What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Lasse Hallström

Writers (WGA):

Peter Hedges (novel)
Peter Hedges (screenplay)

Release Date:

25 December 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Arnie knows a secret. His big brother Gilbert is the greatest person on the planet.

Plot:

Gilbert has care for his brother Arnie and his obese mother, which gets in the way when love walks into his life.

Plot Keywords:

Grocery Store | Delivery Boy | Bittersweet | Male Female Relationship | Obscene Finger Gesture

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 4 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Johnny Depp	...	Gilbert Grape
Leonardo DiCaprio	...	Arnie Grape
Juliette Lewis	...	Becky
Mary Steenburgen	...	Betty Carver
Darlene Cates	...	Bonnie Grape
Laura Harrington	...	Amy Grape
Mary Kate Schellhardt	...	Ellen Grape
Kevin Tighe	...	Ken Carver
John C. Reilly	...	Tucker Van Dyke
Crispin Glover	...	Bobby McBurney
Penelope Branning	...	Becky's Grandma
Tim Green	...	Mr. Lamson
Susan Loughran	...	Mrs. Lamson
Robert B. Hedges	...	Minister
Mark Jordan	...	Todd Carver

Also Known As:

¿A quién ama Gilbert Grape? (Spain) [es]
Buon compleanno mr. Grape (Italy) [it]
Co gryzie Gilberta Grape'a? (Poland) [pl]
Gilbert Grape (Sweden) [sv]
Gilbert Grape (Finland) [fi]
Gilbert Grape (Hungary) [hu]
Gilbert Grape (France) [fr]
Gilbert Grape - Aprendiz de Sonhador (Brazil) [pt]
Gilbert Grape - Irgendwo in Iowa (Germany) [de]
Kaj zre Gilberta Grapea? (Slovenia) [sl]
Ma Overe al Gilbert? (Israel: Hebrew title) [iw]
Sto muci Gilberta Grapea (Croatia) [hr]

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for elements of mature subject matter.

Runtime:

118 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #32522) | Iceland:L | France:Unrated | South Korea:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Canada:PG | Finland:K-10 | Germany:6 (f) | Netherlands:12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | UK:12

Filming Locations:

Austin, Texas, USA

Company:

J&M Entertainment

Trivia:

Despite the fact that animal protection agents were onset to monitor the wellbeing of the grasshopper Arnie decapitates in the letterbox, Leonardo DiCaprio accidentally killed it.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Gilbert and Becky load her groceries in the rain they load them in the back of the truck under a tarp on the passenger side. When they arrive at the campsite they unload them from the driver's side.

Quotes:

Tucker: How's momma?
Gilbert: She's fat.
Tucker: Come on man. She's not all that big, Gilbert.
Gilbert: What?
Tucker: Listen, I saw a guy at the state fair that was... a little bit bigger.
Gilbert: A little bit bigger?
Tucker: Look, all I'm sayin is that she's not the biggest I ever seen, okay?
Gilbert: Tucker, she's a whale!
Tucker: Well take her out for a walk once and while.
Gilbert: Take her out for a jog!
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in "20 to 1: Child Stars: Where Are They Now? (#6.6)" (2008)

Performances beyond belief

The first time I saw this film, I had yet to know the name Leonardo DiCaprio. And I was stunned. Is that actor really retarded or what? His acting is so excellent, you don't need to doubt why he got to be so big.

But all others perform real well also. I have always had an eye for Depp's acting, and Lewis is, like always, little. The new thing is that she's kind and caring.

This is a great film, and if nothing else, watch it because a swede directed it.