Too Many Conversations Instead of Events

Rating: 7/10 (8 January 2005)

When I saw this movie at the beginning, I thought it is another Hollywood's romantic comedy. It seems that the music and songs is just like the songs in such kind of the movies like "There is Something About Mary." However, I know I was wrong after seeing whole movie.
I think the most obvious difference between "Garden State" and other Hollywood's comedies is that conversations play an important role in this movie. The plot is advanced by a chain of talks instead of a chain of events. Although some conversations are wit and interesting, I feel that this movie is lack of dramatic tension and climax. It is like a diary which records daily life. It is hard for me to connect the flat plot with dramatic opening scene (the scene in a falling airplane.)
By the way, some people on message board say that Natalie Portman ruins this film because of her stiff acting, but I don't think that it is her problem. She just has to perform too many conversations without physical movements in this movie.