What's Eating Gilbert Grape

Director: Lasse Hallstrom Lasse Hallstrom

Overview

A withdrawn young man in a small rural town grows bored with his life, which consists of a meaningless job and the tiresome task of caring for his mentally handicapped brother. The arrival of a new girl in town, however, brings unexpected changes for everyone in this quirky drama.

Product Details

Release Date:	09/12/2017
UPC:	0032429282118
Original Release:	1993
Rating:	PG-13
Source:	PARAMOUNT
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	1:57:00

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Johnny Depp	Gilbert Grape
Leonardo DiCaprio	Arnie Grape
Juliette Lewis	Becky
Mary Steenburgen	Betty Carver
Darlene Cates	Momma
Laura Harrington	Amy Grape
Mary Kate Schellhardt	Ellen Grape
Kevin Tighe	Mr. Carver
John C. Reilly	Tucker Van Dyke
Crispin Glover	Bobby McBurney
Penelope Branning	Becky's Grandma
Gail Levin	Actor
Tim Green	Mr. Lamson
Susan Loughran	Mrs. Lamson
Robert B. Hedges	Reverend
Mark Jordan	Todd Carver
Cameron Finley	Doug Carver
Brady Coleman	Sheriff Farrel
Tim Simek	Deputy
Björn Isfält	Composer
Alan Parker	Composer
Nicholas Stojanovich	Boy #1
Libby Villari	Waitress
Kay Bower	Police Secretary
Joe Stevens	Burger Barn Manager
Mona Lee Fultz	FoodLand Bakery Worker
George Haynes	Dave
Daniel Gullahorn	Boy #2
Brent Bratton	Burger Barn Employee
Kirk Hunter	Townfolk
David Stanford	Townsperson
David H. Kramer	Group

Technical Credits

Peter Hedges

Lasse Hallstrom	Director,Producer
Alan Blomquist	Executive Producer,Producer
Gail Levin	Casting
David Matalon	Producer
Bertil Ohlsson	Producer
Meir Teper	Producer
Peter Hedges	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

This tender but unflinching examination of the tension between individual happiness and family obligation neatly condenses a large ensemble, a lengthy backstory and a lot of subtext into two delightfully cinematic hours. Just a touch of voice-over from leading man Johnny Depp sets the stage for a story that is told from his character's viewpoint even as it takes in a host of supporting players and deals with such tangential issues as frustrated infidelity and the strip-malling of America. After his roguish turn in This Boy's Life, Leonardo DiCaprio made his name as a serious young actor with his top-notch work as the retarded Arnie; spot-on physical and vocal mannerisms broadcast DiCaprio's technical prowess, but his performance here has the sort of emotional undertow and sly, if childlike, intelligence that has eluded other actors as accomplished as Dustin Hoffman in similar roles. Non-actress Darlene Cates is fantastic as the manipulative yet ultimately dignified and sympathetic Momma, while the supporting cast, from John C. Reilly and Crispin Glover to Juliette Lewis and Mary Streenburgen, provides comic asides, thoughtful interludes, and catharsis upon command. In the end, though, it's Depp and director Lasse Hallstrom who hold it all together, the former actually using his soulful eyes instead of coasting on the beauty of his gravity-defying cheekbones, the latter deftly balancing pathos and contemplation and keeping his large cast and story in line.