Refreshingly Quirky

Rating: 10/10 (29 July 2004)

Like most movie geeks, I too have been watching the trailer an incredible number of times. I've been anticipating this film with baited breath, in fact, since my boss returned from Sundance... Just so you know how biased I was ahead of time.
I went into the film with expectations in the area of 'Oscar Worthy', and somehow, I was not disappointed. I don't know that this will win such awards, as it really isn't that type of film, but I'd say strictly for the character depth, it deserves something. Braff, as far as I'm concerned, succeeded in every aspect that he was involved in. The direction, if a bit jumpy, was unique and, at times, simply beautiful. The writing was quirky and the dialogue was fresh, save maybe the final scene. I especially loved the dialogue between Largeman (Braff) and Sam (Portman) early on in the picture... it was absurd at times, but given the characters' idiosyncrasies, it was surprisingly genuine. And I think that summed up the entire film for me.
Really, the entire film pleased me. It was a beautiful romance, but while it sent our two main characters on their own life-affirming journeys together, it wasn't the type of romance where you went, "Oh, if only it were that way for me." It was real. It was far more realistic with two quirky quirky quirky characters than it was in most romantic comedies where our subjects are average and straightforward. Portman's character, in fact, was so layered and so independent of Braff's that it may have made the entire film. This wasn't an experience for only Largeman, it was one for Sam as well... they both needed each other, rather than the usual way of the main character needing the free-spirited supporting character. And in that respect, the acting was great. I loved how both revealed so much by saying and doing so little; Braff should make himself a star from this... I'd assume that if the same happened to Sofia Coppola in an inferior film.
I'm not going to go ahead and declare this as the best film of the year, because each movie has its own effect on each individual audience member. Some can relate to it, others can't. That's what a great film does. For me, I was able to connect with many aspects of it and it made for an incredible experience. I'll give it an A.