What's Eating Gilbert Grape

Starring:Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Juliette Lewis, Mary Steenburgen, Darlene Cates, Laura Harrington, Mary Kate Schellhardt, Kevin Tighe, John C. Reilly, Crispin Glover, Penelope Branning, Tim Green, Susan Loughran, Robert B. Hedges, Mark Jordan, Cameron Finley, Brady Coleman, Tim Simek, Nicholas Stojanovich, Libby Villari
Director: Lasse HallstrÃ¶m
Studio: Paramount
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

This is the movie that Leonardo DiCaprio received an Oscar nomination for, five years before Titanic. And, in fact, this is the movie that should have made him a star, he's so good in it. Based on the novel by Peter Hedges (who adapted his own book) and directed by Lasse Hallström (My Life as a Dog), this is the funny, moody tale of a young man named Gilbert Grape (Johnny Depp) who lives at home in a small town with his 500-pound Momma (beautifully played by nonpro Darlene Cates), his mentally retarded younger brother Arnie (DiCaprio, utterly convincing), and his sisters. Not a lot happens--Arnie keeps climbing a water tower and getting stuck; Gilbert is involved with a married woman (Mary Steenburgen), then meets a nice new girl in town who's closer to his age (Juliette Lewis). And that's exactly what makes this movie so much more than your run-of-the-mill Hollywood product: it's not about some mechanical, formulaic plot; it's about these characters, and it allows you to spend some time with them and get to know them. Depp may have started out as a TV teen idol on 21 Jump Street, but his feature film choices since then--in such wonderfully offbeat and diverse movies as Cry-Baby, Edward Scissorhands, Benny & Joon, Donnie Brasco--have made him one of the most interesting, unpredictable, and risk-taking young actors in American movies. --Jim Emerson

Product description

Gilbert Grape (Johnny Depp) lives in Endora, a place where nothing much happens. The only times the police got something to do is when Gilbert's autistic brother Arnie (Leonardo DiCaprio) tries to climb up on the watertower nearby. Taking care of Arnie is mostly Gilbert's task which can be pretty demanding, at least while you are working at the local grocery store. Then one day Becky (Juliette Lewis) and her grandmother passes through Endora getting trouble with the car. Gilbert falls in love with Becky, but gets problems when he tries to find time for his own private life.

Customer Reviews:

what's eating gilbert grapr.......2007-05-12

Excellent movie good acting and plot. Movie arived in excellent condition

DiCaprio astounding in this.......2007-04-16

When I first saw this sweet and unpretentious little slice-of-life film, I was impressed by its quirky appeal, but, because I had no idea at the time who Leo DiCaprio was yet, I'd assumed that they'd hired a little mentally challeged kid who could read lines--- I had NO IDEA it was just a "regular" actor.

Wow. And Depp is pretty good too.

If you love Johnny Depp.......2007-04-12

If you love Johnny Depp you will like this movie in fact by the end of the movie you can really have empathy for his character. It is one of his earlier movies and I really enjoyed it.

You want to know what's eating him...?.......2007-04-04

He's got a mother that weighs 400 pounds, or maybe it's 600. There's a married woman who can't keep her hands off of him whose husband would like to kill him. He's got a younger brother that is cuckoo, and he's responsible for him. He's got to take care of him. He works in a grocery store. His life is about groceries. Honk if you've got groceries...

He's trapped in Endora, somewhere, probably Kansas or Nebraska or Iowa (actually filmed in Texas), somewhere in the heart of the Heartland--by the way this is the sort of American film that plays as a foreign film in, say, France or Sweden. Along comes Juliette Lewis who's a bit of a short-haired punk to his long-haired country ("Get in the car, longhair"). He is wallowing in self-pity and she sees it. "What about you?" she asks. "What do you want?"

She attracts him and frightens him. She may make him upset his predictable life as Job. And then one day, he loses it and hits Arnie, and hits him again. Who can blame him? But you don't hurt Arnie. He is just a boy who will always be a boy.

Johnny Depp is Gilbert Grape, Leonardo DiCaprio is Arnie, Mary Steenburgen is the married woman, Juliette Lewis is Becky and Darlene Cates is Mama. They all give sterling performances. The script and direction are flawless. You've probably seen bits and pieces of this movie on TV. See the whole thing. It is an outstanding flick. Gilbert is an America hero. He knows the good and the bad, and he always tries to do the good. But it's tough. Life is an embarrassment and a boredom, and when it isn't boring, it's scary emotionally. Depp is perfectly cast as a man whose loyalty to his family and his love for them has trapped him. And they are using him, and they don't appreciate him. His father disappeared. His older brother is gone. Gilbert has the responsibility. And he knows it. And he can't escape it.

But it's hard, and when Becky comes along, she is something different. She is something he's never seen before. She isn't predictable, and she is striking. And she is smart and sensitive, like him.

Don't answer the phone. Don't answer the door. This is a heartland masterpiece about real people living real lives, and director Lasse Halstrom (The Cider House Rules (1999) Chocolat (2000) after many Swedish films) doesn't flinch and he doesn't do cliches, and he gets it right. You will be moved.

