Movie Review #14: Garden State

There have been two movies that many people in the last few months have been telling me I must see. Napoleon Dynamite is one (which I will try to watch for next week’s review) and the other is this off-beat coming-of-age comedy written and directed by Zach Braff: Garden State (2004). This movie also stars Braff along with Natalie Portman, Peter Sarsgaard and Ian Holm.

Andrew Largeman (Braff) returns home to New Jersey after being away for a long time. He is on so many medications that he no longer knows normal feelings or how to express them. Largeman reacquaints himself with his father (Holm) and old friends on a journey to discover who he is. Largeman is a very familiar character. Everyone probably knows someone like him or maybe, in fact, is him. Andrew knows what he should feel but can’t. Zach Braff, whom you may recognize from TV’s Scrubs, is so natural as Andrew that one can’t help but wonder if maybe this stuff really happened to him. He has created a story that deals with so many problems and leaves you with no solution yet you still come out of it with a feeling of satisfaction. Like the weight of the world has been lifted off of your shoulders.

Andrew Largeman meets Sam, a girl whose problems are quite different from his, yet the two bond because they are on the same journey of self-realization. Sam is played by Natalie Portman and she does a great job. Portman consistently chooses movies that let her acting skills shine. She doesn’t go for the huge blockbusters (except for Star Wars) and instead picks scripts that allow her to experiment and create a new performance and character every time.

Do yourself a favour and pick up not only the DVD but also the soundtrack. Garden State has a fabulous soundtrack of eclectic bands and heartfelt songs that so appropriately explain the movie through their sound. Everyone from Remy Zero to The Shins to Simon & Garfunkle is on this disc. You can bet that when I get a little bit of extra cash I will be buying this DVD and CD. And you should too.

Now I have to go and find myself,

Toast!