Garden State (2004)

Very well executed

Fantastic!

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

Judge this film for yourself. Some will find it emotionally refreshing, while others will feel it doesn't live up to their unrealistic standards. I've watched this film at various points in my life and have always enjoyed it. Tonight for example I'm watching it as an attempt to see something nice after watching Being John Malchovich (also a great movie). Admittedly this film isn't for everyone, and that's okay. But don't judge it by the overzealous film-major reviewers here who can't discern taste from tact. Give it a shot and review it yourself, like this platform intended.

The only thing that is amiss with this movie is the pacing, but I guess it was part of tone and setting the movie needed.A touching romantic escapade for Portman and Braff. Refreshingly candid with a hitn of irony and even cynicism.All in a great effort and the chemistry between the two leads is tangible.

"Garden State" has a very specific brand of humor that not everyone is going to get immediately. But as writer/director/star Zach Braff says in the bonus interview, "Is it funny? {Interviewer says yeah} Good. I never know if anyone else is going to find them funny. If nothing else, I'm making a movie that I'll enjoy."And that's why this movie works. In comedy, the worst thing you can do is try too hard to be funny. "Garden State" falls squarely in subtle, almost deadpan territory... meaning there aren't any big sight gags, slapstick or knockout punchlines. In that respect I'd put it in the genre of "movies like Bill Murray would act in" except there's no Bill Murray. I'm referring to flicks like Coffee & Cigarettes, Rushmore, Royal Tenenbaums, Life Aquatic, which is essentially saying it's like a Wes Anderson film, or maybe Terry Zwigoff (Ghost World, Art School Confidential). There's a lot of visual storytelling, as in quirky symmetrical shots, stationary cameras on meticulously arranged sets, or a surreal vibe punctated by the camera slowly rising into the sky.The story is something like famed French existentialist Albert Camus would write if he did comedy. A late-20s, emotionless, estranged son (Zach Braff) returns to his hometown to bury his mother. He seems devoid of all sentimentality as he wanders around meeting all sorts of crazy (and I mean crazy) characters from his past. Whether he's being nearly shot to death by an overenthusiastic cop, or molested by a hot blonde at a party, his range of emotion barely budges between bored and slightly perplexed. Then he meets his antithesis, a 20-something girl (Natalie Portman) whose range of emotion is somewhere between very amused and insanely happy.It's the delightful contrast between these 2 characters, and their great on-screen chemistry, that turns an otherwise brooding sarcastic comedy into a really entertaining treat.Another thing that really defines this film is the way every character, even the minor ones who only have 1 scene, are so bizarre and interesting that you feel like an entire movie spinoff could be made of each one. These characters include: 1) the grave digger who makes his real living by doing questionable things at the hardware store; 2) the grave digger's hot mom who is sleeping with her son's sworn enemy from high school; 3) the kid who got rich from inventing "silent velcro" and who now spends his time doing absolutely nothing; 4) the West African immigrant who is studying criminal justice and is obsessed with figuring out which dog is pissing on his phone; 5) the strange "Guardian of the Abyss" whom I won't spoil for you; and the list goes on.The second half of the story focuses on a bizarre suburban quest the 3 main characters undertake, almost like in "Stand by Me" but with grownups and maybe a pornographic peepshow or two (btw the location of the climactic scene, "Kiernan's Quarry", is a real place--or at least it was until it got filled in & converted to condos a few years ago).But as strange and nonsensical as it sounds, these are in fact "true stories from suburbia" as Zach Braff says. The entire film is a compilation of stories that happened to him and others in his small Jersey town growing up. "Garden State" has a magical way of bringing these seemingly random vignettes to our attention, making us understand the epic nature of obscurity.So no, there may not be crazy car chases, bank heists or wacky jewel capers (...oh wait, actually there sorta is 1 wacky jewel caper), this film delivers a really entertaining ride from start to finish.

Garden State (2004): Dir: Zach Braff / Cast: Zach Braff, Natalie Portman, Peter Sarsgaard, Ian Holm, Jean Smart: Target audience is not totally focused but its title seems to address several themes including death, beauty and revaluation. Written, directed and starring Zach Braff who arrives home for his mother's funeral. He doesn't look forward to facing his father who has kept him under strict medication throughout most of his life due to circumstances that led to his mother being in a wheelchair. Concluding scene between he and his father lack the emotional impact that it needed. Braff does a fine job behind and in front of the camera as someone searching for explanation and experience. Natalie Portman steals scenes as a convulsive liar he is attracted too whom he spends much soul searching time with. Peter Sarsgaard is well cast as one of his friends who digs graves and smokes dope. Unfortunately Ian Holm as his father is underused and his scenes lack the emotional power needed to make them work. Jean Smart plays the mother of the Sarsgaard. She is a recovering alcoholic who has faith in her son. Considering his great performance in The Sweet Hereafter this is indication that Holm is wasted. Decent independent filmmaking that works on some levels while misfiring on others but it contains an interesting theme regarding direction and one's mind set. Score: 6 ½ / 10