Everything I hoped it would be...

Rating: 10/10 (9 September 2004)

After tuning into the brilliance of NBC's "Scrubs" for the past few seasons, I was immediately thrilled to see that "Scrubs" frontman, Zach Braff, was writing, directing and starring the movie Garden State.
The movie is based on Andrew Largeman's (Braff) journey from his numbing life as an actor/waiter in Los Angeles to his home in New Jersey for his mother's funeral. Upon arrival, he is thrown into a surreal world full of surreal characters, both those from his childhood and also those he meets for the first time. But it his relationship with Sam (Natalie Portman) that shakes his reality and causes him to question the state of his life.
A quirky mix of drama and comedy, Garden State is an unexpected indie gem of a movie. Everything about this movie--from the performances of Braff and Portman, to the cinematography, story and soundtrack--is presented in a delightfully fresh and edgy way. The meaning is outstandingly subtle, stark, and highlighted by the understated simplicity of human emotion. But perhaps Garden State's best facet is capturing all this (a kind of "who am I?" ambiance) without getting caught up in a formulaic plot line. The movie is not without flaws, but I was so happy with the breath of fresh air Garden State provided, in a cinematic world full of grade-C movies, that I hardly noticed.
Zach Braff is truly a new rising star to watch, breaking out into cinema with the grace and talent of a true pro. See this movie with friends, on a date, by yourself, just see it. It may well be in my top ten.