25 Reasons People Love "Garden State"

Rating: 9/10 (3 January 2008)

Perhaps the quintessential example of the new "hipster indie flick" genre is Zach Braff's "Garden State." This movie, like many others in the genre, got good but not stellar reviews. But because it ended up defining a generation of emo-angst-ridden youth, it will likely be remembered in years to come as a classic worth comparing to "The Graduate."
Zach Braff plays the male protagonist who must stop using mood-altering medication prescribed by his caring but overly controlling psychiatrist father, played by Ian Holm. His journey of self discovery is precipitated by the untimely death of his mother, which sends him back to his home state, allowing him the opportunity to meet every man's fantasy of a quirky but harmless romantic partner (Natalie Portman). This journey leads him to the discovery that it's better to be awake and facing life, while simultaneously experiencing pain and happiness.
Zach Braff's screenplay feels like a film school scriptIt's a random assortment of vignettes, clearly composed out of wild stories overheard at frat parties. Yet he manages to pull the disparate anecdotes together with creativity and skill. As a director, Braff also shows a knack for creating simple dioramic shots that tell jokes in their compositionBraff standing in a room wallpapered in paisley, while wearing a shirt made from the same material.
His other, perhaps inadvertent contribution to the pantheons of pop culture is his production of a soundtrack, taken casually off of his iPod (just the songs he was digging at the time), creating a big selling album and a new genre of music that I like to call Garden State Sountracky.
I recently did a viewing of the film and jotted down some observations of the film's successes, which I like to call the 25 reasons why people love "Garden State":
1. It starts with the protagonist going down in a plane, but he's so drugged up he turns on the air. Flash to real life, in a sterile room and bed. Great beginning. Very "The Graduate." 2. There's all these weird scenes like the gas nozzle and the paisley room and the faucets that keep turning on that seem unearthly, but they fit into the logic of the story. 3. There's something funny about the way that he treats the serious. 4. People say harsh things in subtle and normal way. 5. The soundtrack is one of the best soundtracks ever. 6. It almost has an odyssey sort of feel, like they're on a quest for philosophical truth, but don't know where the journey is going to take them. 7. It captures what it's like to grow up and what we hope growing up is like. 8. It's a cavalcade of eccentric characters. 9. It deals with the self-medication of America, a theme that so many people can relate to. 10. Surreal little jokes like "Balls" 11. The whole knight sequence really resonates on the American dream of adventure and achievement, marketed as fast food. 12. The whole meet-cute scene is so well written in that does what a meet-cute should do without being too cheesy. 13. It's filled with cuteness like Natalie Portman's laugh. 14. Portman's character is flawed as a compulsive liar but perfectly sweet and good, harmless, and safe in a magically endearing waymaking her the perfect girl that every guy and girl is going to fall in love with. 15. Interesting use of music with "The Shins," the way it casually introduces a great band that no one knew about at the time. There's something cool about being introduced to an unknown band. 16. Little visual jokes like the doctor's certificate on the sealing. 17. Portman's family does a great job of creating that crazy, cluttered, hectic, irreverent, yet perfectly homey family that everyone wishes they had. 18. The dialog moves in a random but natural way so it feels very real, but also heightened because the dialog is so interesting and insightful and strong. 19. The whole movie manages to be both "emo" to the kids that are emo because of the strong and real emotions involved, and not emo in the way that it doesn't seem to be over the top by earning it's laughs and tears. 20. It spends plenty of time on the characters talking so we really get a strong sense of who they are and why they are. 21. Braff chooses great little shots where nothing needs to be said, and the idea has been communicated visually, like when everyone is staring at him in the pool. 22. They do a really great job revealing the deep dark sad stories of their lives, without it feeling like these people are constantly talking about deep and personal things. 23. It creates new iconic images-the three main characters on the motorcycle. 24. We really take it seriously with someone like Ian Holm in a strong supporting role. It gives the film credibility to movie critics and buffs. His character is well written and extremely well played. 25. It has an ending that is traditional in that it's optimistic and romantic, while also being understated and not too gooeyaccentuated by the perfect music.