Deceptively simple

Rating: 9/10 (5 February 2005)

I went to see this mainly because I love Zach Braff and Natalie Portman. I wasn't disappointed, but at the time, the impression I formed was that this was a simple romance movie between two quirky characters. Well-acted, good lines, good soundtrack... but pretty average.
But the movie stuck in my head. It had an effect on me that I didn't initially anticipate. And I realized that "Garden State" only pretends to be simple. This is a movie that, like an onion, has layers that only can be peeled back over time. It stuck with me maybe because there was so much I could identify with - which may sound odd, given that my life is nothing like Andrew's or Sam's. But families are strange. Relationships are hard. Life can be difficult to face. And home is such an abstract concept, but it's so fundamentally real.
The best part about "Garden State" is that it makes you feel something, without being obvious about it. This is a change-your-life kind of movie - but quietly, subtly. It just alters your perception of the small, everyday aspects of life in such a small way it's hardly noticeable, but in such a major way as well.
Highly recommended.