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Garden State - 7/28/04 - R - 109m
Zach Braff - Andrew Largeman
Natalie Portman - Sam
Ian Holm - Gideon Largeman
Director: Zach Braff
Written by: Zach Braff
Studio: Fox Searchlight Pictures
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JEF
This is a difficult movie for me to review because there are parts that I liked and enjoyed, but it was the overall storyline that just didn’t cut it for me.
Storyline: Andrew Largeman (Zach Braff) has been living in CA and is a fairly small semi successful actor. He played a part in a movie that everyone seems to remember him from, and has taken on a few other odds and ends parts on TV, or commercials. Andrew receives some horrible news and flies back home to New Jersey. During this time while visiting is home where he grew up is where the movie takes place. We’re introduced to all his old friends, one new friend Sam (Natalie Portman) who over time Andrew and Sam develop a relationship.
First the good points… I really enjoyed the acting by Braff. His character was toned down on purpose, but he played a good role. Braff’s character of Andrew was counter balanced by Natalie Portman’s character named Sam. Sam was funny, quirky, moody, and full of life, where as Andrew was drab, and rather unemotional at the beginning. Due to Sam’s infectious love of life, this starts to rub off on Andrew and we start to see the warmth and passion return to his life as well. This was interesting to watch.
There were several other supporting roles thrown into the mix, like Andrews over protective father Gideon (Ian Holm – yes, Bilbo was his father). Also there were Andrew’s high school buddies too who all seemed to have some odd jobs.
The film was well shot. I enjoyed the cinematography throughout the movie. Just the way some of the shots were framed was nice to look at.
I suppose the part where the movie just didn’t cut it for me was the storyline itself. I know it was the typical “Slice of Life” style film, which I usually enjoy, but this one just seemed to lack something. I don’t know if I was just looking for a message within the story, or if I started to not care about the characters or what exactly, but after the movie was over, I was just ready to move on. Something just felt fake, or stale in the telling of the story.
So this movie is getting a solid Yellow light from me. There were parts I enjoyed, and parts that just didn’t quite make it for me. I’d recommend to at least give this movie a rental when it comes out on DVD. Or if you would like to see the beginning of a successful career being started it might be worth it to see the film for that reason alone. This movie was written and directed by Zach Braff. Braff definitely has talent in both areas, but I’d recommend that he stick to the directing or acting side of the films.
Jef
