Editing What's Eating Gilbert Grape

{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = What's Eating Gilbert Grape
| image          = What's Eating Gilbert Grape poster.png
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = [[Lasse Hallström]]
| producer       = {{plainlist|
* Bertil Ohlsson
* David Matalon
* [[Meir Teper]]
}}
| writer         = 
| screenplay     = [[Peter Hedges]]
| based_on       = {{Based on|''What's Eating Gilbert Grape''|Peter Hedges}}
| starring       = {{Plainlist| 
* [[Johnny Depp]]
* [[Juliette Lewis]]
* [[Mary Steenburgen]]
* [[Leonardo DiCaprio]]
* [[Darlene Cates]]
* [[John C. Reilly]]
}}
| music          = [[Alan Parker (musician)|Alan Parker]]<br>[[Björn Isfält]]
| cinematography = [[Sven Nykvist]]
| editing        = [[Andrew Mondshein]]
| studio         = Matalon Teper Ohlsson
| distributor    = {{Plainlist|
*[[Paramount Pictures]] (United States)
* [[Myriad Pictures|J&M Entertainment]] (International)<ref name=AFI/>
}}
| released       = {{Film date|1993|12|17}}
| runtime        = 118 minutes
| country        = United States
| language       = English
| budget         = $11 million<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1993/0WHTS.php|title=What's Eating Gilbert Grape - Box Office Data |website=The Numbers|access-date=2011-07-28}}</ref>
| gross          = $10 million (US)<ref name=mojo/>
}}
'''''What's Eating Gilbert Grape''''' is a 1993 American [[List of coming-of-age stories|coming-of-age]] [[drama]] film directed by [[Lasse Hallström]], and starring [[Johnny Depp]], [[Juliette Lewis]], [[Mary Steenburgen]], [[Leonardo DiCaprio]], [[John C. Reilly]] and [[Darlene Cates]]. It follows a grocery store clerk, living with his dysfunctional family including his [[morbidly obese]] mother, his [[Intellectual disability|mentally disabled]] younger brother and two sisters, in the fictional [[Rural area|rural]] town of Endora, [[Iowa]]. 

[[Peter Hedges]] wrote the screenplay, based on his 1991 novel of the same name. Filming took place from November 1992 to January 1993 in various parts of [[Texas]].

The film was well received, with Depp and DiCaprio's performances garnering critical acclaim. At age 19, DiCaprio received his first nominations for the [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor|Academy Award]] and [[Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture|Golden Globe Award]] for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, becoming the [[List of oldest and youngest Academy Award winners and nominees#Best Actor in a Supporting Role|seventh-youngest]] Best Supporting Actor nominee for the former.

==Plot==
In the small [[town]] of Endora, Iowa, Gilbert Grape is busy caring for Arnie, his mentally disabled younger brother who is about to turn 18, as they wait for the many tourists' trailers to pass through town during an annual [[Airstream#Airstreamers|Airstreamers' Club]] gathering at a nearby recreational area. His father had lost his business or money seventeen years earlier and committed suicide two years after. Since then, his mother, Bonnie, has spent most of her days on the couch watching television and eating. With Bonnie's [[obesity]] leaving her unable to care for her children on her own, Gilbert has taken responsibility for repairing the old house that his father built and being protective of Arnie, who has a habit of climbing the town's water tower, as well as trees, while his sisters, Amy and Ellen, do the other housework. Gilbert had an older brother named Larry who moved away some years ago. A new [[FoodLand]] supermarket has opened, threatening the small Lamson's Grocery where Gilbert works.

Gilbert is having an affair with a married woman to whom he delivers groceries.  When her husband finds out, there's a horrible scene involving Gilbert, the man's children, and their wading pool.  The husband later dies from a heart attack and drowning in the wading pool.

A young woman named Becky and her grandmother are stuck in town when the [[International Harvester Travelall]] pulling their trailer breaks down. Gilbert's unusual life circumstances threaten to get in the way of their budding romance. To spend time with Becky to watch the sunset, Gilbert leaves Arnie alone in the bath. He returns home late and finds Arnie still in the bath the following morning, shivering in the now-cold water; his guilt is compounded by his family's anger and Arnie's subsequent [[aquaphobia]]. Becky becomes close to both Gilbert and Arnie. While they are distracted during one of their talks, Arnie returns to the water tower that he is always trying to climb. Arnie is arrested after being rescued from the top of the tower, causing Bonnie — who has not left the house in more than seven years — to become the laughing stock of the town as she goes to the police station, forcing Arnie's release.

