Beautiful Girls------>Garden State (link?)

Rating: Null/10 (19 December 2004)

I have just seen 'Beautiful Girls' again, a film starring Timothy Hutton, Uma Thurman, Matt Dillon, Micheal Rapaport and of course Natalie Portman.
Its interesting to note how similar these two films are. Its about a 27 year old piano player (lounge acts) who comes back to his snow laden town, for his high school reunion, thereby reconnecting with his old friends and family. Kudos for a great script, and of course the excellent direction by the late, great Ted Demme.
Natalie Portman plays Marty, a 13 year old 'free spirit' and old soul that becomes something of a desire to the protagonist, not too unlike 'Leon' in terms of age and character.
I wonder if Zach Braff has seen this film? I say this thinking about a specific point of reference. In Garden State, she was an ice skating enthusiast in her day, and in beautiful girls she ice skates,displaying similar moves as seen in garden state,(regardless if its her in the costume or not) Perhaps this a nice little knowing nod, or a reference to beautiful girls? if as it seems it may have influenced him.
I would go as far as saying that, if one looks at Marty from Beautiful girls and 'Sam' from Garden State, that the latter could almost be the grown up version of Marty.
Ah, the ramblings of a man with too much time on his hands....
Peace Out.