DiCaprio's Best Production (BRB by Marina O'Hare)

    I have been enjoying this very much needed break from school, as I'm sure you all have, and I have been dreading doing this blog post, or anything else school-related. So, I decided to watch/review a movie for this blog post that I've heard great things about, in the effort to possibly enjoy it.Turns out that the movie I chose to watch so much, that it might have made the list of my top 5 favorite films. The 1993 film "What's Eating Gilbert Grape?", directed by Lasse Hallstrom is a film revolving around the struggles, hardships, and responsibilities of a young man named Gilbert (played by Johnny Depp). Between worrying about his obese and depressed housebound mother and his  mentally impaired and trouble-bringing brother Arnie (played by Leonardo DiCaprio), providing for his family of 5, and juggling this all along with work, an affair with an older woman, and a potential love interest named Becky, the stress on Gilbert builds up and his patience and morals are often tested.
   While watching the film, it quickly became very clear to me that it was very well made. It was very important that this film had good casting in order to create it to it's best potential, and the casting choices made by the director were pretty perfect. Johnny Depp's persona and acting skills allowed him to portray a troubled and confused young man who was good at heart, while Leonardo DiCaprio's young talent allowed him to convince the audience that he was a child who suffered with a mental illness. These two main characters could not have been casted any better. Other details such as the director's choice in costume, setting, lighting, and even props all enhanced the film and brought it to life by convincing the audience that these people were living in an old home in a small, suburban town in Iowa. Lasse Hallstrom's use of these mise-en-scene elements enhanced the quality of his film and made it better as a whole. 
    I personally really liked this film because of the story line and the casting. I think that the movie has underlying messages for the audience. It tells us that you should only take on enough responsibilities what you can handle, and that at some point everyone needs a new beginning.  
Because of the wonderful use of mise-en-scne elements, engaging plot line, amazing casting, and underlying messages in the film, I would without a doubt rate Lasse Hallstrom's "What's Eating Gilbert Grape?" as a "good-good".

- Marina O'Hare