Well Done

Rating: Null/10 (27 August 2004)

After wanting to see Garden State all summer, i finally got a chance to see it last week and was very satisfied. All of the ads are correct in that Zach Braff does have a very good filmakers eye and a rather witty sense of humor. Some of the shots and camera work were very original, for example, the shirt blending in with the wall and the mirror shot of him in the morning. It was also visible that he was truly passionate about exposing various memories of growing up. I also see room for improvement as this was his first movie. For example, he did try to get a little too cute in some scenes and was trying a little too hard, but for the most part this was a very well done film for a first time director. But he does not steal the show at all. Natalie Portman and Peter Sarsgard truly were the more talented actors here and really kept the movie going. I think that Natalie Portman should be considered for possible Academy Award or Golden GLobe nominations. Overall, i give this movie a 9/10.