What's Eating Gilbert Grape is a film released in 1993 based on Peter Hedges's homonymous novel in 1991 and has the same name and in general, it was a book that got a lot of success, so much that in 1993 the film was released where the script was created by Peter himself and directed by Lasse Hallström.
With the incredible performances of Johnny Depp (Gilbert Grape), Leonardo DiCaprio (Arnie Grape), Juliette Lewis (Becky), Darlene Cates (Bonnie Grape) and many others.
Based in the city of Endora, Iowa where Gilbert lives with the family and His father had committed suicide 17 years ago and because of this Gilbert carries the responsibility of his mother Bonnie that since the death of her husband has only been dedicated to eating and watching television this led to her weighing more than 200 kilos and can not move from the chair (and its been more than 7 years since she had left her house).
Ellen who is a whimsical little sister, Arnie who is a 17-year-old teenager (about 18) with a severe mental retardation that is a miracle since no doctor believed that he would live more than 10 years (however, he can die in Any time) and their house that is about to collapse. While on the other hand, the older sister of Him is responsible for the cleaning and care of the home.
Also, she also works at a food store and has all the responsibility of her brother Arnie. At the same time, Gilbert's life seems not to go anywhere: he walks around without a direction, has a relationship with a married woman, is ashamed of him and next to his family lives an unhappy life. Gilbert's biggest dream is to leave Endora, a town where nothing happens and where he lives a boring routine.
Despite living an unhappy life, the family does nothing to get ahead even though everyone longs for change. Arnie suffers from harassment from some of the younger inhabitants of the town, however Gilbert tries to defend him always since Gilbert really care for Arnie and always look after him. Bonnie also suffers from harassment and looks from the other inhabitants due to excessive weight.
All his situation changes with the arrival of Becky, an adventurous girl who travels in a caravan with the purpose of visiting each country in the United States, she with her grandmother have an accident and should remain in Horror for a while, and little by little It begins to form a love loop with Gilbert and friendship with Arnie.
The main thing in story is not the relationship he has with Becky, that's just a touch. The story really is Gilbert's sad life where he little by little realizes what really matters and that his life may be different, making the character have an evolution that is done more and more evident. It is a story that deals very raw issues and presented realistically, regardless of what morality says. And all you care about is that Gilbert is happy.
Try topics such as mental retardation, morbid obesity, family marginalization, psychological disorders and bullying but wrapped in an atmosphere with a certain magical realism, genially built between the intimacy of their plot and the epicity of their characters. You can connect with the Gilbert character that is perfectly played by Johnny Depp, but who takes the whole movie for his performance is Leonardo who interfereably plays Arnie a boy with mental retardation and was 19 at that time, only his performance is a reason To see it and in this film he received its first nomination to the Oscars for best actor in supporting role.
This movie is a spear that goes directly to your heart, it is magnificent, essential, beautiful and a tender story and personal overcoming where you do not need scenes of pure crying and a lot of drama to get to the depths of your heart, and that is What I like most: manages to get excited and even cry without a lot of drama and sad scenes. But it is also a smart movie where the scenes and some of the phrases of the movie becomes that you connect with her and understand the life of each of the characters.
Above all with Gilbert that you only want it to be happy and Becky is that ray of light that will change his life and you get too excited about the scenes of them two. Both Johnny and Leonardo deserved an Oscars but we already know how these prizes are mismatched sometimes.
The background score and cinematography is very simple and has nothing to emphasize but still is a good complement, for example, I liked the first scenes where Gilbert shows us that the city of Endora does not happen absolutely nothing and we see it, no There is life there but changes when near the city there is a new supermarket that is where people and life are in general. I also liked with Gilbert's life retreated and a comparison is made with Endora, that is, boring.
I was liked that they would have a little more about Amy and Ellen since they are good characters but because they pay close attention to them, they become easily forgotten, especially Amy who also shares part of the responsibility with Gilbert, I liked to know more about her , I think that's a lost opportunity, I'm sure Amy has many things to tell us about her life. Ellen on the other hand is the typical capricious sister and it seems that she will not fall well at first but more or less in the middle of the movie is the good side of her and we started loving her.
The most sentimental scene is when Arnie as always, he gets into trouble and is taken to jail and Bonnie leaves for the first time in 7 years of his house to go find him and there you feel the unhappy that is Bonnie, with everyone looking at her and talking behind their backs. Bonnie also loved, I connect my feelings immediately with her, an obese mother who knows that she is the mockery of the town and who does not want anyone to see her and she does not want to embarrass her children.
There we left with her favorite scene, when she has a talk with Gilbert where he shows her that he does not feel shame for her. I also liked Becky's character, she is the typical adventurous girl who comes to brighten Gilbert's life and the relationship of both is very beautiful and at last you say: Thank you God for giving Gilbert happiness!
The end ... I was quite surprised, nobody expected it but well we need drama and cry a little but then I cheer up by Gilbert. What I should add is that I liked it knows what happened at the end with Amy and Ellen, that small explanation of Gilbert I do not like. Again, why do they leave Amy and Ellen aside? God love and some story.
To end, I must say that the story is very well elaborated and do a lot with little, the performances are perfect and the setting is fine, as the family retract and its complications is great and a perfect family drama. ☺️🎭
