Beautiful

Rating: 8/10 (17 January 2005)

Garden State is a sweet, sometimes somber tale of Andrew (Zach Braff), a struggling actor who returns to his childhood home in New Jersey to attend the funeral of his mother. Andrew is numb to everything, least of all his mother's death, owing in no small part to the constant stream of medication he's been on most of his life. While at home, he hooks up with some old friends, including Mark (Peter Sarsgaard), and finds a new friend, Sam (Natalie Portman).
Andrew's struggle to find himself, to find out where he is, where he's going, and how to deal with what may come, is at the nexus of the story; his mother's funeral is simply a gateway to strong introspection. At 26 years old, Andrew is past the point in his life where he can count on the future to solve his problems - he has to decide in the here and now how he will handle the problems he'll encounter.
A major catalyst in Andrew's journey is Sam, a young lady who appears to have at least as many psychological problems as Andrew does. Can Andrew depend on Sam to be his rock of sanity? Or is she more unstable and therefore unreliable? This is also a movie about relationships: Andrew's with Sam, Andrew's with Mark and other old friends, and Andrew's with his dad (Ian Holm). For each of his relationships, Andrew must decide to some degree whether he wishes to remain a reactor or to become a actor.
There's also unfinished business between Andrew and his father, especially regarding Andrew's mother. He has not been home since being sent to boarding school nine years prior, and understandably communication between the two has been rather strained for many years. The death of Andrew's mother serves as an impetus for them to find a way to reconcile.
The film has generated a lot of praise among critics, and it was nominated for a Grand Jury prize at the 2004 Sundance festival. In my opinion, the hype matches the product. Garden State is understated and powerful at the same time, a very tough trick to pull off for anyone, least of all a rookie director; Braff wrote and directed the movie as well as starred in it, and all accolades are well deserved. His Andrew is archetypal for the prodigal son, as well as for the young adult who hasn't yet grown up.
Sarsgaard is aces as the dreaming and scheming, hedonistic Mark. And you have to admire someone who refuses to take money - even as a loan - instead opting for somewhat-illegal means. But through and through, he's a strong friend to Andrew.
Portman still looks too young for grownup roles, even though she's now 23 years old. Still, despite her small stature, she ably pulls off what's really a complex role in Sam. Portman manages somehow to look adorable and serious at the same time; if one squints, one can see the sincerity behind her eyes.
Clever, complex, and utterly charming, Garden State is a real treat, thanks to a tight script and spot-on performances. The excellent soundtrack, produced by Braff, is icing.