Breath-taking, beautiful mind of Zach Braff.

Rating: 10/10 (19 August 2004)

At first when I heard about this movie, I thought to myself, "How good can a movie be if the goofy guy from Scrubs made it AND it's about New Jersey?" But after I saw it, I was completely dumbfounded. What an amazing production. First, the story is great as it's about an emotional and mental journey of a guy who knows he needs to move forward but can't. Second, Natalie Portman never makes a mistake when she's choosing a movie, except for Star Wars, but I'll overlook that. She was incredible in this movie. Third, the random scenes and dialogue in this movie was so off-beat and wonderful. Finally, the music in this film is incredible, from Coldplay to the Shins to Simon and Garfunkle. And Frou Frou's 'Let Go' is amazing.
This is by far the best movie that I've seen this summer. Forget Hollywood blockbusters. Indie films are better than anything right now. The cinematography of this movie is amazing. Zach Braff has an eye for detail and outstanding talent for drawing the audience into the movie. The script is easy to immerse yourself in and empathize with the characters. 'Garden State' keeps you laughing and contemplating at the same time. It relates to your life, if you're young, and touches the heart, if you're anyone. Natalie Portman was her sweet self and really added the zest and flavor to this movie, especially during her "original moment". It's nice to see her again in a great movie. We're all glad she's finally graduated from Harvard. Peter Saarsgard was terrific as a pothead slacker. The soundtrack really enhanced the effect of this movie. When you walk out of the theatre, you'll feel more infinite than before. Try it.
Braff really succeeded in making a movie that spoke from the heart and made people feel. Too many movies right now are just showing off and don't add value to anything, but 'Garden State' is all heart.