Garden State


Zach Braff's arrives on the movie scene with a triple-threat bang!

The S.O. and I love 'Scrubs', Zach Braff's sitcom vehicle. On 'Scrubs', while definitely the protagonist and narrator of the show, Braff is still one amongst an ensemble of wacky characters. And his character, while exhibiting moments of emotional depth nearly every week, is still primarily a goofball.

Braff's Writing-Directing debut, 'Garden State' turns that equation around. In a generally poignant and affecting performance, Braff displays moments of endearing goofiness.

The movie impresses for several reasons:

1. He doesn't try too hard to impress. As a director, Braff doesn't employ lot of stunt shots, or go in for pretension of any kind. His quiet moments are contemplative, not brooding. His music is hip and relevant, not obscure and irritating. His take on small-town suburbia, and the people who have not escaped it, is not condescending or belittling.

2. He manages to create naturalism, even in extreme situations. To match his subtlety as a director, Braff has created a script that prizes simplicity and naturalism over hipness or coolness. I like a tragically witty exchange as much as the next person, hence my love of all things "Buffy", but there is something to be said for language that sounds like the way you talk on your average day.

3. The acting is uniformly fine. Natalie Portman is a completely engaging and charming leading lady. Fresh, believable and with a face that seems transparent, letting us in in every emotion and feeling. I can't wait for her to really become the next leading lady . When people are looking for the "next Julia Roberts", they need look no further than Portman, only I think her potential is light years beyond Roberts'. Braff manages to transition from goofy sitcom star to the representative for an entire generation without missing a beat. Peter Saarsgard play local, townie loser without making him such a loser. and there are smart, brief, but compelling turns from Ron Liebman, Ian Holm, Jean Smart, among others.

4. Braff's use of music his excellent. I've already bought the soundtrack on iTunes this morning. Using hip, well-known bands like The Shins, 80's stars revisiting the scene, like Colin Hay from Men At Work (who was also featured on an episode of 'Scrubs' last season), and lesser known, but equally cool bands, like Frou Frou, Braff creates a sonic landscape to equal his cinematic one.

5. The story is simple, but touches on timeless themes: our relationship with our parents, the nature of love, figuring out one's place in life, the impossible-seeming possibility of happiness. This is not just a movie for 20-somethings. I certainly don't qualify in that category anymore, and my older brother and even my folks liked this movie too.

6. This movie passed my "watch test". I have a bad back, and sitting in one place for lengthy periods of time is going to get uncomfortable for me. When I go see concerts or movies or theatre, the show is inevitably put to the watch test. How many times do I look at my watch, because I'm starting to look forward to being able to stand up and stretch? The answer with 'Garden State' is, drum roll please....zero!! That's right. I did not look at my watch once.

I do have to concede there was one false note in the movie, in my opinion. I did not buy the last minute of the resolution scene between Braff's character and his father. Braff's choices as an actor and writer of the scene just didn't ring true to me. The S.O., I'm sure, would like me to say that he disagreed.

But that was my reaction to it.

Anyway, see the movie. I think you'll be glad you did.

But for another blogger view, certainly you can read Matt Yglesias' infamous pan.

And speaking of blogs, Zach Braff began writing one upon the release of the film, and has kept it up. it's actually charming and reads exactly as you would expect should you have been following Braff's career on either 'Scrubs' or 'Garden State'. Check it out.

Posted: Sun - September 26, 2004 at 12:59 PM       EmailFeedback

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