Garden State (R)

“Garden State“ (2004) is the debut film from Zach Braff. So often, starring in such a long running television series, such as Zach did in “Scrubs,” can lead to actors being known only as ‘that guy from that show.’ It has happened to so many actors over the years that it must be a very real concern for them today. “Garden State” is Zach’s way of breaking the mould, of trying to set himself apart from his “Scrubs” character JD and to show people that he has actual film making talent and is not just a one hit wonder.

“Garden State” is a film about finding yourself, discovering who you are and where you want to be.  Zach plays the character Andrew Largeman, an actor living in Los Angeles who has had moderate success in his work. However when his mother dies, Andrew is forced to return to a home he has not seen in nearly a decade and confront family and friends he has long ignored. To add to this he has left his medication back in L.A., medication meant to calm his ‘rage.’ This is when he meets the character Sam, played by Natalie Portman. He and Sam must find out who they are, what they want, and confront what has happened to them in the past. With the assistance of Andrew’s friend Mark, played by Peter Sarsgaard, this makes for an entertaining, sobering and altogether enjoyable journey.

If you go into this film expecting to see a JD type character then you will be disappointed. Instead, what Zach provides is the opposite, an emotionally numb young man in denial about his career with next to no friends and no semblance of a social life. Zach plays this character with such originality that it is hard to picture him as anything else. This emotionally scarred character is certainly likable, and provides the majority of the film’s dry humour while at the same time being slightly frustrating and annoying, as must be intended.

Natalie Portman is an absolute gem in this film.  She plays a young lady who lies constantly just for the sake of it. She does not know why she does this, but only that the lies are out of her mouth before she can even think of them. She is a quirky and immensely likable character, even with her constant lying. The relationship which builds between Andrew and Sam seems a much more real and authentic relationship than has been seen in recent years.  It says “Hey! Relationships aren’t perfect because people aren’t perfect but they can still be pretty darn good!”

Zach directed and wrote this film and hats off to him, he did a wonderful job. This is an indie film in its entirety. It has the dry humour, the delightfully original insight into someone’s head, and an authentic and real relationship between the film’s two main characters. There is a scene where Andrew is stood in front of a newly decorated wall wearing a shirt made, by a family member, of the same material as the wall. At first glance this is a funny scene, but take another look and Zach is portraying his character in one quick shot. He feels he is disappearing, blending into the background with no originality or thoughts of his own; he just does and wears what people say he should and never argues.

This film is truly deserving of a watch. If you like indie films, like something a little different that’s not based solely on CGI and big budgets and actually gets you thinking, then watch “Garden State,” you won’t regret it.

– by Oliver Willis