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 Chris' Review: Gosh... Natalie Portman is cute... too bad she couldn't act her way out of a paper sack. I don't mean to start this out on a bad note. "Garden State" was a great comedy. I'd even go so far as to qualify it as a great romantic comedy, or at least as good as one can be if it doesn't have Julia Roberts in it. (That was sarcasm by the way.) Unfortunately like some of my other favorite films, it was one that could have achieved perfection if it hadn't been for the poor acting abilities of a lead. There were a couple places where the dialogue and the dramatic situation necessitated a strong lead actress and Ms. Portman just doesn't have the chops to pull it off... destroying entire scenes with her Queen Amidala impersonation. But enough of this emotionless hack... the movie glows nonetheless. Zach Braff not only writes and directs "Garden State" but he stars in it as well! What the hell? Not only does he do all of these things competently, but he excels! The script is tight, few plot holes, exceptional dialogue, fluid and dynamic character growth, and genuinely funny observations of the real world. The direction is well thought-out and bright with Kubrick-style color and motion. His depiction of the lead character's struggle out of his lithium-induced haze was flawless. Always slightly subdued, as one who had been constantly drugged for the past 2 decades, yet dynamic in his emotional control over the situations. I really can't say enough about Zach Braff. I only hope that larger budgets and corporate involvement don't hinder his considerable talents in future projects. The rest of the movie was beautifully cast as well. (Portman being the exception rather than the rule.) Mark (Peter Sarsgaard) was exceptional. Writing and acting showed a gorgeously industrious persona. You bought him as not so much a listless slacker, but as someone who knew the ins and outs of his backyard so perfectly, so intuitively, that you no longer see him as a slacker, but as a well disguised wise-guy... a covert business man. These were the kind of things that you saw in every aspect of Braff's story. Every character surprises you. It's the same old story, but then you get hit by these subtle curveballs. They're just inside enough to bump you into an ever weirder reality. It's a love story, it's a father/son story, it's a change of life story, it's a high-school buddy romp... but delivered up in a package where nothing is what you expect. If I can jump back on Portman, brandishing my flail... that whole scene in the bathtub with Andrew (Braff). Did she have to ruin that? It was such a strong scene... the writing was a little heavy handed, but a competent, ebullient actress could have carried it. Heck, even Julia could have carried it. Portman just struggled through it, begging the director for some of those eye drops that make it look like you're crying. The scene collapsed... and would have failed completely if Andrew hadn't had a finishing line... Braff's acting succeeded where Portman's failed... he pulled it back out of the abyss. Let's just hope that Portman makes enough money on the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy that she can retire and save the rest of the acting world from having to support her cute little ass. Ok, really, I'm going to leave the poor girl alone, now. Who knows, maybe she just wasn't feeling good for the months that it took to film "Garden State". She might do better next time. Yeah, and Kevin Costner might start doing consistent accents. Overall, I highly recommend this movie to everyone. The subtle and intelligent comedy, the excellent acting, the poignant social statements, the colorful direction, and the quirky characters make this a lesson, as well as a joy, to watch. 8 thumbs up!   Jim's Review: It seemed like it should've been a horrible exercise in self-indulgence. A hot young actor from a hit comedy show writes and directs an independent film. Not only that, but he has the gall to ostensibly make it a drama. Look, now he's going to Cannes! Sundance?!? It's getting good reviews? Just who the hell does he think he is, anyway? With "Garden State", Zach Braff (of NBC's "Scrubs") has made a bold statement, with poignancy and warmth: I am not my goofy doctor character from television. Many critics have written him off as a poor man's young John Ritter, but with his directorial / writing debut, Braff makes a strong case for credibility beyond his roots. Andrew Largeman (Braff) is a young, struggling actor in Hollywood. Like many, he's had a few small, decent roles. But there's a lot of competition, so he's making do by...what else?...waiting tables while he goes on auditions. He's doing okay, despite