Daised & Reviewed

Director: Lasse Hallstrom

Cast: Johnny Depp, Leonardo Di Caprio, Juliette Lewis

Rating:

You always hear people doubting Leonardo Di Caprio’s performance: he has got the looks and that’s it, well in this is movie you should check him acting before he got rich & famous… the beginning of it all…. see him as Arnie, a handicapped 18 years old boy, and then I will leave the final verdict for you to judge!

He will capture you from the first scene with his innocence & ignorance; he is a funny, loving, and forgiving person who always likes to play . Once you are done watching, his image will stick in your memory forever, as if you really met this guy, as if he lived next door, or was one of your friends’ brothers. You can’t anticipate such a brilliant performance that captivates your heart if it’s not from a natural born actor.

Now Arnie, as I introduced him to you before, is the youngest brother of the lead actor Gilbert Grape (Johnny Depp) who is the only supporter to his family that mainly consists of an obese mother, two sisters, an absent father & brother, and the last lovely member you all know by now… Arnie

The movie is slow but not boring; its calmness gets you to sympathize with all its cheerless downfalls but not disturb you. You will feel obliged to know how it’s all gonna end.

You will relate to all the family members and feel their bond. In spite of their poverty, insecurity and series of unfortunate events, they tend to stay close and keep and eye on eachother, have breakfast together, and gather to watch a good movie at night.

I am not a big fan of Johnny Depp, but that’s not an excuse to ignore his marvelous acting capabilities and choice of roles over the years, however, everyone has his unique acting style and his is not my favorite. Anyway, you will really feel Gilbert’s burdens in his pensive eyes, passive walk, & low voice tone. despite all what is thrown upon his shoulders, he always smiles in his mother’s face, doesn’t loose his grip on his little brother, and be there for his sisters…. After all, god throws him a little hope on a trailer next to his town, Becky (Juliette Lewis), where she becomes his rebound from all life’s despair and a shoulder to cry on. She becomes the breathing space to empty all what’s eating Gilbert Grape…

A lovely portray of human relations, family ties, and life’s challenges… and a good chance to see the worse to embrace the family you have, the body you’re in, and the breath you take…. Go watch this movie to learn some lessons as I did!

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