Braff State.

Rating: 6/10 (28 April 2015)

Garden State (2004): Dir: Zach Braff / Cast: Zach Braff, Natalie Portman, Peter Sarsgaard, Ian Holm, Jean Smart: Target audience is not totally focused but its title seems to address several themes including death, beauty and revaluation. Written, directed and starring Zach Braff who arrives home for his mother's funeral. He doesn't look forward to facing his father who has kept him under strict medication throughout most of his life due to circumstances that led to his mother being in a wheelchair. Concluding scene between he and his father lack the emotional impact that it needed. Braff does a fine job behind and in front of the camera as someone searching for explanation and experience. Natalie Portman steals scenes as a convulsive liar he is attracted too whom he spends much soul searching time with. Peter Sarsgaard is well cast as one of his friends who digs graves and smokes dope. Unfortunately Ian Holm as his father is underused and his scenes lack the emotional power needed to make them work. Jean Smart plays the mother of the Sarsgaard. She is a recovering alcoholic who has faith in her son. Considering his great performance in The Sweet Hereafter this is indication that Holm is wasted. Decent independent filmmaking that works on some levels while misfiring on others but it contains an interesting theme regarding direction and one's mind set. Score: 6 ½ / 10