But see this for Johnny Depp and see why women love him.

classic Johnny.......2007-01-05

Sensitive character gives Depp the opportunity to show earlier audiences what he can do. Teenage theme timeless.

Average customer rating:

Family Bonds Through Adversity
Heartfelt Movie
One of Depp's best, by far!
excellent buy
Nothing wrong with this movie!

What's Eating Gilbert Grape
Starring: Johnny Depp , Leonardo DiCaprio , Juliette Lewis , Mary Steenburgen , and Darlene Cates
Director: Lasse Hallström
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( W ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Benny and Joon
Edward Scissorhands (Widescreen Anniversary Edition)
Don Juan DeMarco
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Sleepy Hollow

ASIN: B00005Q79A
Release Date: 2001-11-17

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Family Bonds Through Adversity.......2007-05-26

The moving story of a single mom who's beauty left her long ago, trying to cope with keeping her four children united while dealing with being hugely over weight. Johnny Depp in the title role, is the glue that keeps everyone together as the elder brother. Especially true with his mentally challenged younger brother Arnie, magnificently played to the fullest ability by a very young Leonardo DiCaprio. Before viewing this film years ago, I had never heard of Mr. DiCaprio, and reasoned they surely must have found some talented kid that actually suffered from some mental handicap. His performance is that believable. And Johnny Depp's Gilbert is so likable, one can't help but pull for the fate of the entire family. Thought provoking and heartwarming throughout, but can also be heartbreaking at times.

Heartfelt Movie.......2007-05-14

This is one of my favorite movies. I "personally" connect with this one. I have shown it to all my nieces and nephews and my closes friends. I honestly believe that this movie was VERY underestimated by the industry. Leonardo DiCaprio played his part to perfection. Johnny Depp was good as well. A must see!

One of Depp's best, by far!.......2007-03-25

I love this movie! Johnny Depp gives a fabulous performance, as do the other cast members. The special features offered on the DVD include cast interviews which are most interesting.

excellent buy.......2007-02-14

Ambiguously set between comedy and drama, "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" is a funny and tragic look at the life of Gilbert, who tries very hard to keep everyone happy in an impossibly awkward family. Johnny Depp, Juliette Lewis, and Leonardo Dicaprio work well together onscreen-- but Depp really steals the show. Great movie for 20somethings.

Nothing wrong with this movie!.......2007-02-04

Something for everyone, this is a great movie. I've seen it a couple of times, and would watch it again in the future. What could be bad with a cast of johnny depp, juliette lewis, and leonardo dicaprio?

Charlie Rose with Tim Burton; Johnny Depp (November 15, 1999)

Average customer rating:

I LOVED IT
Nice interview

Charlie Rose with Tim Burton; Johnny Depp (November 15, 1999)

Manufacturer: Charlie Rose
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Charlie Rose with George Will; Johnny Depp, Terry Gilliam; Wei Jingsheng (May 11, 1998)
Deep Sea (IMAX)
Biography - Johnny Depp
Bring Me That Horizon:: The Making of Pirates of the Caribbean (Welcome Book)
Private Resort

ASIN: B000IU32AC
Release Date: 2006-09-18

Description

An interview with the director of the film Sleepy Hollow, Tim Burton. Burton speaks about the inspiration for the film, the classic Washington Irving story on which it is based, and his chemistry with the actor Johnny Depp. Then, Depp, the leading actor in Sleepy Hollow, talks about his performance and shares his reasons for choosing unconventional roles.

Customer Reviews:

I LOVED IT .......2007-05-09

IT WAS LIKE JOHNNY WAS IN THE ROOM .
I SEEN IT 6 TIMES ALREADY IT IS HOT.

Nice interview.......2007-01-11

If you are a really Johnny Depp Fan you should have this
interview (or Tim Burton Fan or both)
The interview is about Sleepy Hollow.

Average customer rating:

what's eating gilbert grapr
DiCaprio astounding in this
If you love Johnny Depp
You want to know what's eating him...?
classic Johnny

What's Eating Gilbert Grape [Region 2]
Starring: Johnny Depp , Leonardo DiCaprio , Juliette Lewis , Mary Steenburgen , and Darlene Cates
Director: Lasse Hallström
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

( W ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Benny and Joon
Edward Scissorhands (Widescreen Anniversary Edition)
Don Juan DeMarco
Cry Baby (Director's Cut)
Sleepy Hollow

ASIN: B0001EYSB2

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

what's eating gilbert grapr.......2007-05-12

Excellent movie good acting and plot. Movie arived in excellent condition

DiCaprio astounding in this.......2007-04-16

If you love Johnny Depp.......2007-04-12

If you love Johnny Depp you will like this movie in fact by the end of the movie you can really have empathy for his character. It is one of his earlier movies and I really enjoyed it.

You want to know what's eating him...?.......2007-04-04

classic Johnny.......2007-01-05

Sensitive character gives Depp the opportunity to show earlier audiences what he can do. Teenage theme timeless.

Average customer rating:

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

( W ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B00004VY42

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