WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

What’s Eating Gilbert Grape
Genre:Drama

Reviewed In Issue 10 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Johnny Depp, Juliette Lewis, Leonardo DiCaprio, Darlene Cates, Laura Harrington, Mary Kate Schellhardt, John C. Reilly, Crispin Glover, Kevin Tighe & Mary Steenburgen

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 4.5
Sound Rating: 3.5
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
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Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): Paramount Home Video
(Catalog Number): LV32955-WS
(MPAA Rating): PG13
(Retail Price): $39.95
(Running Time In Minutes): 118
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1993
(LD Release Date): 07/01/94
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Lasse Hallstrom
(Screenplay/Written By): Peter Hedges
(Story): NA
(Music): Alan Parker
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Bernt Capra
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): Andrew Mondshein
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Lasse Hallström & Alan C. Blomquist
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): Meir Teper, Bertil Ohlsson & David Matalon

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Academy Standard Flat
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1

DVD Sound Information
(DVD Soundtrack): Dolby Surround
(Theatrical Sound): Dolby Stereo A
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital):
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround):
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
What’s Eating Gilbert Grape is based on the novel by Peter Hedges. Johnny Depp stars as Gilbert Grape, a young man uneducated and uninspired yet knowing that there is something else out there for him. He lives and feels trapped in the way-side off-the main road sleepy community of Endora. There he leads a humble and boring life as a grocery clerk, a play thing for a desperate wife (Mary Steenburgen), and a loyal care taker to his younger mentally impaired brother Arnie (brilliantly played by Leonardo DiCaprio). Family life for Gilbert is all frustration with an obese mother, two just as bored sisters, and the constant care and attention needed for Arnie until he finds a friend (Juliette Lewis) who helps to turn his life around.

LaserDisc Picture:
The picture transfer is excellent for a clean artifact-free presentation with a soft film-like natural quality with no artifacts.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The Dolby Surround® soundtrack delivers a subtle surround envelopment and a directional music score.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz):
(Aggressive System Surround):
(Intense 25Hz Bass):
(Deep Bass Challenging):
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield):
(Aggressive Split Surround):
(Center Back Surround Imaging):
(Directionalized Dialogue):
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Superb Color Fidelity:
Superb Cinematography:
Reference LaserDisc:
Collector Edition: