What's Eating Gilbert Grape
Directed by	Lasse Hallström
Produced by	Lasse Hallström Alan C. Blomquist
Written by	Peter Hedges
Starring	Johnny Depp Juliette Lewis Leonardo DiCaprio Darlene Cates
Music by	Alan Parker Björn Isfält
Cinematography	Sven Nykvist
Editing by	Andrew Mondshein
Distributed by	J&M Entertainment (non-USA) Paramount Pictures (USA)
Release date(s)	December 25 1993
Running time	118 min.
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	US$11 million (estimated)
All Movie Guide profile
IMDb profile

What's Eating Gilbert Grape is a 1993 dramedy movie directed by Lasse Hallström and starring Johnny Depp, Juliette Lewis and Leonardo DiCaprio. It is based on a book of the same name by author Peter Hedges. It was filmed in Manor, Texas. This is a copyrighted poster. ... Lena Olin, Lasse Hallström, and Juliette Binoche at the premiere of Chocolat at the 2001 Berlinale (photo by Michael Weiner) Lars Sven (Lasse) Hallström (born 2 June 1946 in Stockholm) is a Swedish film director. ... Lena Olin, Lasse Hallström, and Juliette Binoche at the premiere of Chocolat at the 2001 Berlinale (photo by Michael Weiner) Lars Sven (Lasse) Hallström (born 2 June 1946 in Stockholm) is a Swedish film director. ... Movie poster of Pieces of April Peter Hedges (born July 6, 1962) is an American writer and film director. ... Johnny Depp (born John Christopher Depp II[2] on June 9, 1963, in Owensboro, Kentucky) is an Academy Award-nominated and SAG Awards-winning American actor and for his performances in the films Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), Edward Scissorhands (1990), Whats Eating Gilbert Grape (1993), Ed Wood (1994... Juliette Lewis (born June 21, 1973) is an Oscar-nominated American actress and musician. ... Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio (born November 11, 1974[1]) is a three-time Academy Award-nominated and Golden Globe Award-winning American actor well known for his roles in blockbuster movies such as William Shakespeares Romeo + Juliet (1996), Titanic (1997), Catch Me If You Can (2002), Gangs of New York... Darlene Cates Cates is an actress who made her feature film debut in Lasse Hallstroms Whats Eating Gilbert Grape, alongside Johnny Depp, Juliette Lewis and Leonardo DiCaprio. ... Alan Parker on the set of Pink Floyd The Wall Sir Alan Parker (born February 14, 1944) is a British film director, producer, writer, and actor. ... Sven Nykvist (born 3 December 1922 in Moheda, Kronobergs län, Sweden) is a Swedish cinematographer known especially for his work with director Ingmar Bergman. ... Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American motion picture production and distribution company, based in Hollywood, California. ... December 25 is the 359th day of the year (360th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 6 days remaining in the year. ... // March 31 - Actor Brandon Lee is accidentally killed during the filming of The Crow. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... ISO 4217 Code USD User(s) the United States, the British Indian Ocean Territory,[1] the British Virgin Islands, Cambodia, East Timor, Ecuador, El Salvador, Maldives the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Panama, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the insular areas of the United States Inflation 2. ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Film is a term that encompasses individual motion pictures, the field of film as an art form, and the motion picture industry. ... Lena Olin, Lasse Hallström, and Juliette Binoche at the premiere of Chocolat at the 2001 Berlinale (photo by Michael Weiner) Lars Sven (Lasse) Hallström (born 2 June 1946 in Stockholm) is a Swedish film director. ... Johnny Depp (born John Christopher Depp II[2] on June 9, 1963, in Owensboro, Kentucky) is an Academy Award-nominated and SAG Awards-winning American actor and for his performances in the films Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), Edward Scissorhands (1990), Whats Eating Gilbert Grape (1993), Ed Wood (1994... Juliette Lewis (born June 21, 1973) is an Oscar-nominated American actress and musician. ... Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio (born November 11, 1974[1]) is a three-time Academy Award-nominated and Golden Globe Award-winning American actor well known for his roles in blockbuster movies such as William Shakespeares Romeo + Juliet (1996), Titanic (1997), Catch Me If You Can (2002), Gangs of New York... Movie poster of Pieces of April Peter Hedges (born July 6, 1962) is an American writer and film director. ... Manor is a city located in Travis County, Texas. ...

