Predictable and slushy ending lets down otherwise great film

Rating: 7/10 (9 February 2005)

I'm a big fan of low budget independent film-making. Not because I consider myself art-house or above the commercial whore that is mainstream cinema, but because I appreciate characters over action and special effects. Character development in said films is often much more satisfying and unpredictable and the indies tend to take more risks with storyline than any Hollywood tripe. Though I could name better character/story-based little/no action offerings (Elephant, Gummo, Bottle Rocket, it's just about on a par with Lost In Translation) Garden State is still an excellent example.
**spoilers** It's about a guy, who returns home for his mother's funeral, it about his relationship with his father, which he needs to reconcile, his odd relationship with his old pals and his new relationship with Natalie Portman. It also contains a very interesting family secret.
Lets get one thing off my chest first of all though; the ending. Why? The last ten minutes are so predictable and gooey-eyed I almost couldn't look. It's not that it was a happy ending that bothered me, it's the fact they sat in the airport crying, with him saying he was leaving, he gets on the plane, then he comes back. It was just too obvious and Hollywood-esquire. It also seemed tacked on at the end, I guess he couldn't think of anything better.
Now that's done with. This was a good film, it was funny and interesting, it had some cool characters and some wonderful scenarios (like in the hotel, and the canyon). It was pretty clear this was a debut attempt, but that hasn't affected the quality, it just seemed like a first attempt somehow. Of course the pacing was intended to be slow but at points it almost became lazy, like his first night back and he's at the party and everyone's taking drugs, it just seems to go on a bit longer than it needed to.
Bad points behind I really enjoyed this film and will certainly be adding it to my collection. It's just the type of film I adore, the kind where you could argue not much actually happens, but for the characters involved it could be a life changing experience. Little stories about little people. Character development, God I love it!