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Promise
realized! In just his third film - second of any note
- Leo stunned everyone with his total transformation
from loose-limbed teen to the severely challenged
autistic, Arnie. This slice-of-life, coming-of-age
gem about the Grape family - led by Johnny Depp’s
generous-to-a-fault Gilbert - tells the story of a
young man (Depp) trapped by his own sense of duty
and loyalty to the family that depends on him for
everything and that he loves so much.
Following
in the illustrious footsteps of such films as "David
and Lisa," "Marty" and "Rainman,"
"What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?" soars
with a kind of quiet power that nearly overwhelms
even as it lifts the spirit. Like Tom Cruise in "Rainman"
- Depp lends the film a sense of gravity, even as
he hands it over to Leo for all the emotional and
physical pyrotechnics.
And
Leo does not disappoint. In fact, he runs with it
all the way to a well-deserved Oscar nomination. But
more than all the twitches and mannerisms, it gives
us a sustained look at the blinding light of a talent
emerging and, like Mozart, we can only stand back
and wonder at how such beauty can come from one so
young. A film to own and watch from time to time.
Directed by
Lasse Hallström
Produced by
Alan C. Blomquist (executive)
Lasse Hallström (executive)
David Matalon
Bertil Ohlsson
Meir Teper
Writing credits
Peter Hedges (II) (also novel)
Cinematography by
Sven Nykvist
Cast
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