Plot summary

In the small town of Endora, Iowa, Gilbert Grape (Johnny Depp) is busy caring for his mentally handicapped brother, Arnie (Leonardo DiCaprio). His morbidly obese mother, Bonnie (Darlene Cates), has not left the house in seven years since her husband committed suicide in the basement of their house, spending almost all of her time on the couch watching television. With Bonnie unable to care for her children on her own, Gilbert has taken responsibility for repairing the old house and looking after Arnie, who has a habit of climbing up the town water tower, while his sisters Amy and Ellen do the rest. A new "Food Land" supermarket has opened, threatening the small Lamson's Grocery where Gilbert works. With all the weight on his shoulders Gilbert tries to handle his situation the best he can. This article is about the U.S. State. ... Johnny Depp (born John Christopher Depp II[2] on June 9, 1963, in Owensboro, Kentucky) is an Academy Award-nominated and SAG Awards-winning American actor and for his performances in the films Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), Edward Scissorhands (1990), Whats Eating Gilbert Grape (1993), Ed Wood (1994... Mental retardation is a term for a pattern of persistently slow learning of basic motor and language skills (milestones) during childhood, and a significantly below-normal global intellectual capacity as an adult. ... Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio (born November 11, 1974[1]) is a three-time Academy Award-nominated and Golden Globe Award-winning American actor well known for his roles in blockbuster movies such as William Shakespeares Romeo + Juliet (1996), Titanic (1997), Catch Me If You Can (2002), Gangs of New York... Obesity is a condition in which the natural energy reserve, stored in the fatty tissue of humans and other mammals, is increased to a point where it is associated with certain health conditions or increased mortality. ... Darlene Cates Cates is an actress who made her feature film debut in Lasse Hallstroms Whats Eating Gilbert Grape, alongside Johnny Depp, Juliette Lewis and Leonardo DiCaprio. ...

As the film begins, the family is preparing for Arnies's 18th birthday. Just then, a young woman named Becky (Juliette Lewis) and her grandmother are stuck in town when the truck pulling their mobile home breaks down. When Gilbert first sees Becky, he begins to rethink his life. His unusual, chaotic home life threatens to get in the way of their budding romance. The mother climbs the stairs of her house to her bedroom for the first time since her husband's suicide and dies for reasons not mentioned in the film directly. The children, not willing to let their mother become the joke of the town by having her corpse lifted from the house by crane empty their family home of possessions and set it ablaze, to cremate their parent. The film cuts to the blaze and fades out with the family looking on at their burning home. The story then skips ahead one year, with Gilbert describing how Amy got a job in Des Moines, and Ellen who can't wait to switch schools, as Gilbert and his brother Arnie wait by the side of a long road for the arrival of Gilbert's romance, Becky. The film fades out with Gilbert and Arnie riding with Becky and her grandmother to an untold destination, hugging each other in the back seat of the Recreational Vehicle owned by Becky's grandmother. Juliette Lewis (born June 21, 1973) is an Oscar-nominated American actress and musician. ... A modern double-wide manufactured home. ... A camper built on a light truck chassis. ...

Cast

• Johnny Depp as Gilbert Grape
• Leonardo DiCaprio as Arnie Grape
• Juliette Lewis as Becky
• Mary Steenburgen as Betty Carver who lusts for Gilbert
• Darlene Cates as Bonnie Grape, the obese mother
• Laura Harrington as Amy Grape, the older of Gilbert's sisters
• Mary Kate Schellhardt as Ellen Grape, the younger of Gilbert's sisters. Seen in three scenes practicing on a trumpet
• Kevin Tighe as Ken Carver, an insurance agent and Betty's husband
• John C. Reilly as Tucker Van Dyke, Gilbert's friend who also serves as a handyman and is hired by Burger Barn
• Crispin Glover as Bobby McBurney, who works at a morgue
• Penelope Branning as Becky's Grandma;
• Tim Green as Mr. Lamson, the storeowner
• Susan Loughran as Mrs. Lamson
• Robert B. Hedges as Minister
• Mark Jordan as Todd Carver, one of the Carver sons, possibly the older
• Cameron Finley as Doug Carver, one of the Carver sons
• Brady Coleman as Sheriff Jerry Farrel
• Tim Simek as Deputy
• Nicholas Stojanovich as Boy #1
• Libby Villari as Waitress
• Kay Bower as Police secretary
• Joe Stevens as Burger Barn manager
• Mona Lee Fultz as FoodLand Bakery Worker
• George Haynes as Dave
• Daniel Gullahorn as Boy #2

