Movie: What’s Eating Gilbert Grape Essay, Research Paper
Movie: What’s Eating Gilbert Grape
“What’s Eating Gilbert Grape”, as directed by Lasse Hallstrom, is a
comedy, drama, romance, all wrapped up into one grand movie. Leonardo DiCaprio
plays a mentally impaired boy with a caring brother, who always took care of his
brother until the love of his life came to town, proposing the essential
question: What is a boy willing to sacrifice in order to be with the one he
loves?
Johnny Deep plays Gilbert Grape whose father left when he was little,
causing his mother to become depressed and never leave the house again. Gilbert
referees to her as a ?beached whale? because she has gained so much weight. One
afternoon a silver camper had engine trouble, forcing them to stay in town for a
few weeks until it is fixed. During that time Gilbert has fallen in love with
the girl in the trailer, played by Juliette Lewis. Gilbert becomes very
irresponsible when it comes to his slow brother. He once left Arnie(Johnny Depp)
in the bath tub all night because he wanted to go visit the girl. Arnie was then
terrified of the water and refused to go back on ever again. Another time was
when Gilbert was in a deep conversation with the girl (Ellen), and did not
notice Arnie disappear. He ended -up climbing to the top of the water tower and
not coming down until the firefighters carried him down. Their mother was very
upset with Gilbert and asked, ?Where has your head been?? Gilbert head has been
up in the clouds, with his love.
This movie, ?What’s eating Gilbert Grape? is similar to the movie ?Rain
Man?. In both movies they have mentally impaired bothers who need certain
treatment. These brothers didn’t always give it to them. In ?Rain Man?, Charlie
abducted his brother, Raymond, from the only home he has ever know. This wasn’t
the proper kind of treatment that Raymond needed, he was treated this way out of
Charlies’ selfish reasons. Gilbert also had selfish reasons for treating Arnie
the way he did. This reason was his love for a girl, named Ellen.
Near the end of the movie, Gilbert had a chance to help them fix the
trailer, but I find it ironic that he couldn’t get it fixed. I feel that he
just want Ellen to stay longer with him, but the trailer was repaired later and
Ellen had to leave town, not wanting to though. I feel that this was only for
the best because Arnie needed more attention then he was getting. He could of
gotten hurt when he disappeared, and Arnie may not be around much longer, he was
only suppose to live to be ten, he is eighteen now. Gilbert needs to concentrate
on his brother, and if he does want love, he will need to be more responsible.