State of Greatness!

Rating: 10/10 (13 January 2005)

Put on your guard because "Garden State" is in the premier echelon of endearing films for the year 2004. Writer-Director Zach Braff, star of the TV hit show "Scrubs", shows he is no scrub when it comes to character-driven film-making. Braff also stars in the film. He plays Andrew Largeman, a middling L.A. actor who heads back to his Jersey hometown to attend his mother's funeral. In his 4 day Jersey visit, Largeman experiences a "larger than life" life-awakening eureka effect which will alter his life forever. He confronts issues which he had avoided in numerous years and gets into an authentic Jersey "Garden State" of mind. Natalie Portman co-stars as Samantha, the garrulous Jersey chic who plants the love seeds of "Largeman's Garden". Peter Sarsgaard plays Mark, the jocuse gravedigger who indirectly plays a grave part in Largerman's psychological discoveries. Can you "dig" that? To round out the top acting guards of "Garden State", we also have Ian Holm who plays Largeman's despondent father. All execute phenomenal performances! However, it was the "Jersey Girl" that really did it for me; and I am not referring to Ben Affleck's box office blunder flick. I am talking about Ms. Portman. Her performance as Samantha is Oscar-worthy. Lately, Portman has been in the "acting zone" with stellar works in "Cold Mountain", "Closer", and now "Garden State". Hopefully, she will be fighting another type of "Star Wars" with fellow thespians in competing for some acting awards. Nevertheless, "Garden State" is Zach Braff's garden of eden brainchild. His heartfelt screenplay & intuitive direction was quite impressive for a rookie filmmaker who some thought was just good enough to "scrub" floors! Sorry, Zach! Just joking! Do not have a "Zach Attack"! The music of the film was quite compelling and was a key attribute in its storytelling component. For those numerous reasons just mentioned, it will be a worthwhile ride if you visit the "Garden State". It is one of the best films of the year! ***** Excellent