Review of Garden State (2004) by Amanda C — 31 Jul 2011

Garden State is one of my favourite films. It's the perfect film to resonate with young 20somethings looking for their place in life and learning what risks are worth taking. Braff is good and completely likeable, but Natalie Portman steals the show. She is absolutely wonderful giving the perfect contrast to Braff's reserved performance with hers full of life and energy. You have to give credit to Braff for the character of Sam as well. Rarely does a part this good come along for an actress.

The script itself is funny and completely off the wall and while predictable, does a great job of mirroring real conversations. It's full of awkward silences and the stupid things people say to fill them. It's also populated with the most wonderful and off centre characters. The whole thing is wonderfully quirky and off-beat and there's something truly cathartic about the film. The best comparison that can be made is that watching Garden State is like screaming into the infinite abyss; it releases all the stress and pent up anger and makes you feel good. This is helped by a truly fantastic use of music by Braff. The soundtrack is not only amazing, but each song is used perfectly to pull you into the emotion of the piece.

Garden State is a perfect example of a film that is greater than the sum of its parts. It's a tad contrived, a little cheesy and heavy handed with its message of live life to the fullest, but none of this matters. The end result is so utterly charming and enjoyable that it becomes a great movie. It's an example of what happens when a filmmaker pours his heart and soul into a picture. The viewer can always tell.