Netflix Review: What's Eating Gilbert Grape

Once upon a time, a great actor known as Johnny Depp played characters that weren't a human form of cartoons. Don't get me wrong, I loved Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow and I am sure he will nail Tonto in the Lone Ranger as well, but it has been way too long since it seems like Johnny Depp has challenged himself dramatically. While watching "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" for the first time, I was reminded why Johnny Depp is known as such a versatile actor. The way Depp can show such a range of emotion in just his face and eyes is nearly unmatched by anyone.

Johnny Depp stars as Gilbert Grape lives in Endora, Iowa with his two sisters, mentally challenged brother and his five hundred pound mother. Gilbert, 24 years old, is starting to realize that he is stuck in this small town life. Caring for both his brother, Arnie, and his Momma, Gilbert gets very little time for himself. Watching Arnie is a 24/7 job since at any second he could be completely out of sight and you immediately assume the worst.  Gilberts "Momma," after years of letting go of herself, now weighs around 500 pounds never leaves the house let alone her couch. Gilbert works at the local grocery market in Endora. Gilbert says "Lamson's Groceries is where I work, Foodland is where everyone else shops." Foodland is the new supermarket that was built just outside of town. I personally enjoyed the similarities between Lamson's Groceries and Gilberts life. Just as Foodland has surpassed Lamsons in every way possible, leaving Lamsons a shell of what it once was, the same could be said for the way life has passed Gilbert now that he is forced to take care of his family. When asked if he ever shops at Foodland, Gilbert gives a quick sarcastic reply "I'd rather die." Though he was talking about Foodland, it seems that he also feels the same way for his life. His father committed suicide in their basement, his older brother moved away and is never seen in the movie. Because of this past, loyalty is everything to Gilbert, both on the giving and recieving end. He constantly hooks up with a bored housewife when he delivers her groceries. I really liked her response when he asked why she chose him to hook up with, "Because I knew you'd always be there. I knew you'd never leave." Gilbert probably wouldn't have even thought of leaving if it hadn't been for Becky, traveling in a camper with her mom, ends up in Endora when their truck breaks down. Becky and Gilbert bond and Gilbert sees what the world has to offer for him. With the weight of caring for Arnie and his mother becomes harder and harder to bear and with Becky showing the hope of what could be, Gilbert must decide just how much loyalty means to him.

While Johnny Depp was brilliant in this movie, Leonardo Dicaprio stole the spotlight. Leo played Arnie Grape, the mentally challenged brother of Gilbert, and demanded the viewers attention in every scene he was in. The range of emotions he showed in this movie is staggering. In my opinion this is the best work Leo has done to date. Darlene Cates played Momma  and though this is the first and only movie she's appeared in, she plays the part very well. Cates also, because of her weight, did not leave her home for five years and was featured on an episode of Sally Jesse Raphael. After Sally, Cates was approached to play Momma and took the chance. Since the movie, Cates has lost 250 pounds and hopes to start acting again in the future. (Full Story) A few other notable cast members were Juliette Lewis, John C. Reilly, Mary Steenburgen, Kevin Tighe, and Mr. Density himself, Crispin Glover.

This movie was delightful and much better than I expected. Besides a few slow parts and couple minor things I wish they cleared up earlier in the movie, there is not much to criticize in this movie. Gilberts two sisters didn't show much character and were pretty bland, but to be honest, the movie wasn't about them so it was easy to look over. I highly recommend this movie to anyone.

Vote on my blog on the right side of the page to help choose what Netflix movie I'll review next. Your choices are, Lars and the Real Girl, Craigslist Joe, and Don't be Afraid of the Dark. (If you have any suggestions as to what movie should be on the next poll leave a comment.) Also follow me on twitter @SMindedMovie and like Simple Minded Movies on Facebook!

Netflix Review: The Warriors

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CAN YOU DIG IT?!...... Well it would be easier with a shovel.

In a not so far future of New York City, a few hundred groups of guys get together to show off their abs, costumes, and to fight in a way that looks very close to dancing. I just have to wonder how cold they get in the winter.

In all seriousness, The Warriors start off with Cyrus, the leader of the largest gang of New York, gathering all the other gangs of NYC together to propose a city wide truce. Cyrus exclaims that as one large gang, all 60,000 of them could control the city. Nothing would happen in the city without them letting it happen and, best of all, the cops couldn't do a thing, as there are at the most 20,000 of them. During this announcement, Cyrus is shot and killed, everyone panics and scatters. With in the commotion The Warriors are blamed for his death, and now have to travel back home with every gang in NY trying to kill them. Will they make it home? Will they even survive? Will any of them find a shirt to put on?

