Talk:What's Eating Gilbert Grape

Tim Green/Mr. Lamson
Currently the article links to the Atlanta Falcons' former defensive end. However, this is not the same Tim Green-- Obviously the man in the movie's older than thirty! The Mr. Green who played Lamson has an IMDB here: http://imdb.com/name/nm0338375/

Not sure how to correct the problem, I'm not that advanced at editing/creating Wiki, but I thought it deemed mention.

~Morrigan 12.74.196.191 10:46, 23 March 2007 (UTC)

Fair use rationale for Image:What's Eating Gilbert Grape poster.jpg
Image:What's Eating Gilbert Grape poster.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If there is other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images uploaded after 4 May, 2006, and lacking such an explanation will be deleted one week after they have been uploaded, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. I know i'm an @ssh0le, but this is important as any of earths other problem. What would Jesus do? He would make sure we have fair use images, thats what. Thank you.

BetacommandBot 04:40, 20 July 2007 (UTC)

Too similar to Mario?
It's always bothered me that the plot and many details of this film (and presumably, the book - written in 1991, from which it is drawn) copies too closely the plot of Mario (IMDB info on Mario), a Quebec film from 1984. Both have the older brother taking care of a mentally-challenged younger brother, both have their summers dominated by the arrival of large numbers of campers, both have the older brother falling in love with a girl in the camper crowd, both have the older brother working in a grocery store, etc...

I've never found any review or commentary on either film that refers to the other. They are so similar that one seems to be an English language remake of the other.

--Michael Daly (talk) 23:21, 8 March 2008 (UTC)


 * A bit too late, but an article about the film now exists, see Mario (1984 film), however it makes no mention of this movie, but you are right they seem very similar. Thanks - RandomEditorAAA (talk) 00:58, 25 December 2021 (UTC)

Comedy-Drama?
I've never heard of this being a comedy before. All films usually have comic relief, but this one doesn't seem to have any more than usual. I think American Beauty is hilarious, for example, moreso than most drama films, but it's still labeled as just a drama. Based on film reviews and the imdb page, I'm going to chnage this to just a drama film unless anyone has objections. Tegrenath (talk) 20:17, 24 June 2008 (UTC)

Whoa, it's comedy drama and romatnic comedy again :> Changing to something that reflects reality... 92.81.139.74 (talk) 21:13, 27 September 2008 (UTC)

Wow. POV much?
"a notably heartwrenching scene played beautifully by DiCaprio. " I'm removing this immediately. Tenho Karite (talk) 02:45, 1 September 2008 (UTC) Evita face to act on. Fine work and counting on cats!--Danaide (talk) 18:18, 31 January 2009 (UTC)
 * oh, no! hearts are ticking in such a case. He plays what is 'in'' a little actors soul, the devil in me_you. No mask or so called

1993
Why does the link to 1993 on this page go to a page on Queen Elizabeth? 208.100.226.92 (talk) 10:33, 20 August 2009 (UTC)

Quality of plot summary?
I've never seen the movie so I can't fix it myself but the summary is pretty poorly written. Some of the sentences don't really make sense to me, because of things like unclear reference or grammatical errors. The summary is also very long. Perhaps it can be cleaned up?

Staticat369 (talk) 03:34, 17 January 2011 (UTC)

Autism?
While Arnie obviously has a mental disorder, they never say what exactly he has. I am not an expert on autism, but to me, it does not seem to be autism. If nobody opposes it, I am going to remove it. JDDJS (talk) 19:51, 3 March 2013 (UTC)


 * I'm glad you came in here to do that, because I'd been wondering myself. From the odd comment by reviewers or others who write film synopses, it almost seems as if autism and severe cognitive handicap are being conflated in the popular mind.  As for what the condition is that afflicts Arnie, I always thought it was severe mental retardation.  76.168.195.63 (talk) 19:52, 4 March 2013 (UTC)


 * Several behaviour displayed by Arnie could indicate autism, for example echolalia, inappropriate laughing, his perseveration in climbing the radio tower, dislike of being touched, hand and finger movements. The way he approaches strangers is also similar with the behaviour of some people with autism. A combined diagnosis of autism and intellectual disability ('mental retardation') could also be possible, since there is a high degree of co-morbidity between both disorders, and sometimes intellectually disabled people could display 'autistic' behaviour with getting an autism diagnosis. Severe intellectual disability seems unlikely to me because he can speak rather good. Moderate intellectual disability would be more likely. In the article, the more general term developmental disability is now used, that is a good solution. Bever (talk) 13:31, 1 March 2016 (UTC)


 * I do not believe Arnie has autism. However, it is possible (or even likely) that Leonardo DiCaprio observed real people with autism while preparing for the role. I suspect the Arnie character is designed in a way that best fits the narrative without representing a specific real-world medical condition. Arnie's disease apparently has high mortality, here is a quote from the film:


 * "The doctors said we'd be lucky if Arnie lived to be ten. Well, ten came and went, and now the doctors are saying, any time now. Arnie could go at any time. Some days you want him to live, some days you don't." - Gilbert, as voiceover, 3 minutes into the film.


 * The possibility that Arnie might die is mentioned twice more in the film. Autism is not usually associated with such early mortality, and there are a number of congenital diseases that would be associated with high mortality and intellectual disability. 50.97.43.168 (talk) 19:08, 28 August 2016 (UTC)

Date of the Father's Death
The plot summary said the father died 17 years prior, but this is not consistent with the timeline. Arnie is about to turn 18 but he has a younger sister. At 1:11 into the film, you can see the father's headstone in the graveyard (Albert Grape), and it says he died 1978-10-13, which would be 14 years prior to the main events in the film, and is consistent with the age of his youngest daughter. 146.115.179.89 (talk) 19:26, 28 August 2016 (UTC)