How many thousands of people view their lives in this way? They are “stuck” or “trapped” in situations beyond their control. They want to burst loose but feel obligated to stay. Is it a moral commitment…an emotional tie that binds? Or maybe both? Meanwhile their lives are just passing them by.
The film does rings false in the end though [for me] because [conveniently] the biggest hurdle of them all…dies. When Gilbert tells Arnie, “we can go anywhere”, that’s only becasue now they can.
WHAT’S EATING GILBERT GRAPE
Directed by Lasse Hallström
[b]Gilbert [narrating]: Watching the campers is our yearly ritual. They’re doing the right thing…just passing through.
…
Gilbert [narrating]: Endora’s where we live. Describing Endora is like dancing to no music. It’s a town where nothing much ever happens…and nothing much ever will. Lamson’s Grocery is where I work. And miles out of town on the interstate, there’s Foodland…where everyone else shops.
…
Gilbert [narrating]: Doctors said we’d be lucky if Arnie lived to be ten. Well, ten came and went. Now the doctors are saying… “Any time now. Arnie can go at any time.” Some days you want him to live… some days you don’t.
…
Tucker: How’s momma?
Gilbert: She’s fat.
Tucker: Come on, man. She’s not all that big, Gilbert.
Gilbert: What?
Tucker: Listen, I saw a guy at the state fair who was… a little bit bigger.
Gilbert: A little bit bigger?
Tucker: Look, all I’m sayin’ is that she’s not the biggest I ever seen, okay?
Gilbert: Tucker, she’s a whale!
Tucker: Well, take her out for a walk once in a while.
Gilbert: Take her out for a jog!
Arnie: She’s a whale! Tucker, she’s a whale!
…
Becky: I love the sky. It’s so limitless.
Gilbert: It is big. It’s very big.
Becky: Big doesn’t even sum it up, right? The word big is too small.
…
Gilbert: It’s not going to happen again. This is the last time. Right Arnie?
Arnie: It’s the last time.
Gilbert: Okay. Let’s go.
Arnie: But I want to go back up there again.
…
Arnie: I could go at any time.
…
Gilbert: You don’t hurt Arnie, you just don’t.
…
Arnie: Dad’s dead! Dad’s dead! Dad’s dead! Dad’s dead! Dad’s dead! Dad’s dead!
…
Gilbert: We don’t really move. I mean, we’d like to, but…my mom is sort of attached to the house. Attached is, I guess, not the right word. She’s pretty much wedged in.
…
Mr. Lamson: What’s going on over there at “Food Land”?
Gilbert: [labeling price tags on cans] I wouldn’t know, I don’t shop there. [puts a can up and looks at boss] I’d rather die.
…
Gilbert: Did you ever see a beached whale on television?
Becky: Yeah.
Gilbert: Yeah. That’s her. That’s my mom.
Becky: What about your dad?
Gilbert: Uh, some other day. Some other day.
…
Betty: Hey. I could have had any guy, any guy, but I chose you. I chose you.
Gilbert: Why did you?
Betty: Because…I knew you’d always be there. Because I knew you’d never leave
…
Gilbert: Nobody knew what he felt. He didn’t give anything. He was just sort of there. You’d try to play with him, you know, get him to play around… or get him to laugh or get him to smile or get him to… I don’t know… get mad. But nothin’. Just like, uh, he was already dead.
…
Gilbert: l-It’s gonna take a crane to get her out.
Ellen: There’s gonna be a crowd. I just know there’s gonna be a crowd.
…
Amy: She’s so beautiful
Gilbert: I’m not going to let it be a joke.[/b]