A gentle reminder that everyday life isn't as bad as it seems.

Rating: 10/10 (3 January 2011)

My first exposure to Garden State occurred six years before I would actually see the film. My older sister had just bought the soundtrack and was in love with it. Already a huge movie fan, I was interested immediately in seeing it. However, I wouldn't end up seeing Garden State until the first few days of 2011. After waiting all that time, my expectations were quite high and I almost feared that it would not live up to my hopes. I had nothing to fear. The Zach Braff that I knew from Scrubs was gone. Sure, he was still very funny. In this film, though, he was different. Braff's writing and direction demonstrate a high maturity and understanding of what we all go through that I would never have guessed he had in him. Natalie Portman embodies the role of Sam so well that I think I might be in love. Yeah, she was good in Black Swan. She was BETTER in this. When half of the films out of Hollywood lead us to believe that one can only achieve happiness through epic quests and magic, subtle works of art like Garden State exist to remind us that life is in fact wonderful. Thank you, Mr. Braff.