Movie Review: What's Eating Gilbert Grape

What's Eating Gilbert Grape

Starring: Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Juliette Lewis

My movie favorite list has been pretty permanent for some time...the last time i changed was several months ago when I added East Of Eden. Since then, most of the happy-ending movies were pithy, and the artistic movies were depressing. I need both.

YES!

What's Eating Gilbert, I will disclaim right at the front, is not a happy movie. It tells the story of a messy family. The film centralizes on Gilbert, on whom all the burdens of the family rest. The father is no longer with them; his story is slowly revealed throughout the film. Since the loss of her husband, Gilbert's Momma simply sits on the sofa and eats, frozen in her hurt. Her youngest son is extremely mentally disabled. On top of caring for both mother and brother, Gilbert is the only capable son and is responsible for providing for the family, including two other sisters. Obviously, its a story full of ache.

But its so compelling, because every character is perfectly acted. They are beautiful, broken humans. I felt them! Maybe that's just little miss Taken Internally, but I was so involved. Every character is intricate and detailed, and at the same time so very understated and mild. Johnny Depp is a master, flat out. And Leo...well, he's unbelievable. Really, its inconceivable how phenomenally he plays Arnie, the handicapped boy. I was enthralled.

Only watch it if you're prepared to handle messy characters and lots of lost beauty. But maybe that's why I loved it...they were lost beauties, but they were trying, and wanting, so badly to regain what they had lost.