Gilbert Grape – Irgendwo in Iowa

A acting class by Leo di Caprio, he’s so gripping that you will believe his every move, every gesture. A story that is moving and heartwarming at the same time. A sure tip for Leo's detractors, who might change their minds. (13.04.2003)

"Amy, where is Arnie?" Bittersweet drama with the main theme of strengthening the family spirit and exactly to my liking. Additionally, with a phenomenal cast, led by the introverted Depp and the absolutely perfect DiCaprio, who never stops believing in his Arnie for a second. By coincidence, in Hallström's first major film, three masters of smaller roles came together - the then relatively well-known Mary Steenburgen, the ordinary yet fateful girl Juliette Lewis, and the famous Hollywood sidekick John C. Reilly. They also contributed to the unique atmosphere of a total small-town backwater, where everything is far away and the most discussed event is an attempt to conquer the water tower. Hallström's ideal start to a first-rate Hollywood career. (30.03.2007)

A film with a strong social dimension and scope, yet lacking in pace and rhythm as is usual with Hallström, especially in his early work. The film is dominated primarily by the performances of Depp and especially DiCaprio, which I wouldn't be afraid to consider one of his best ever. (22.04.2023)

Sometimes it takes us a long time to finally realize how lucky we have been all our lives. Jenny realized it in Forrest Gump, young Bryce realized it in Reiner's Flipped, and Gilber Grape also realized it after he "drank" his mug of bitterness to the bottom. All of these films ring very true in terms of feelings and emotions, which is why I appreciate them so much. A little big ACTOR’s film, which didn't leave me with so many questions or topics to think about, but I still find it much more valuable and rewarding than a whole week spent in a boring school :D After all, it's like everything by the tear jerking Hallström.. 85% (14.04.2014)

This is a great cinematic experience, which I avoided for a long time, and I don't know why. But I finally saw it and it was worth the wait. It's emotionally beautiful, even though there are characters you may not love. The scene of Gilbert introducing the girl to the mother was incredibly powerful and blew me away. (09.10.2017)

At times a pleasantly, almost touchingly funny drama (but not a comedy by any means), led by two of my very favorite actors who have been some of the most in-demand and busy actors in Hollywood in recent years (in the previous ones too, of course :) ), and even though they sometimes make films of fluctuating quality, you can find a few memorable roles in their filmography. Before all those Jack Dawsons, fake lawyers, doctors or pilots :), CIA agents, or French kings (Louis XIV, I’m guessing :)), Leonardo DiCaprio took on one really very difficult role, but he managed to play it with tremendous ease and grace. Ironically, his first big role is the performance of his life, where he showed that he can really act, and Tommy Lee Jones's Oscar at the expense of DiCaprio is an obscenity and one of the many mistakes of the Academy. After all, his mentally handicapped Arnie has everything from gestures and speech to peculiar displays of emotion and a pathological love for the mother who tries to protect him at all costs. Johnny Depp basically plays his standard, albeit a very decent standard :) However, his portrayal of Gilbert Grape has a huge charm that no Depp character would ever have afterward so radiantly and convincingly. The whole rural or small town setting, the characters that the viewer falls in love with in the first few minutes, the basically modest but all the more fitting music, the more than convincing acting performances (I can’t overlook Juliette Lewis, naturally :) ) and last but not least Hallström's civil but in all respects sensitive and assured direction – all these ingredients come together to create a wonderful human story and a truly powerful cinematic experience. Definitely Lasse Hallström's best work. (21.01.2010)