Soon, Arnie ruins two birthday cakes: the first, when he runs into Amy and she drops the cake she has lovingly made; and the second, a replacement from FoodLand, which he dips his fingers in to, having found it in the refrigerator. Arnie tries to run away from his bath, and in his frustration, Gilbert finally snaps, hitting Arnie several times. Guilty and appalled at himself, Gilbert flees, driving away in his truck. Arnie also runs to Becky, who takes care of him for the evening, and helps him overcome his aquaphobia, until he is picked up by his sisters. After some soul-searching, aided by Becky, Gilbert returns home during Arnie's 18th birthday party to make amends to his family for running out, and to receive Arnie's reluctant forgiveness. He also apologizes to his mother for his behavior, and vows not to be ashamed of her or let her be hurt anymore. She acknowledges how much of a burden that she has become to the family, and he forgives her. Gilbert also introduces Bonnie to Becky, something he had been reluctant to do.

Following the party, Bonnie climbs the stairs to her bedroom for the first time since her husband's suicide. Arnie tries to wake her, but discovers that she has died. With no way to remove her body from the second floor, the police make plans to return with a crane the next day. The family instinctively knows that there will be a crowd of people there to get a laugh, instead of paying their respects. Wanting to keep her death from becoming a mockery, the family removes the furniture and belongings from the house, and Gilbert sets the house ablaze with Bonnie still inside as a [[funeral pyre]].

A year later, Amy gets a job managing a bakery in the [[Des Moines]] area, while Ellen looks forward to switching schools and living in a bigger city. Gilbert waits by the side of the road with Arnie, whose 19th birthday is coming up, waiting for the tourist trailers to come again. As part of the convoy, Becky arrives with her grandmother and picks them both up. Gilbert tells Arnie, "We can go anywhere."

==Cast==
{{cast listing|
* [[Johnny Depp]] as Gilbert Grape
* [[Leonardo DiCaprio]] as Arnold "Arnie" Grape
* [[Juliette Lewis]] as Rebecca "Becky"
* [[Darlene Cates]] as Bonnie Grape
* [[Laura Harrington]] as Amy Grape
* [[Mary Kate Schellhardt]] as Ellen Grape
* [[Kevin Tighe]] as Kenneth "Ken" Carver
* [[Mary Steenburgen]] as Betty Carver
* [[John C. Reilly]] as Tucker Van Dyke
* [[Crispin Glover]] as Robert "Bobby" McBurney
* Penelope Branning as Becky's Grandma
* [[Libby Villari]] as the Waitress<ref name=AFI>{{cite web|url= https://catalog.afi.com/Film/59706-WHATS-EATINGGILBERTGRAPE|publisher=American Film Institute|title=What's Eating Gilbert Grape|access-date=May 12, 2021}}</ref>
}}

==Production==
Filming for ''What's Eating Gilbert Grape'' began November 2, 1992, and concluded in late January 1993.<ref name=AFI/> It was shot in Texas, in various towns and cities; [[Austin, Texas|Austin]] and [[Pflugerville, Texas|Pflugerville]] were primary locations, as well as [[Manor, Texas|Manor]], where the water tower featured in the film was located.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.slackerwood.com/node/2628|work=Slackerwood|title=Lone Star Cinema: What's Eating Gilbert Grape|date=December 13, 2011|access-date=January 11, 2016|last=Clinchy |first=Don}}</ref> [[Christian Bale]] was up for the part of Arnie, but lost to DiCaprio.<ref>{{cite web|author-first1=Cassidy|author-last1=Stephenson|url=https://www.cbr.com/christian-bale-leonardo-dicaprio-movie-nemesis-explained/ | title=Why Christian Bale Declared Leonardo DiCaprio His Nemesis | date=21 May 2022 |website=www.cbr.com}}</ref>

''Film Review'' quoted actor Leonardo DiCaprio:

{{blockquote|I had to really research and get into the mind of somebody with a disability like that. So I spent a few days at a home for mentally ill teens. We just talked and I watched their mannerisms. People have these expectations that mentally retarded children are really crazy, but it's not so. It's refreshing to see them because everything's so new to them.<ref name=Cameron-Wilson148 />}}

==Reception==
[[File:Leonardo DiCaprio.jpeg|thumb|upright|right|[[Leonardo DiCaprio]]'s performance received widespread critical acclaim, garnering the then-19-year-old a nomination for the [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor]], making him the [[List of oldest and youngest Academy Award winners and nominees#Youngest nominees 4|seventh-youngest]] Best Supporting Actor nominee.]]

