Despite the low budget allocated to this film, but it really amazed its audience. I did have a look at the movie's pictures on the net before watching it, the mere look at Leonardo DiCaprio's (only 20 years at the time of filming) body language and facial expressions makes you believe he is a real autistic person. WOW! When you watch the film you realize that Leo was really deserving an Oscar for his exceptional performance; one of the most brilliant performances in the history of film ever; only the experienced Dustin Hoffman did it in Rain Man 1988 five years earlier. The film provides an authentic moral value, role model, and good deal of positive messages to how can people get through their life issues.

Yes, I know some of these people will review about the expected occurrences that went on in this film. But, I wonder if momma committed suicide to purposely let her children live their lives without entrapments such as the obligation to help her. Sure, they were generous and humble in their own ways. Which is why I like this film. What's Eating Gilbert Grape is one of a kind. Definitely not something you will experience for every film that is out there.

If you want to see DiCaprio at his best, this is the film to see! As many times as I watch it, his portrayal of Arnie, a retarded soon to be 18 year old boy, never ceases to amaze me! His performance is captivating. DiCaprio becomes Arnie. This film is an extremely touching story of family loyalty, albeit dysfunctional family loyalty. The title character is played exceptionally well by Johnny Depp, but it is difficult to focus on anyone but Leonardo DiCaprio. The best scenes in the film are those between Depp and DiCaprio. Gilbert is Arnie's primary caretaker. His love for Arnie is undeniable but marred by frustration and on occasion, resentment that he has been saddled with the burden of being his brother's keeper.But for most of the movie Depp plays a kind of straight man to DiCaprio's goofball antics. They have a wonderful chemistry together, for not only do they mine some restrained comedy from these scenes, but they also ably portray a strong brotherly bond. Gilbert will care for Arnie till the day he dies; Arnie loves and trusts Gilbert, even if he has not the mental capacity to understand why. This is the most carefully crafted film I've ever seen. Every scene, almost every line, reinforces the theme and illuminates the main characters' motivations. In my opinion, "What's Eating Gilbert Grape?" is as nearly perfect as play writing gets.Overall rating: 8 out of 10.

What's Eating Gilbert Grape is for sure an underrated picture,Johnny Depp does a competent enough job but because of his choice of playing Grape as a numb individual could have made the movie a real snooze, but Depp's performance is actually a plus in the movie thanks to the show stealer performance from young Leonardo Dicaprio as Arnie a mentally challenged kid in the most believable, and in my opinion, best performance of his entire career. I've seen this movie after all the other Dicaprio's movies and if it wasn't for this I would not be able to believe that Dicaprio himself wasn't a mentally challenged kid because he brings so much to the table in this movie in such a simple way. I'm glad that he got an Oscar nod over this, because without that nod I probably wouldn't even know that this movie existed. The remaining characters are competent as well. Not the best movie ever made, not a masterpiece in my opinion, but a solid story that excels because of Leo's performance.