Truly promising and ambitious indie-film

Rating: 8/10 (2 August 2005)

Half depressed and reluctant to face his traumatizing past for the first time in nearly 10 years, Andrew Largeman returns to the New Jersey region where he grew up, and this to be present at his mother's funeral. It's destined to be a short trip, since there's absolutely nothing there for Andrew. He's still estranged from his father, his old friends assume he has a successful acting career going on and  worst of all  the parental house reminds him of the accident that crippled his mother. But, shortly after his arrival, he meets Samantha and her spirited persona finally brings some joy and hope in Andrew's lonely existence. For the first time ever, Andrew actually has a reason to return home permanently...but then he has to find total peace with himself, first. A simple movie about simple characters with simple values in their lives...we don't get to see many of these and even when there occasionally is an enthusiast director who's attempts to make a clever little movie like this, they're straightly condemned to video-hell because nowadays movie-goers exclusively pay to see wild car chases and giant explosions. Even though Zach Braff was one of the few debuting young directors who DID receive some recognition and praising reviews for his "Garden State", a large majority of film fanatics still hasn't discovered it. And they all should, since it's heart-warming and identifiable tale, written and directed by someone who clearly loves and respects real cinema. It's highly praiseworthy how Braff finds an almost perfect balance between bittersweet melodrama and gallows humor! "Garden State" is a drama with a rather serious substance and yet it never becomes feeble or pitiful. On the contrary, the script's subtle sense of humor and the beautiful characterizations resuscitates hope and happiness!
Yes, "Garden State" is a very good film and Zach Braff surely knows which way he's going in the movie business. But still we shouldn't acclaim him as a new and long-awaited prodigy just yet! Although very admirable, his film isn't entirely flawless and definitely not groundbreaking. The story lacks some truly brilliant elements (ingenious ideas  if only just two or three  is what really makes films like this terrific) and it's a shame that too much of the characters' troubles are blamed on drugs. To focus more on the genius aspects again: the soundtrack is excellent (containing a great Coldplay-song and a downright mesmerizing track by Simon and Garfunkel) and the acting of an entirely talented cast simple couldn't be better. Nathalie Portman is particularly impressive in portraying the sweetest female character ever shot on film. Zach Braff already damn well knows how create moody atmospheres and how to write solid dialogues! If he'll now just find a truly innovating premise, his next project will be a masterpiece without peer!
*Note: This user comment is dedicated to the sweetest girl in the world; Cazzie. Believe me, she's really great in convincing people to SEE THIS FILM!