The film had a limited release December 17, 1993, and wide release March 4, 1994.<ref name=mojo>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl827622913/weekend/|title=What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993) - Weekend Box Office Results|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=2008-12-30}}</ref> The wide release garnered $2,104,938 in its first weekend. It was considered a [[box-office bomb]], with the total domestic gross for the film of $10,032,765, although it achieved greater success on home video.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://littlethings.com/lifestyle/whats-eating-gilbert-grape|title=10 Surprising Facts About 'What's Eating Gilbert Grape'|first=Grace|last=Eire|website=littlethings.com|date=July 18, 2017|accessdate=March 24, 2023}}</ref>

The film received positive reviews, with many critics praising the performances by Depp, DiCaprio, and Cates. The latter was singled out for his performance in the film, many saying that DiCaprio stole the film from the lead actor, Depp. On [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film was given a 90% score, and an average rating of 7.40/10, based on 50 reviews. The site's consensus states: "It's sentimental and somewhat predictable, but those are small complaints, given the tender atmosphere and moving performances at the heart of ''What's Eating Gilbert Grape''."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/whats_eating_gilbert_grape/|title=What's Eating Gilbert Grape Movie Reviews, Pictures - Rotten Tomatoes|website=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=April 10, 2021}}</ref> [[Metacritic]] calculated an average score of 73 out of 100, based on 20 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".<ref>{{cite web |title=What's Eating Gilbert Grape Reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/whats-eating-gilbert-grape |access-date=February 28, 2022 |website=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]}}</ref>

''[[The New York Times]]'' film critic, [[Janet Maslin]], praised DiCaprio's performance, writing, "The film's real show-stopping turn comes from Mr. DiCaprio, who makes Arnie's many [[tic]]s so startling and vivid that at first he is difficult to watch... The performance has a sharp, desperate intensity from beginning to end."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9F0CE0D61631F934A25751C1A965958260|title=Movie Review: What's Eating Gilbert Grape|last=Maslin|first=Janet|date=1993-12-17|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=2008-12-30}}</ref>

[[Roger Ebert]] of the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' described it as "one of the most enchanting films of the year," and said that DiCaprio deserved to win the [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor]], for which he was nominated.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ebert|first=Roger|date=1994-03-04|title=What's Eating Gilbert Grape|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/whats-eating-gilbert-grape-1994|access-date=2021-08-23|website=Roger Ebert|publisher=rogerebert.com}}</ref>

[[Todd McCarthy]] of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' found the film a "bemused view on life", and remarked that "Depp manages to command center screen with a greatly affable, appealing characterization."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/1993/film/reviews/what-s-eating-gilbert-grape-1200434881/|title=What's Eating Gilbert Grape Review|last=McCarthy|first=Todd|date=1993-12-05|magazine=Variety|access-date=2008-12-30}}</ref>

''[[The Washington Post]]''{{'}}s [[Desson Thomson|Desson Howe]] thought that the film was an earnest but highly predictable effort.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/whatseatinggilbertgrapepg13howe_a0b036.htm|title=What's Eating Gilbert Grape|last=Howe|first=Desson|date=1994-03-04|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=2008-12-30}}</ref>

''[[Film Review (magazine)|Film Review]]'' praised Leonardo DiCaprio as the mentally disabled brother, calling it "a performance of astonishing innocence and spontaneity," bringing "a touching credibility to a very difficult part."<ref name="Cameron-Wilson148">{{Cite book|last1=Cameron-Wilson|first1=James|last2=Speed|first2=F. Maurice|title=Film Review 1994-5|year=1994|publisher=Virgin Books|location=Great Britain|isbn=0-86369-842-5|page=148}}</ref>

=== Year-end lists ===
* 2nd&nbsp;– David Elliott, ''[[The San Diego Union-Tribune]]''<ref>{{cite news|last=Elliott|first=David|date=December 25, 1994|title=On the big screen, color it a satisfying time|newspaper=[[The San Diego Union-Tribune]]|edition=1, 2|page=E=8}}</ref>
* 4th&nbsp;– Dan Craft, ''[[The Pantagraph]]''<ref>{{cite news|last=Craft|first=Dan|date=December 30, 1994 |title=Success, Failure and a Lot of In-between; Movies '94|newspaper=[[The Pantagraph]]|page=B1}}</ref>
* 7th&nbsp;– [[Stephen Hunter]], ''[[The Baltimore Sun]]''<ref>{{cite web|last=Hunter|first=Stephen|date=December 25, 1994|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1994-12-25-1994359091-story.html|title=Films worthy of the title 'best' in short supply MOVIES|work=The Baltimore Sun|access-date=July 19, 2020}}</ref>
* Honorable mention&nbsp;– Duane Dudek, ''[[Milwaukee Sentinel]]''<ref>{{cite news|last=Dudek|first=Duane|date=December 30, 1994|title=1994 was a year of slim pickings|work=Milwaukee Sentinel|page=3}}</ref>
* Honorable mention&nbsp;– Steve Persall, ''[[St. Petersburg Times]]''<ref>{{cite news|last=Persall|first=Steve|date=December 30, 1994|title=Fiction': The art of filmmaking|newspaper=[[St. Petersburg Times]]|page=8|edition=City}}</ref>
* Honorable mention&nbsp;– Bob Carlton, ''[[The Birmingham News]]''<ref>{{cite news|last=Carlton|first=Bob|date=December 29, 1994|title=It Was a Good Year at Movies|work=[[The Birmingham News]]|page=12-01}}</ref>

