Garden State of Mind

Rating: 10/10 (16 January 2005)

In all honesty when I first saw this movie in theaters it was only because Natalie Portman is an amazing actress. After seeing any movie, if I continue to think and talk about that movie after a week of seeing I consider it a good movie. Even after a month I was still talking and thinking about Garden State. The main character, Andrew Largman returns home, after nine years of living in California, for his mothers funeral. It is in his home state of New Jersey he finds love and the realization he does not need to be on medication and it is okay to feel something. This drama/comedy is wonderfully balance with the movie's soundtrack adding its own flavor to the mix. Zach Braff wrote, directed, and starred in this movie and for it to come out with such brilliance is an outstanding feat! Sam, portrayed by Natilie Portman, reminds us its okay to cry but it is better to laugh instead. Sometimes you just need to have an original moment and scream your head off.