A great movie with an even better soundtrack

Rating: 7/10 (8 March 2005)

Garden State is a touching, realistic story about an actor who attempts to find himself after years of mind-numbing drug use. Andrew Largeman, played by Zach Braff, has had a tough childhood where he has had to cope with a terrible accident in which he is responsible for his mother's lifetime wheelchair confinement. His father, a psychologist, played by Ian Holm, prescribes Andrew to numbers of drugs including morphine to help him cope with his problem. When Andrew, after hearing of his mother's death, comes home for the first time in nine years to New Jersey, you guessed it, "the garden state," he decides not to bring his drugs with him and face his painful past in a sober state. There he meets, Sam, played wonderfully by Nathalie Portman, who unknowingly will help him not only cope with his mother but also live a life without the superficial euphoria his drugs may have allowed him to coast along with. He also meets some of his old buddies namely, Mark, played by Peter Sarsgaard, and Kenny, who his a millionaire now for inventing a Velcro that makes no sound as you rip it apart. The main conflicts in this story that must be resolved are: Largeman's or "Large" as his friends call him, must come to terms with the guilt he is still carrying for his mothers accident. He must find a true relationship with his father other than that of patient/psychologist. He also must get over his drug addiction and find a way to live without them.
This films strong points are the writing, especially dialogue, the characters, the soundtrack, and the originality of the story. Although it does travel into trodden paths towards the end as it gets wrapped up a little too neatly. The acting is good all-around with a stellar performance from Nathalie Portman. Without her, the film could have been mediocre. Peter Sarsgaard also gives a fine performance as a blue collar, fiercely independent, mortician and friend to Largeman. Zach Braff is the only one here whose performance I thought lacked the special spark of the other two. Also, the chemistry between him and Portman is almost non-existent. As friends I can definitely see them but they had no chemistry as a couple. The soundtrack is superb and is truly worth all the hype. The one scene that could become etched in your mind as it has mine is where Andrew asks Sam what she is listening to and she tells him "The Shins. You want to listen? This band could really change your life." That might not be it verbatim but it is the gist of it. Then as he puts the headphones on we hear "new slang." As he looks at her that song is playing and it is wonderful, just wonderful. The rest of the soundtrack is also fantastic. If nothing else in this movie, Mr. Braff has proved he can choose a great soundtrack. The dialogue is also original and interesting. These are thoughts that perhaps everyone has had but no one has been able to capture them in a screenplay before. From, Sam's "totally original movement" to make herself feel good again to the conversations at Mark's drug party, there is a lot of great dialogue here that almost anyone can relate to. The originality of the story is another strong point. This is a film that speaks to my generation and I can relate to everything in it and I even felt like I knew some of the characters. Although the film is very good, I wouldn't go so far as to rate it a classic such as another similar sixties film, "The Graduate." However, it is a promising and welcomed debut from a potentially great director. I look forward to seeing another film of Braff's and I hope he can improve on this. Seven out of ten stars. I recommend it.