Garden State, 2004

I expected it to be a silly movie since I know Zach Braff from "Scrubs" but boy was I wrong. This movie is special. It has this certain "Juno" quality to it. It's a bit slow, but you keep craving for more. Definitely worth watching.

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There's not too many movies that leave me with that "warm, fuzzy feeling" when they're over, but Garden State is one of them. I have to admit, I had reservations about Zach Braff's abilities. I don't watch any television so I've never seen Scrubs, but Braff doesn't have a lot of film experience, yet alone writing and directing experience. After watching Garden State, I'll be looking forward to Braff's next screenplay. The characters in Garden State were wonderful. There was something really magical about Braff's blank stare and Natalie Portman's gorgeous smile. I thought Portman was great, too. I haven't seen her in anything but Leon (The Professional) and the last few Star Wars flicks. Nobody wins accolades for their work in a Star Wars movie, and she has been no exception. In Garden State, she really shines. The chemistry between Portman and Braff seemed so real I was jealous. The DVD was quite decent. The picture quality wasn't the best I've ever seen, but it had many things to like about it. The colors were fantastic. Everything came through beautifully and really brought the landscapes to life. The sound mix was similarly pleasing. Garden State is a dialog heavy film, and often it's the silence from what's not being said that makes the scene. The dialog was clear and crisp. The surrounds weren't used too much, but they were effective when they chimed in. I highly recommend Garden State. I was very impressed with Braff's writing and directing and the performances from the entire cast. The story and characters, as over the top as they were, felt more real than most. Garden State has moments that evoke a full spectrum of emotions. You'll laugh, feel uncomfortable, feel incredibly sorry for the characters, and finally finish feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.

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Watched Garden State Friday night, and I was pretty impressed. It was Zach Braff's (from the tv show, Scrubs) first major motion picture to write, direct, and star in. And for it to be this good, I will be expecting great things from him in the future. Just from watching him on Scrubs, which I think is hilarious, I would never have expected him to be so artistic because of his quirky comedic style. The movie is basically about a young, depressed actor, Andrew Largeman, that comes home for his mother's funeral after being away for 9 years. He expects to leave soon, but meets a girl (Natalie Portman) that changes his mind. The acting in this movie is superb and so is the writing. Peter Sarsgaard played one of Andrew's old friends and delivered an outstanding performance, yet again. Ian Holm plays Andrew's father, but didn't get that much screen time. There's a delete scene on the DVD between the two that is very good, so look for that. There is a lot of "that was deep, man" dialogue in the script, and that sometimes made the movie cheesy, but overall very good and meaningful. And the reason for all of that is because Andrew is coming to grips with his mother's death and the fact that he hasn't needed to be on antidepressants for the last 9 years. The pace of the plot is steady and wraps up very nicely at the end. And it wasn't over 2 hours long! Yea!

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The film begins with Zach Braff's character lying motionless in bed, hearing the message his father has left regarding his mother's death. He is on so much anti deppresion medication he is unable to feel any emotions. He goes back to his hometown and reunites with his friends and falls for a girl who makes him feel again. This film is witty and very stylish. It does not disapoint.

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i remember when this movie came out. it was a huge success (for an independent) both with critics and audience. but it's not that good. it's nice and a fine way to pass the time. natalie portman is (as usual) great in her role as an oddball character and zach braff is also good. not much to say except that it brings a smile to your face.

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