Johnny Depp (born John Christopher Depp II[2] on June 9, 1963, in Owensboro, Kentucky) is an Academy Award-nominated and SAG Awards-winning American actor and for his performances in the films Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), Edward Scissorhands (1990), Whats Eating Gilbert Grape (1993), Ed Wood (1994... Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio (born November 11, 1974[1]) is a three-time Academy Award-nominated and Golden Globe Award-winning American actor well known for his roles in blockbuster movies such as William Shakespeares Romeo + Juliet (1996), Titanic (1997), Catch Me If You Can (2002), Gangs of New York... Juliette Lewis (born June 21, 1973) is an Oscar-nominated American actress and musician. ... Mary Steenburgen (born February 8, 1953) is an Academy Award-winning American actress. ... See also Lust (onomastics) for other uses Lust is any intense desire or craving for self gratification. ... Darlene Cates Cates is an actress who made her feature film debut in Lasse Hallstroms Whats Eating Gilbert Grape, alongside Johnny Depp, Juliette Lewis and Leonardo DiCaprio. ... Laura Harrington is an American actress, born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA on the 29th April 1958. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... For Trumpet Winsock, see Winsock. ... Kevin Tighe (born August 13, 1944 in Los Angeles) is an American actor best remembered for his role as Roy DeSoto on the TV series Emergency! from 1972 to 1979. ... John Christopher Reilly (born May 24, 1965) is an Academy Award-nominated American actor. ... Crispin Hellion Glover (born April 20, 1964) is a multifaceted American artist. ... Mortuary, a film directed by Tobe Hooper, see Mortuary (film). ... Tim Green (b. ... Cameron Finley (August 30, 1987 in Garland, Texas), American actor and former child actor. ...

Taglines

• Life is a terrible thing to sleep through.
• Living in Endora is like dancing to no music.
• Arnie knows a secret: His brother Gilbert is the best person in the world.
• Life hasn't passed Gilbert by...it's just taken a slight detour.

Age/Time Discrepancy

The film has a prominent time discrepancy: Gilbert and others mention that the family's father has been dead for 17 years, yet youngest daughter Ellen had only just turned 15. This gap is reinforced in several scenes, including the Ken Carver funeral scene, when Arnie is playing at his father's grave. In the Commentary between director Hallström & Screenwriter/novelst Hedges in the DVD version of the movie, they explain that in Hedges' novel, Ellen was slightly older and a little more mature than in the movie; but since they had cast such a young actress (Schellhardt, then 15 herself), they had no choice but to make the movie version of Ellen that young as well.

Trivia

• This was the first ever film shown on the British television channel, FilmFour, when it launched in 1998.
• Leonardo DiCaprio earned his first Oscar nomination for this film.
• An episode of American Dad! titled "Irregarding Steve" parodies the movie, but with talking squirrels.
• Becky drives a rare International Harvester Travelall, which is green with a white roof and appears to be in excellent condition.
• Darlene Cates, who plays "Momma", first appeared on the American show Sally Jessy Raphael to talk about her weight problem, and was chosen for her role after the producer of the show sent a tape to the casting director of the film. The picture of Momma that Gilbert is seen looking at in the film is an actual photograph of Darlene, aged 14. [1]
• In season 5 of CSI:Crime Scene Investigation, one episode is titled "What's Eating Gilbert Grissom".
• The movie was set in Iowa, but it was actually filmed in both Manor and Lockhart Texas.
• Leonardo DiCaprio trained for his part of the film at children hospitals for the mentally challenged.

Film4 is a free British digital television channel, owned and operated by Channel 4, which screens high-quality films. ... Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio (born November 11, 1974[1]) is a three-time Academy Award-nominated and Golden Globe Award-winning American actor well known for his roles in blockbuster movies such as William Shakespeares Romeo + Juliet (1996), Titanic (1997), Catch Me If You Can (2002), Gangs of New York... Academy Award The Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, are the most prominent and most watched film awards ceremony in the world. ... American Dad! is a satirical American animated television series produced by Underdog Productions and Fuzzy Door Productions for 20th Century Fox. ... Irregarding Steve is a second season episode of the FOX animated series American Dad!. Spoiler warning: Steves high opinion of his dads intelligence is shattered when he receives a failing grade on a presentation on fossils that Stan helped him with. ... The Travelall was an early full-size SUV similar to the Chevy Suburban made by International Harvester in the 1960s and early 70s. ... Sally Jessy Raphaël (born Sally Lowenthal on February 25, 1935 in Easton, Pennsylvania) is an American talk show host and television presenter. ... Look up manor in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Lockhart is the name of several places in the United States: Lockhart, Alabama Lockhart, Florida Lockhart, South Carolina Lockhart, Texas Lockhart Township, Minnesota People: Anne Lockhart (1953 - ), US actor Joe Lockhart, US political aide John Gibson Lockhart (1794 - 1854), Scottish writer and editor June Lockhart (1925 - ), US actor Keith Lockhart... Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio (born November 11, 1974[1]) is a three-time Academy Award-nominated and Golden Globe Award-winning American actor well known for his roles in blockbuster movies such as William Shakespeares Romeo + Juliet (1996), Titanic (1997), Catch Me If You Can (2002), Gangs of New York...

External links

• What's Eating Gilbert Grape at the Internet Movie Database