===Accolades===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:95%;"
|- style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
! colspan="5" style="background: LightSteelBlue;" | Awards
|- style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
! Award
! Category
! Recipients and nominees
! Result
|-
|[[66th Academy Awards]]<ref>{{cite web |title=The 66th Academy Awards |url=https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1994 |website=oscars.org |access-date=5 September 2023}}</ref>
|[[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]]
|rowspan=5|[[Leonardo DiCaprio]]
|{{nom}}
|-
| [[51st Golden Globe Awards]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Winners & Nominees 1994 |url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/winners-nominees/1994 |website=goldenglobes.com |access-date=5 September 2023 |archive-date=January 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119120336/https://www.goldenglobes.com/winners-nominees/1994 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture|Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture]]
| {{nom}}
|-Chicago Film Critics Association Awards 1993
|-
| [[National Board of Review Awards 1993|65th National Board of Review Awards]]<ref>{{cite web |title=1993 Award Winners |url=https://nationalboardofreview.org/award-years/1993/ |website=National Board of Review |access-date=5 September 2023}}</ref>
| [[National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor Award]]
| {{won}}
|-
|-
| [[Chicago Film Critics Association Awards 1993]]<ref>{{cite web |title=1993 - Winners of the 6th Annual Chicago Film Critics Awards |url=https://chicagofilmcritics.org/awards-blog/archives |website=chicagofilmcritics.org |access-date=5 September 2023}}</ref>
| Most Promising Young Actor
| {{won}}
|-
|-
| [[1993 Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards]]<ref>{{cite web |title=19th Annual Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards |url=http://www.lafca.net/Years/1993.php |website=lafca.net |access-date=5 September 2023}}</ref>
| New Generation Award
| {{won}}
|}

==Home media==
The film was released as a "special collector's edition" [[DVD]] from [[Paramount Home Entertainment|Paramount]] June 20, 2006.<ref name="Holleran">{{cite web |last1=Holleran |first1=Scott |title=Close-Up: Lasse Hallstrom on 'What's Eating Gilbert Grape' |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/article/ed3396862980/ |date=June 16, 2006 |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=5 September 2023}}</ref> The edition includes an audio commentary track by director Lasse Hallström and writer Peter Hedges, as well as the featurettes, "The Characters of Gilbert Grape", "The Voice of Gilbert Grape" and "Why We Love Gilbert Grape".

It received a [[Blu-ray]] release August 16, 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=What's Eating Gilbert Grape Blu-ray |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/article/ed3396862980/ |website=blu-ray.com |access-date=5 September 2023}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of oldest and youngest Academy Award winners and nominees#Youngest nominees 4|List of oldest and youngest Academy Award winners and nominees – Youngest nominees for Best Actor in a Supporting Role]]
* [[66th Academy Awards]]
* [[51st Golden Globe Awards]]
* [[National Board of Review Awards 1993|65th National Board of Review Awards]]
* [[Chicago Film Critics Association Awards 1993|6th Chicago Film Critics Association Awards]]
* [[1993 Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards|19th Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards]]
* [[1993 in film]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote|What's Eating Gilbert Grape?}}
* {{IMDb title|0108550}}

{{Lasse Hallström}}
{{Peter Hedges}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1993 films]]
[[Category:1993 drama films]]
[[Category:1990s coming-of-age drama films]]
[[Category:American coming-of-age drama films]]
[[Category:1990s English-language films]]
[[Category:Films about brothers]]
[[Category:Films about single parent families]]
[[Category:Films about dysfunctional families]]
[[Category:Films about grief]]
[[Category:Films about intellectual disability]]
[[Category:Films about obesity]]
[[Category:Films about siblings]]
[[Category:Films based on American novels]]
[[Category:Films based on romance novels]]
[[Category:Films directed by Lasse Hallström]]
[[Category:Films scored by Alan Parker (musician)]]
[[Category:Films scored by Björn Isfält]]
[[Category:Films set in Iowa]]
[[Category:Films shot in Texas]]
[[Category:Films about mother–son relationships]]
[[Category:Paramount Pictures films]]
[[Category:1990s American films]]
[[Category:Films about disability in the United States]]