Before I even knew what it was about, I knew that I was gonna see "Garden State." Natalie Portman was in it, that was all I needed to know. Then I saw the teaser for the film, which incorporated a song called "Let Go" by Frou Frou. It was my first time hearing the song, and I really liked it. Fast forward several months to today. I'm sitting in the theater watching "Garden State," and I'm enjoying it. I'm also enjoying the music. The thing is, I kept waiting for that song from the teaser to be played in the film, but it wasn't being played... until the end. At the end of the movie, finally, the song played, and it was the perfect place for it, it was the perfect moment for that song. By the way, as I type this, I'm listening to the soundtrack to the film, and it kicks ass. I bought it right after I saw the movie.
"Garden State" rocked my world, I loved it. Maybe it's 'cause I can totally relate to the numbness of the main character. Or maybe it's because Natalie Portman's character is so damn loveable. Or maybe it's the fact that both characters are incredibly charming, and the actors had such great chemistry. Actually, it's a combination of all of those things, as well as others, not the least of which is the writing and the directing, both of which were handled by the film's male lead.
Though I've never seen it, a lotta people really like the TV show "Scrubs." My buddy AJ has been trying to get me to watch it since it began. The star of the show is a guy named Zach Braff, and prior to "Garden State," the only thing I knew about him was that he starred in that TV show I never watched. After watching "Garden State," however, it's clear that Zach Braff is an immensely talented guy, and I hope he writes and directs another movie soon. I don't know if I'll watch "Scrubs," but I'm very likely to see whatever movie Zach Braff decides to make next. As a writer, he's quirky, and that shines through in the characters he creates and their dialogue, which comes off as natural, and interesting to listen to; witty, but not to the point of being unrealistic. As a director, he's subtle, but creates fascinating images without going over the top.
Then there's the one and only Natalie Portman. I've seen every single movie she's ever been in (well, except for "Cold Mountain," but I'll be renting the DVD very soon), and though I'm a big fan, she hasn't had any roles as captivating as her roles in "The Professional" and "Beautiful Girls." She's out of her element in the "Star Wars" films, and "Where the Heart Is" and "Anywhere But Here" are pretty good, but they didn't seem to capitalize on what Natalie Portman is brilliant at, which is the ability to be alluring and appealing, not just because she's fun and pretty, but because she's smart and interesting. With "Garden State," Natalie Portman is playing one of those unforgettable roles that she was meant to play. Supposedly, when Braff wrote the script, he wrote the character with Natalie Portman in mind. He knew exactly what he was doing.
Zach Braff and Natalie Portman are the stars of the film, but there are excellent supporting performances by Peter Sarsgaard ("The Center of the World" and "Boys Don't Cry") and Ian Holm (respected English actor who has appeared in close to 100 films). Both of them pull off very subdued performances that say a lot with few words. Both are somewhat tragic characters, but for very different reasons, and they portray them perfectly. Peter Sarsgaard and Ian Holm give the film two quiet but powerful performances.
"Garden State" kept me hooked from beginning to end, I wasn't bored for a second, despite very little action on the screen. The characters are fascinating to watch, and the chemistry between Zach Braff and Natalie Portman is completely believable and engrossing. I don't think that this is a movie for everybody. There's too much dialogue and not enough action for it to have mass appeal, but for people who like quirky dialogue, even quirkier characters, and the satisfaction of witnessing the birth of a very talented filmmaker, this is the film to watch. I loved this movie.
Scale of 1-10: 9