The ties that bind.

What's Eating Gilbert Grape?  (Lasse Hallstrom, 1993)

I am always fascinated by actors who play the mentally challenged for as long as I had my far-out ambition for acting is concerned,. So the autistic, schizophrenic, manic-depressive, and the Hannibal Lecter-type fall into this category. Though I think that accepting roles which require you to do abnormal things, is quite a chore considering the amount of research and character study that is entailed to mimic say their mannerisms, I think that it is still less daunting than having to play ‘normal’ people.

In What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?, a pre-Titanic Leonardo DiCaprio plays the retarded 17-year old Arnie, the younger brother whom Gilbert (Johnny Depp) is forced to keep his eyes on, especially that with Arnie’s constant trips up the town’s water tank (this is actually a prophetic scene which can be compared to his king-of-the-world histrionics). This scene has been a familiar crowd-drawer and Gilbert has always promised the authorities to take care of it or else Arnie is put in detention or special care.

What’s Eating Gilbert Grape is Depp’s film but for most, this will be remembered as Leo’s launch pad. Who’d ever think that the scrawny and dirty little retard will actually become one of Hollywood’s hot properties? Being demented, dysfunctional or abnormal has been typical Oscar bait these days, and Leo’s role as Arnie landed him his first Oscar nomination. Whatever the Academy’s preferences are, I do have to agree that Leo pulled this one off like it was a piece of cake. It was a nuanced portrayal and the ease by which he blended in every scene is easily recognized.

Arnie seems to be Gilbert’s burden, whose care he was entrusted for by his humongous mother (Darlene Cates) after their father died. So even when Gilbert goes to the local grocery where he works for, he carries along Arnie and in turn Arnie assists him whichever way he can, except of course when Arnie’s screws loosen up and he goes back to climb the water tank again. They have two sisters as well who takes care of the house because their mother needs to be attended to as well. Perhaps brought about by the depression caused by her husband’s death, Momma has grown to unimaginable proportions that getting her out of the couch is like operating a bulldozer.

When a new girl in town (Juliette Lewis) enters the picture, Gilbert is forced to reflect on his priorities and things that matters most. Despite clearly focusing on the family and the ties that bind, the story also offers a glimpse into the life of a little town, the people and the secrets personified by the character of a disgruntled housewife who makes out with Gilbert when he delivers the groceries. I was kinda shaking my head when the house was burning and it feels like it’s abruptly forced into the picture. The script could draw a little more interest but the shots of countryside vistas are spectacular which imposes a feel-good quality to the film’s whole mood.