jessy Raphael" show, plays Momma. It was important for the story that Momma not be played by an actor in a fat suit; the audience needs to be as repulsed by her as the townspeople are. But it is equally important that the audience comes to understand her plight, and feel for the woman. Cates is authentic looking, and, more importantly, authentic acting. The pathos of Momma is apparent in every defeated sigh. And when she's called on for anger, as she is in one pivotal scene where she makes the terrifying choice to leave the house, it's painfully real.

Leonardo DiCaprio, in the years since this film came out, has polarized moviegoers in to two camps. There are those who swoon at the mere mention of his name, "Titanic"-philes and Tiger Beaters all. And there are those turn up their noses at the pretty boy actor, who will always be more style than substance. Neither of these groups will enjoy what Leo does in "Gilbert Grape". They may have to scrub clean all benefits of hindsight, or at the very least time travel back to 1993, to fully enjoy his performance. And oh what a performance it is. Common wisdom states that roles with physical or mental challenges, despite being the most often praised, are actually the easiest to play. Actors develop a series of ticks, and voila! A character! Leo, to his credit, is more than just a collection of ticks as Arnie. Sure, he's got messy hair, dirty fingernails, a nose in constant need of wiping, and a primal scream laugh. But he so disappears into his character, that any preconceptions you might have about the actor get lost, and a character fully emerges. It's a seamless and highly endearing performance.

As poignant as Cates is, and as flashy and sublime as DiCaprio is, it is Depp who holds the movie together. He has to play Gilbert close to the chest for the most part, relying more on his facial expressions rather than on the sparse dialogue to communicate what the character is all about. It's not an outwardly remarkable performance, but it is supremely effective. He gets drawn out of his shell, bit by bit, when Becky shows up. Becky, Juliette Lewis in star-child mode, is a perfect contrast to Gilbert. She's open and honest and willing to let others in. Lewis is charming here, a trait she doesn't get to show often enough. She and Depp have fine chemistry together, as they try to feel their way through young love.

But for most of the movie Depp plays a kind of straight man to DiCaprio's goofball antics. They have a wonderful chemistry together, for not only do they mine some restrained comedy from these scenes, but they also ably portray a strong brotherly bond. Gilbert will care for Arnie till the day he dies; Arnie loves and trusts Gilbert, even if he has not the mental capacity to understand why.

Lasse Hallstrom has a wise knack for silences, not just in the performances, where silence is golden, but also in the film's musical score. For the most part, except for some light piano work in the most important moments, everything is quiet and still. Which perfectly mimics the solitude of the small town, in which this heartbreaking, but ultimately life-affirming story, takes place.

13 of 13 found the following review helpful:

What's Eating Gilbert Grape  Feb 26, 2000

I teach the film, "What's Eating Gilbert Grape?" at the high school and college level. It's the best vehicle I know of to teach symbolism, foreshadowing, tone, irony (all those English Teacher things that kids usually think of as BORING). Generally speaking, my students love this movie as much as I do. I only teach the film, not the novel. I was disappointed when I finally found and read the book because, in it, Momma is very much the pitiful un-funny joke that she fears herself to be. I do, however, include excerpts from the book to illustrate how differences in tone can change the impact of the story. This is the most carefully crafted film I've ever seen. Every scene, almost every line, reinforces the theme and illuminates the main characters' motivations. In my opinion, "What's Eating Gilbert Grape?" is as nearly perfect as play writing gets.

24 of 27 found the following review helpful:

A heartwarming film about brotherly love and family loyalty.  Jan 04, 1999

What's Eating Gilbert Grape is my favorite movie. I have seen it dozens of times and I never get bored with it. The reason...Leonardo DiCaprio. Never mind "Titanic". If you want to see DiCaprio at his best, this is the film to see! As many times as I watch it, his portrayal of Arnie, a retarded soon to be 18 year old boy, never ceases to amaze me! His performance is captivating. DiCaprio becomes Arnie. This film is an extremely touching story of family loyalty, albeit dysfunctional family loyalty. The title character is played exceptionally well by Johnny Depp, but it is difficult to focus on anyone but Leonardo DiCaprio. The best scenes in the film are those between Depp and DiCaprio. Gilbert is Arnie's primary caretaker. His love for Arnie is undeniable but marred by frustration and on occasion, resentment that he has been saddled with the burden of being his brother's keeper. He sums it up best with the line, "Somedays you want him to live, somedays...you don't". Gilbert is not as cruel as that makes him sound. It's just that he has no life other than Arnie and a "going nowhere" fling with a married woman. His two sisters are kept pretty busy taking care of their obese Mother, whom Gilbert describes as a "beached whale". It all takes place in a small town where it seems just about all of it's residents want more out of life. Gilbert learns there is more to life when he meets a free spirited young woman who is passing through town. Naturally, this further complicates his already complicated life. I will most likely watch it dozens more times. What's Eating Gilbert Grape is a beautiful and moving film.

12 of 12 found the following review helpful:

Catch Leo and Johnny before they were Leo and Johnny  Apr 03, 2005
By Ivy Lin
It's rare for a movie to catch two actors on the cusp of superstardom. "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" does just that, with Leonardo di Caprio as the mentally retarded Arnie, and Johnny Depp as his stoic older brother Gilbert. "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" is a wonderful comedy-drama about Gilbert, his mentally retarded brother Arnie, his mother, his two sisters, and the townspeople. John C. Reilly has a small part as a genial carpenter who repairs the Grape's delipidated house as a favor.
I can't praise this movie enough. There isn't much of a storyline, it just follows the Grape family in the weeks leading up to Arnie's 18th birthday party. But there isn't a weak link in the cast, and I've rarely seen a family film that's so touching and unsentimental. Darlene Cates in particular gives an amazing perfomrmance as Momma Grape, who is so obese the children have to carry the kitchen table into the living room for meals. There are some subplots, one involving Gilbert's affair with an unhappy housewife (Mary Steenbergen), and another involving Gilbert's romance with an peripetetal young woman (Juliette Lewis). But mostly this movie is a slice of life, rather than a 3-part drama.
Leonardo di Caprio's exuberant, warm, hilarious performance as Arnie was justly praised (he got an Academy award nomination). di Caprio's Arnie can't stay still: he's always climbing trees, or running away from baths, or jumping up for a piggyback. Leo steals every scene he's in. I especially love how he gave his character a "tic": constantly flicking his nose. This could have been a one-note performance but it isn't. di Caprio's Arnie is sweet and even manipulative. In one of my favorite scenes, he wimpers to his mother that he could have "drownded" after Gilbert left him alone during a bath. Johnny Depp is also wonderful, albeit more understated, as Gilbert. Depp doesn't verbalize or exaggerate Gilbert's frustration at having so many responsibilities. You just assume it's there, and you empathize with the way he matter-of-factly deals with every new crisis.
Nowadays Leo and Johnny are Grade-A superstars, and every project is big news. It's unlikely either will agree to make a film like this again. So watch these two fine actors on the brink of superstardom. It's richly deserved.

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