It's easy to see that The Warriors is a classic cult movie. The style, plot, and storyline is very polarizing. You'll either love it or hate it. Now with every rule there is an exception to the rule that further proves the rule. With that, I was indifferent to the movie. If i was around in 1979, I could see myself there at the midnight premiere, in costume, and not able to shut up about the movie for months. This movie was a first of its kind. The style, the feel, all around atmosphere all started with The Warriors. Unfortunately, being a movie buff that put off seeing this movie for years, I've seen this all before. Nothing really surprised me and nothing made me think "this is amazing!" I still  should say this movie was very well done. When I first heard of this movie I imagined "West Side Story without singing." I was wrong. As I heard more about the movie and what I was missing, I imagined a movie Double Dragon style, a few guys moving through a city beating up anyone that tries to stop them and not moving on until every gang member in that level is defeated. I was wrong on that one too. Early into the night all of the Warriors get split up and have to fend for themselves, all of them running into different types of challenges.

I had a hard time figuring out how to finish this review. The Warriors is a movie that is difficult to sum up with a few sentences. The characters, the plot, the meaning is all too complicated to understand without just seeing it for yourself. This is a movie that sets in, that stays with you. Scenes easily play over in your head hours after the movie is over. This classic is a first of its kind and well worth watching.

Now here is the poll for next weeks Netflix review.



Soon we will be having a few new writers and a couple new segments as well.

HOBO Review: The other day I was walking and gave a hobo some change. He thanked me and we started talking. I come to find out that he has never seen many of the movies that you and I know and love. We made a deal that he would watch a movie and write a review for the blog and in return, I would give him half of a turkey on rye. He asked for a whole turkey and rye, but I'm no sucker, I bartered.



Also a friend of mine is a very talented writer and a has a wide and, in my opinion, an amazing taste in television. So here is the preview logo of SMM's new Television segment.



Also expect a few guest writers and more lists!

Netflix Review: Take Me Home Tonight

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A classic 80's movie... if it was filmed 25 years ago.

Take Me Home Tonight is a salute to the look and feel of every Brat Pack 80's movies that are just as loved now as they were 20+ years ago. To ad lib my favorite movie of all time, this movie has everything; 80's music, gorgeous women, lies, lies to cover other lies, drugs, sex, grand theft auto, dance-offs, sarcasm, trampolines, getting arrested, drinking, that guy who takes his guitar to the party, way too many popped collar polos, someone inside a huge metal ball as it rolls down a hill, true love, everything.

Topher Grace stars as Matt Franklin, brainiac MIT graduate who moves back home and instead of progressing his career, he decides to just work at Suncoast Video until he knows what to do with the rest of his life. Anna Faris plays his fraternal twin sister, Wendy. Dan Fogler plays Matt's best friend Barry. Matt finds out that his high school crush, Tori Fredericking (Teresa Palmer) and decides that this nights Labor Day party might finally be his "in" with her that he has been looking for since he saw her. Their first conversation he lies to her and tells her he works at Goldman Sachs. That lie gets the ball rolling with more lies that make him spiral hard and fast into some deep water that he won't get out of safely. The chemistry between Topher Grace and Teresa Palmer was not only believable but seemed very heartfelt. It had a true sense of a guy getting to know a girl he has idolized for a long time. He realizes she isn't the goddess he has made her out to be, and likes her even more for it. I was impressed with the sibling chemistry between Topher and Anna Faris. There were some cheesy "twin" moments between the two of them, but the one scene that I enjoyed the most was their conversation after the marriage proposal. In this scene Matt is at a complete standstill in his life, while Wendy has already planned on moving in with her douche boyfriend (Chris Pratt) and now is engaged to him. Matt warns Wendy she is making a huge mistake and she needs to get out of this stupid decision she has made and be honest with her boyfriend. Wendy comes back with a few words saying how at least she is making decisions and he is the last person to talk to her about honesty. This seemed to be one of the most heartfelt and on point scenes of the movie. Dan Fogler steals the show as the "chubby" best friend, who lost his job as a car salesman on that same day. He seemed to be a depressing character at first but shines once he finds a bag of cocaine in the car they steal. Fogler does a great job with this Barry. I've always seen him as a fat actor who is taking all the roles that Jack Black is either too old for or turned down. While this character is no different, I had a sense that Mr. Black couldn't have done any better than Dan Fogler did.

The moral of this movie (because as an 80's coming of age movie, you have to have a moral) is that you have to take a shot in life. Even if you don't know where to aim, just start shooting. Though I wouldn't rank it higher than the other iconic 80's movies like The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, and Pretty in Pink, it's not that far behind. I would encourage to give this movie a shot and at the very least allow yourself to sink back into the good ole days of 1988.

Also vote for which movie you want me to watch on Netflix next. I have chosen three movies currently streaming and I'll give the movie with the most votes by midnight Monday a review.