Life is a Terrible Thing to Sleep Through.

Starring: Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Juliette Lewis, Darlene Cates, Laura Harrington, Mary Kate Schellhardt, Kevin Tighe, John C. Reilly

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"I'm not gonna let her be a joke." - Gilbert, speaking about his mother

Why watch this? This heart-rendering story is superb thanks to its incredible cast.

Plot Summary: Gilbert Grape is a young man burdened by the weight of caring for his morbidly obese mother and his intellectually disabled younger brother, Arnie, in their small, stagnant Iowa town. Gilbert struggles to balance his family responsibilities with his own desires for happiness and freedom, feeling trapped by his circumstances. His life takes an unexpected turn with the arrival of Becky, a free-spirited woman who challenges his perspective and offers him a glimpse of a different future.

Dad's Preview: A lot of warranted attention went to 19-year-old Leo DiCaprio, who garnered a Supporting Actor Oscar nomination, but it's Johnny Depp who makes it all work. You can just feel the weight he bears each and every day supporting his dysfunctional family. Yet, for as bad as it is, he still manages to keep going, hoping that things will someday change for all of them. Why the Academy disrespect Depp is beyond me.  

Matalon Teper Ohisson; Paramount Pictures