Back to New Jersey!

Rating: 8/10 (3 April 2005)

Garden State, the film debut of writer/director/actor Zach Braff (NBC's Scrubs), is about an actor who can't find any work in L.A. and is stuck working as a Vietnamese restaurant waiter. The actor, Largeman (Braff) one day receives news from his father (Ian Holm) that his mother (a paraplegic) has died. Largeman comes back to his home town in New Jersey to go to his mother's funeral (who he hasn't seen since he was 16), hook up with old friends, make a new friend and ultimately patch things up with his father.
Garden State stands as one of the best film debuts in years, it has it's flaws (like being overlong, and a bit boring it's first half hour) but it is great film. The acting is wonderful from the three leads. Zach Braff does as good a job on camera as he does behind the camera, Peter Sarsgaard is wonderful as always as Largeman's creepy grave digger friend, but the real standout is Natalie Portman as Largeman's love interest. Most of the film is saved by Natalie Portman who puts forth perhaps her finest screen performance to date. I'd recommend Garden State to anybody looking for an eye-popping indie. I'd also recommend picking up the incredible soundtrack. Grade: B+ (Screened at AMC Deer Valley 30, Phoenix Ariona, 9/03/04)
MADE MY TOP 300 LIST AT #205: (The 18th Best Film of 2004)