“What’s Eating Gilbert’s Grape”, A cinematic masterpiece

By Jonathan O'Neill

“What’s Eating Gilbert’s Grape” is a satisfying bittersweet film. While you have an idea of what is going to happen, there is an unpredictability factor involved that makes you question whether or not we’re going to get the ending we expect.

The story is adventurous and filled with multiple dramatic storylines. Gilbert Grape (Johnny Depp) and Arnie Grape (Leonardo DiCaprio) provide the viewer with as frustrating brotherly relationship. The characters have to overcome their own adversity due to their family issues.

“What’s Eating Gilbert’s Grape” is told through the perspective of Gilbert Grape, a young man living at home and working at a local store while taking care of his mentally disabled younger brother, Arnie. Arnie doesn’t always listen to his family and often acts out. Gilbert is clearly very frustrated with the way his life is going, but he has to help with Arnie regardless. Arnie is a week from turning 18 which provides the audience with a goal. Get Arnie to his 18th birthday.

Gilbert meets a new girl in town, Becky (Juliette Lewis) who brings out the more adventurous side of Gilbert and is very compassionate towards Arnie. Arnie often listens to Becky and feels safe with her. Becky and Gilbert begin to form a relationship and we find Gilbert starting to neglect his responsibility of taking care of Arnie. The Grape family has suffered through a lot of trauma prior to the start of the film and you can see those taking an effect on both Gilbert and especially Bonnie Grape (Darlene Cates) who is the mother of the Grape children. Gilbert is unable to just ditch his responsibilities, so he instead has to step up and become a more productive and focused member of the Grape family.

The writing of the film is phenomenal. The film does a great job at showing Gilbert’s frustration with dealing with Arnie. Gilbert often storms off after Arnie gets in trouble and you can see him contemplating whether or not he should stay and help or go and live his life. When he describes his family in the beginning of the film, he talks about his older brother and with envy in his voice he says “but he got away”. It’s obvious that Gilbert doesn’t want to be stuck there anymore and the writing does a great job of conveying that to the viewer.

The writing gives the viewer a sense of time as the story takes place a little over a week before Arnie’s 18th birthday. Every time something goes wrong with Arnie, we are reminded of Arnie’s upcoming 18th birthday and the repetitiveness shows how badly Bonnie Grape wants her son to turn 18. This should give the family an extra level of responsibility to make sure Arnie stays out of trouble. Gilbert seems to disregard this, as he is too distracted with his newfound sense of adventure and his efforts to find himself.

The film does not lack emotional impact as the viewer can feel for the family as they have gone through a lot of hardship and with Arnie being difficult to deal with at times. The viewer can sympathize with the Grape family.

“What’s Eating Gilbert’s Grape” is a touching and fantastic movie. With multiple complex relationships and an adventurous plot. This is a movie that anyone looking for drama, romance, and adventure should watch.