JD'S BIG SCREEN DEBUT

By: B -- 8/24/04

In Garden State, the uptight Andrew Largeman (Zach Braff) finds himself in his hometown for the first time in years to attend a funeral. He reluctantly spends a few days at home, trying to rekindle a strained relationship with his father while catching up with old pals. He meets Sam (Natalie Portman) at a doctor’s office and his mood quickly changes. She is the oddball antidote he is looking for, a free spirit who inspires him to finally loosen up. Garden State is best filed as an eccentric romantic comedy, the storyline frequently meandering off the beaten path.

The film starts with minimal dialogue, instead showing extended close-ups of a defeated Large and small, airy conversations. The camera angles and varying film speed seem to point toward a formalistic approach, but it doesn’t last long. By constructing friendships and the necessary background info, Garden State becomes more conventional with every passing moment. It eventually delves into full-on chick flick mode, and while the third act trends toward hokey, it doesn’t ruin the film.

Braff, who wrote, directed and starred in Garden State, is impressive in all aspects. Though his acting doesn’t require an immense amount of range or emotion, his writing and directing skills are refreshing and unique. The story encapsulates Large’s experiences with his friends, his father and Sam, while also delving into the past to uncover how he got to this point in his life. The result is a suitably jumpy film, accurately matching Large’s state of mind. The characters, from his friends Mark and Dave, to even bit parts like his doctor and Mark’s mom, are all very distinctive and well-written. Everyone has a pulse, rather than a clichéd representation of a personality type. It is refreshing to see someone put so much time and thought into a script.

On top of this, Garden State is also very funny. Braff shows an intuitive nose for comedy with his work on Scrubs (as J.D.), and his film shows more of the same. The laugh-out-loud stuff is awkward and real. There are no pranks or one-liners here, just odd everyday experiences.

The acting by Natalie Portman is worth the ticket price alone. The script calls for an eccentric, quirky personality, and Portman delivers with a great performance. She constantly displays parallel personality traits to establish her goofy personality: nervous laughter, hyperactive movements, constant changes of emotions and unapologetic energy. She laughs and cries with no warning, and Braff smartly brings the camera in close to fully show her range. Portman’s role is instrumental in the credibility of this film, and she delivers. She is truly one of the best actors on the big screen today. It’s a shame Garden State won’t likely garner enough national attention to grant her an Oscar nomination.

Garden State is a funny, well-executed film. Braff’s strong debut marks the arrival of a filmmaker brimming with original stories.

POP RATING: 7.5

CRITICAL RATING: 7.5

B'S RATING: 7.5

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