Garden State

I grew up watching this movie in the 2000s, loved it then, and just recently re-watched it for the first time in many years. Definitely feels like a mid 2000s movie. Wow how times have changed. It's still a great movie, whose best scenes are mostly the ones with Peter Sarsgaard. I miss movies like this so much, sad that Hollywood doesn't seem to make them anymore, those introspective arthouse films that defined the teenhood of so many of us growing up in the 2000s.

I just recently got into listening to Hugo Kant's music, that kept reminding me of Garden State, so I had to revisit the movie, and it brought back so many memories of my life back then, what I wanted to do, and how life has just kind of drifted along these past several years.

I long for travel again.

I first heard about this film from The Shins. James Mercer mentioned this film in an interview and talked about how it raised awareness for the band. I decided to watch this movie only because of this, and I actually thought it was pretty sweet. I like the contrast between Andrew's junkie friends and Sam's innocent, loving family. You can really see how much the colors change from depressing browns and whites to warm reds and yellows. I think Zach Braff did a great job directing the film in that sense. Braff also did a good job playing Andrew. He really portrayed the numb mindlessness of Andrew, and really changed throughout the film. I like how we see Andrew go back to that numb mindless state when he is waiting on the plane after leaving Sam. It really goes to show how much he needs her. Overall, the film was very well made and the soundtrack is gold. I was elated when I heard an acoustic version of "Such Great Heights" by the Postal Service playing at one point. I didn't know how versatile Natalie Portman was as an actress until watching this movie She played Sam very well and was one of the highlights for me.

This was almost the perfect movie. The acting was great, the direction was great, the script was brilliant, and the location shoots were perfect. Probably the most amazing thing about this movie was the screen stealing show stopping performance of Natalie Portman. She showed this brilliance in "Leon" aka "The Professional", and once again amazed with her talent. It contains different humour to your usual American movie and was a needed hit in the movie circles of 2004.

My only problem was a little part of the story that seemed out of place and not needed. This is not a spoiler, it is his friends wealth and invention. They just seemed unnecessary to me. This is a minor complaint and I eagerly anticipate Zach's next work. He could quite possibly end out being more famous behind the camera than in front of it.

'Garden State' came out in the Uk on December 10th. I had heard wonderful things about it from friends and relatives in the US - I wasn't disappointed...

From start to finish, the film made me laugh and cry. I thought the opening in which we met Braff lying emotionless in bed. Listening to the answer machine message from his dad about his mother's death was disturbing and really drew me in.

So many memorable moments: The funeral, touching and funny, the party scenes, the scan scene...And as for the dialogue - well, sharp and witty. I don't think I will ever forget Natalie Portman's dancing in her bedroom - just to be 'unique' or Zach Braff's touching comments about what makes a 'home' in the swimming pool.

Even those touching moments were funny; the fact that he couldn't swim!

As a mid twenty-something, This film really spoke to me. It's that question we all dread. We've graduated university, got jobs....then what?

Fantastic...just a shame it is not on wide release here...

One of the best films I have seen in ages!

9/10

First off, for anyone thinking about seeing this movie, go do it!! No matter what anyone has told you already about the film. I notice a lot of people writing that they didn't like Garden State and that's fine, I personally thought it was excellent. To me it was real life on film, and within that real life there are very different people. Unfortunately not everyone wants to see movies that remind them of reality, and I guess not everybodies reality is the same as mine. Even so Garden State is well worth the watching, if only to remind us that the comatose state most of us live in is only temporary, and the joy of a life well lived is forever.