It was great to see a quality love/life story in the blockbuster summer.

Rating: 8/10 (22 August 2004)

Garden State was a great time capsule of the transition that young adults face when redefining themselves. I felt that the acting was superb, especially by Portman, Braft, and Sarsgaard. For a debut film I felt it had great continuity and possessed a genuine quality that most films lack and push for. Natalie Portman really does a fantastic job in this film, her ability to capture the simultaneous tearful laughter is reminiscent of of Checkov and his brilliant narrative. One of the great qualities of this movie was the acting, for only good acting can produce those moments when we know what the character is feeling with out obvious gesticulation and without the aid of lines to convey them. Overall the movie was toughing and entertaining, It was great to see a quality love/life story in the blockbuster summer.