Wasting my time in the waiting line...

Rating: 9/10 (22 August 2005)

This line from the song "In the waiting line" by Zero 7 pretty much sums up what the young generation is feeling, and this is what Zach Braff has managed to capture in his debut film, Garden State. The protagonist, Andrew Largeman (played by Zach Braff) has spent almost all his life under the mind numbing effects of lithium. When he comes home for his mother's funeral he decides to take a vacation from his old life in all sense, from his crummy job as a waiter and from his lithium induced fog. Along the way he meets Sam, played brilliantly by Natalie Portman, who breathes life into him.
What makes this movie work is the fact that all emotions are understated, no explosions of rage, or slapstick comedy. Everything is subtle... like the scene where he wears the shirt made by his aunt that matches his bathroom wall, or where he describes love to Sam sitting in the bathtub.
Another thing about this movie is the music, its like a mixed tape someone would make, having all his favorite songs of different moods...
All in all I give it a nine because it was kind of slow in the beginning. May be Zach Braff wanted to show how detached Andrew Largeman was from his life in the beginning but i felt that it was too slow. even after this little bit of nitpicking I would recommend it to anyone in a heart beat...