MovieChat Forums > What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1994) Discussion > So........no praise for Depp's subtle ac...

So........no praise for Depp's subtle acting?

posted 12 years ago by Sheldom
29 replies | jump to latest

Easily deserved a leading role Oscar nomination. Throughout the film he illustrates Gilbert's colour and life so well and the emotive quality and simple expressionism is just wonderful. Honestly, He keeps the movie together.Mark my words, If this movie were made without Depp, it wouldn't have the impact it has, Di caprio's performance aside.
I feel like he really got robbed of any recognition, even critically it was all Di caprio, who was great too but for me didn't have the reaity which depp brought to the role.

I don't know what's your opinion?

[–] Sauvage_98 12 years ago

totally agree with you , this movie wouldn't be as good without depp

[–] Silent_Troubadour 12 years ago

I know, it just seems to have gone completely over people's heads but it is so marvellous, yet subtle as you say. Also, I think I remember seeing an interview with him where he said that when they were filming What's Eating Gilbert Grape it was during a sad part of his life and I think that probably helped him.

Every cloud has a silver lining I guess...

Something has to be done, but nothing too original, because hey, this is Hollywood.

[–] chockybikky 12 years ago

oh for sure..i still think this is one of Depp's best performances..kinda miss the old Depp instead of the geeky, weirdo parts he plays now.

"all dressed up and no-one to blow"

[–] Sheldom 12 years ago

I agree, aside from Edward scissorhands and Cpt jack sparrow (even then I only enjoyed the first POTC) he really needs to stop with these over the top characters. He should do movies like WEGG again, so really fine and subtle work with depth and character.

[–] Sauvage_98 12 years ago

so you think his performance here is better than his performance in pirates,sweeney todd,charlie and the chocolate factory?!

"you can like the life you livin' .. you can live the life you like"

[–] kassha-1 12 years ago

Yes.

This is Mike. He saves ghettos.

[–] Sauvage_98 12 years ago

i guess thats why he got an oscar nom and golden globe for sweeney and a golden globe nomination for charlie and didn't recevie anything for this movie.

"you can like the life you livin' .. you can live the life you like"

[–] the_secret_door 12 years ago

Johnny Depp's a great actor - but those performances are far more showy. Gilbert Grape is a real person, and it's a phenomenal, subtle performance.

Cap'n Sparrow is awesome...but I agree that he held this movie together as Gilbert and he can do the understated thing so damn well. He's amazing in this movie.

...Awards or no awards :-D

[–] afsana_bahar 11 years ago

^I think you hit the nail right on the head. His subtlety as Gilbert is one of the main reasons why this is one of my favorite performances by him.

[–] Sheldom 11 years ago

The academy who decide what's Oscar worthy and what isn't don't actually understand, that sometimes there are performances which are aren't showy and over the top, but through their simplicity, emotion and realism,pack an even greater punch then any clown Oscar bait performance. Johnny Depp in WEGG is such an example, completely underscored and underrated performance. Should've been nominated that year, Leo gets all the credit, but at it's heart, Depp held everything that movie together, while Leo got to show off.

[–] RCeditor 11 years ago

I wish JD would play more roles like this. They require so much skill to do properly, and he nailed this one.

THE RAP CRITIC:
http://thatguywiththeglasses.com/videolinks/teamt/rap-critic

[–] jlmcc1031 9 years ago

YES

[–] tbx5959 9 years ago

Combined, cubed, multiplied by infinity

[–] mesaydayo 11 years ago

AGREE! Di Caprio and Depp should both have gotten awards for this. Also I liked their youngest sister, Ellen. This is my favorite film partly because I have a younger sister who is like Arnie, and Depp's reactions/emotions are SO SPOT ON.

[–] clownbaby866 11 years ago

I was going to say that Gilbert's role didn't require any outstanding acting, but now that you mention it, he was pretty great in it. I just finished rewatching it a couple minutes ago. He portrays the normal, caring guy who has to look out for his mentally-challenged brother and you can see his struggle in the most subtle of ways. Thanks for bringing that up, I didn't notice it the first time I watched it. That being said, Dicaprio was amazing as Arnie. He definitely should've won an Oscar. How Sean Penn wins an Oscar for Milk and Dicaprio loses for the best performance of his career is beyond me.

"Hate is baggage. Life's too short to be pissed off all the time."

[–] Princess_Ashmi 11 years ago

Yeah totally, I really liked Depp's acting. So nice to see him play someone normal for once.

Ashmi any question

[–] Sauvage_98 11 years ago

So nice to see him play someone normal for once.

Were his roles in The Rum Diary, The Tourist, Public Enemies, Finding Neverland, Secret Window, The Libertine, Once Upon A Time In Mexico, Blow, From Hell, Chocolat, The Man Who Cried, The Ninth Gate, Sleepy Hollow, Donnie Brasco, The Brave, Nick Of Time, Dead Man, Don Juan DeMarco, Arizona Dream, Cry-Baby not normal enough for you?

"It's better to run and live than to stay and die." Cesar -TMWC

[–] Sheldom 11 years ago

I think he's making reference to Depp's current tragedy of a career, nothing more then bad dramas and playing weirdos (and not the good and sympathetically caring kind like Edward Scissorhands)

[–] fiatlux-1 11 years ago

I agree completely. Depp nailed this role. He is often able to convey emotion without even speaking, his facial expressions & body language speak volumes.

I remember when this film first came out, it was largely overlooked. Then, everyone jumped all over a little-known DiCaprio's performance.
While I can say DiCaprio's performance was perfection (and I dislike this actor as a rule), I felt his performance took a little too much of the spotlight.

"I'd say this cloud is Cumulo Nimbus."
"Didn't he discover America?"
"Penfold, shush."

[–] TamPalm 11 years ago

How do you have a "rule" to dislike someone?

"If it doesn't make sense, it's not true." -- Judge Judy

[–] fiatlux-1 11 years ago

Its an expression. 'As a rule' means 'usually do'.

"I'd say this cloud is Cumulo Nimbus."
"Didn't he discover America?"
"Penfold, shush."

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] 11 years ago

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[–] watergarden 11 years ago

Johnny Depp is a very good actor and is always trying to expand his horizons. He can play normal to weirdo, always very well. I thought he made Gilbert a convincing character: basically a normal young man burdened with the responsibilities of a not-so-normal family.

I like it that JD takes on quirky roles like Edward Scissorhands and even smaller roles like the two extremely different characters he played in the same film, Before Night Falls (starring Javier Bardem): a flamboyant tranny and a macho police lieutenant.

Of late it seems, critics have been harsh on him and none of his movies get very good ratings at Rotten Tomatoes. Hollywood hasn’t given him just awards yet, but he is very wealthy anyway, even owns an island.

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] DracTarashV 10 years ago

Easy to overlook Depp's work in this film when you have another beloved actor giving a performance that's eventually going to grab your full attention. Scene-stealing roles like DiCaprio's usually get praised, while quieter roles like Depp's - that show more range from an actor - go underappreciated. I'm not a DiCaprio fan myself, but yes, his performance in this film is superb. As for Depp, although he's nowhere near as showy as Leo, he does give an understated performance worthy of praise.

Hey there, Johnny Boy, I hope you fry!

[–] jawsfan007 9 years ago

My favorite part with Depp is after Mama Grape has passed and he kinda freaks out over knowing what they will have to do get her out of the house. "She's not going to be a joke!!" so he makes the decision to burn the house down with her in it, instead of shaming her even when she has passed.