the veritable pharmacy's worth of anti-depressants in his medicine cabinet. He hasn't seen his family in awhile, but that's largely by his own design due to an extenuating set of circumstances I won't reveal. Then, one day the phone rings. It's Andrew's psychiatrist father (the always-welcome Ian Holm), and it sure would be nice if Andrew would come home for a few days. Mom has unexpectedly passed away, and the service is happening soon. "Large" numbly gets on a plane, and heads back to New Jersey for an indeterminate period. Almost immediately, he's struck by the paradox that affects so many who return "home" after some time away. Namely, everything has changed, yet it's all still the same. Almost immediately, Dad begins heaping on the old guilt, now seasoned with a healthy dollop of shame and regret. Also, within hours, Andrew has bumped into a crew of old buddies, most of whom are pretty much just hanging around, getting high, and working dead-end jobs. It all seems pretty grim to someone who's lived outside of that environment for awhile, but the folks at home don't have the benefit of perspective, and more or less chug along. Thus, the numbness Andrew felt while boarding the plane continues once he's on the ground. This is his world, but it no longer belongs to him. Then, at the doctor's office on the advice of his father, Large meets someone in his small town he's never met before: Sam (Natalie Portman), a charmingly quirky girl with no self-censor, and a tragic tendency to accidentally kill her pets. The two of them begin spending a lot of time together, and as each peels away at the hidden layers of the other while simultaneously attempting to safeguard their own, they find that their neuroses complement each other. It's a love story, but "Garden State" doesn't make the amateurish mistake many love stories do; namely, allowing the burgeoning affection people feel for each other to grow at the expense of their individuality and development. It does not substitute love for personality, nor allow it to define the characters. Still, like most independent film, the story here is secondary. These are ordinary events. What really defines the film are the characters. Braff in particular is very, very good, demonstrating a depth and range that anyone who only sees him as TV's "Dr. Dorian" may be pleasantly shocked to see. The more time Andrew spends at home (away from his meds), the more his numbness recedes, and the more he's able to actually FEEL his world, both good and bad. Eventually, he realizes that dulling the hurt comes at the expense of experiencing the highs, and the dawning understanding that one is not worth the other is his own understated transcendence to convey. As writer, director and star, It is also his movie to lose, but it never even comes close to going off the rails. As for the rest of the cast, I've enjoyed Ian Holm in everything I've seen him in, and his portrayal of Large's father Gideon is so thorough that it took me until the second reel to even realize it was him. Peter Saarsgård takes his role of the slacking stoner to places most wouldn't bother, treating him with an uncommon respect. And Portman is giggly, unpredictable, and kittenish, shedding the stoic skin of Star Wars' Queen Amidala effortlessly. Despite what my trusty cohort in crime seems poised to say, I felt all turned in performances that were funny and real and engaging. I've said it before, and I'm sure I'll say it again: If you want T&A and explosions, go for mass-marketed Hollywood formula product. If you want interesting stories, character development, and real emotion, go the independent route. Don't get me wrong...I'm not outright slamming Hollywood. Indies and studio pictures each have their charms. If I'm bummed out, and want to escape for a few hours, I'll go the glossy route and enjoy it. But I often find myself remembering Independent films more warmly...When you don't have the budget and can't rely on CGI or expensive "names" to bolster your attendance, you're left with the good old-fashioned option of telling a story via a cast of characters. And while "Garden State" is far from perfect (lighting-wise, it's grimly dark in many more stretches than directly necessary, it relies a little too heavily on plot-advancing monologues, and the narrative can be a little jumpy), it's nonetheless a winningly well-written and well-performed film that's obviously a labor of love, and an impressive debut from a young actor who many people likely didn't expect it from. I'll be looking forward to Braff's other sure-to-be upcoming directorial projects with interest. 7 thumbs up. BackHome - Info - Reviews - Map - Message Board - Photo Album |
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