Garden State (2004)
Written by Rick Mauer
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You may know Zach Braff as the star of the TV show Scrubs, which is my favourite show on TV right now and possibly ever. Garden State is a movie that he wrote, directed and starred in (I believe it is his debut with the first two), and does a tremendous job in all those roles. |
When I heard about this movie, I was excited to see it knowing that Zach Braff was involved. High expectations going into a movie is usually a nice set-up to be let-down, even if it is a good movie. I was also worried that it would be solely a slow-going drama movie where not much happens. It turns out that's exactly the type of movie it was, however, it was genuine and filled with enough quirkiness and humour to make it work. |
Zach Braff stars as Andrew Largeman, who is sort of a failed actor in Hollywood . He's been on so many prescription mood-altering drugs, for so long, that he is completely apathetic towards everything. For example, he barely reacts when he learns that his mother has died. Because of the death of his mother, he has to return home to his estranged father, and basically dysfunctional group of old hometown friends. Nathalie Portman is the other main character. She plays Sam, a unique, compulsive liar. When Andrew returns home, he also runs into his old friends who have gone nowhere in life. Peter Sarsgaard is one of them, and plays the largest role. He happens to be the gravedigger who buries Andrew's mom. |
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| The only flaw in the movie is that the beginning is really, really slow. However, it has to be. It reflects Andrew's state of mind. When he returns home, he doesn't bring any of his drugs, and the fog around his attitude slowly begins to lift, and the pace of the film reflects that. The movie picks up when he meets Sam, and starts to develop a relationship with her. |
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Most of the movie is dialogue between Andrew and Sam. As the movie goes along, we discover how messed up Andrew's life really is, especially his family life. Now, that sounds like grounds for a really boring movie. However, there's something very genuine about the two characters, especially |
| Andrew's, and the entire film in general. In the beginning there's a scene that really captures the feeling of being at a party that you're not really sure you want to be at, with a bunch of people you don't really know. |
| This definitely isn't a film for everybody. Usually, this is the type of film I don't like, and I can imagine a lot of people being completely bored watching it, especially in the beginning. However, Garden State was really well done, and so far I have heard nothing but good things about it from others who have watched it, and I feel no different. I'd say, this is definitely a movie worth checking out. |
| RATING: 7/7 |
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