Every now and then you find a song that hits all the right notes... "Garden State" is the movie equivalent of that wonderful sensation.

Zach Braff brings to life a lovely story filled with wonderfully quirky and adorable characters in such a way that the quality of his directorial debut begs to be compared with Quentin Tarantino's "Reservoir Dogs" and Paul Thomas Anderson's "Hard Eight". Not to say that "Garden State" resembles those films at all... It is more reminiscent of the 1996 gem, "Beautiful Girls", also starring Natalie Portman. Braff proves, on his first time out, that he is a genuine filmmaker with a poetic eye and an absolute adoration for the characters he creates. This film will appeal to virtually everyone on some level. It is easily one of the best films of 2004.

Andrew Largeman (Braff) is a heavily medicated young man. He is a struggling actor, living in Los Angeles, whose only claim to fame is a role as a retarded quarterback in some lame TV movie. He lives in his medicated haze, far removed from his New Jersey family with whom he rarely speaks. But all that changes when he receives the call that his mother has passed away and he must return to pay his respects for a few days.

As I said earlier, this film bares a resemblance to "Beautiful Girls" in that it is about a man returning to a virtually unrecognizable home only to find old friends and new inspirations. The film also had me wistful for "The Myth of Fingerprints", a film that dealt with a young man's familial issues, most notably with his father.

"Garden State" begins as a rather wry comedy filled with memorable scenes and images that will have you chuckling to yourself long after you leave the theatre. But its true power lies in the way it morphs into an awakening of sorts for the main character. That change is partly due to his medical sobriety but has more to do with Samantha (Portman), a charming and quirky girl who is an emotional torrent determined to open up Andrew in ways he seems incapable of.

I loved that this film abandons all tradition narrative arc and becomes a succession of bizarre encounters. It really feels like a "real" trip home. Braff captures the awkwardness of returning and the uncomfortably of seeing old friends who haven't changed as much as you think you have.

The screenplay may be the best of the year. Every scene feels authentic, as if Braff has lived them in his own life. Every character is developed with extreme care and you'll each have your own favorite.

The central relationship of the film forms between Andrew and Samantha. It is one of the most heartfelt and charming romances you'll ever have the pleasure of seeing. They share some of the funniest moments and some of the most romantic scenes in recent memory. This couple just feels right together.

Braff delivers a nuanced turn here, perfectly capturing the character's arc from comfortably numb to emotional full. He is instantly sympathetic on screen in a way that reminded me of Dustin Hoffman's role in "The Graduate". Natalie Portman gives her finest performance yet. Her Samantha is utterly lovable and charming... You'll find yourself wanting to give her the biggest hug imaginable. She is able to capture all the necessary emotions that she needs to give to Andrew so that he can feel whole again.

There are a number of nice turns in the supporting roles... Most notably from Ian Holm and Peter Sarsgaard. The entire cast deserves mention as one of the best ensembles of the year.

I also want to make special note of the soundtrack which may the best I've heard outside of a Tarantino or Cameron Crowe film. Songs like Coldplay's 'Don't Panic', The Shins' 'New Slang' & Frou Frou's 'Let Go' are an integral part of the movie and set the moods from scene to scene. You will almost assuredly want to add this to your music collection.

Every now and then you find a song that hits all the right notes... "Garden State" is the movie equivalent of that wonderful sensation. It will make you laugh hysterically. It will make your heart swell at the measure of its romanticism. It is the kind of film that will make you want to tell those closest to you that you love them dearly. And any film that can do all that is a masterpiece in my book.

© Written by TC Candler

How We Rated This Film TC Candler - A Richard Propes - A+ Jacob Hall - A

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