To See This Movie Is To Love Natalie Portman

Rating: 9/10 (12 August 2004)

Natalie Portman is back! Emperor Lucas released her from the blue-screen purgatory to co-star with Zach Braff in this goofy character study, 'Garden State'. Braff pulls a Chaplin by also writing and directing, but his lovely co-star is the focus here. It took about 3 minutes for me to fall in love with her. She's a kook in the Kate Winslet 'Eternal Sunshine' mode, yet THAT'S the appeal. Portman & Winslet have given the 2 best female performances so far this year. I'll be strapping on my 'Garden State' cheerleading pom-poms when they start talking about 2004 award nominations.
Braff (from TV's "Scrubs") is Andrew "Large" Largeman, a struggling LA actor who's been zonked on prescribed meds for 17 years. When his pop (Ian Holm) phones to announce that dear old depressed mom has died, it's time to fly back to New Jersey. Once home, he renews long-ago acquaintances, kicks the pill habit, and meets the nutty-sweet Sam (Portman). The story is how these two oddballs fall in delirious love while dealing with their problematic lives. Sure, you've seen all that before, but everyone involved in this production makes it work beautifully. For a low-budget feature, it even looks quite good and the soundtrack is terrific.
The movie doesn't always succeed. There's a lengthy sequence towards the end with the dependable Peter Sarsgaard that takes its sweet time achieving anything. At least it leads to something climactic for the characters, whether or not that trip is as meaningful to us. There's plenty of bizarre humour in this very funny film, but they manage to make most of it sing. Luckily, the rampant zaniness isn't forced. Braff even underplays in the Dustin Hoffman 'Graduate' mode. He might be playing a psychiatrist's dream patient, but he's actually as normal a person as there is in the movie.
After the show was over, I found myself grinning like a happy fool. Good God, how I enjoyed this movie! I almost believed I could find my own Sam right there on the street corner. The last time a movie (and a character) warmed my black heart so much was 'In America'. 'Garden State' isn't nearly as fabulous as Jim Sheridan's masterpiece, but Braff's film is one I will see again & again, especially when a pick-me-up would hit the spot. The cinema was made for movies like this.