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Garden State
A film review by Taryn A. Harris
Zach Braff who currently stars on NBC's
Scrubs as Dr. J.D. Dorian delivers an impressive debut with
his film Garden State.
As the title suggests, the film pays tribute
to Braff's hometown and nicely captures the sights and sounds
of small town New Jersey.
Andrew Largeman, played by Braff is a reasonably
successful television actor who reluctantly returns home to attend
his mother's funeral.
As Andrew gets reacquainted with his buddies
and his estranged father (Ian Holm), we learn what's bugging
him. He's been medicated for most of his 26 years and he's ready
to try something new.
Andrew, "Large" as everyone calls
him, is quite the hometown hero, but it's clear he has demons
to battle. Enter Sam played wonderfully by Natalie Portman.
Sam is the quirky, free-spirited and self-proclaimed
liar who suffers from epilepsy and teaches him to live and to
accept the pain that comes with life.
Andrew meets up with his friend Mark (Peter
Sarsgaard) at the cemetery where he works as a gravedigger and
as he watches his friend rob a grave, they exchange looks. What
is unspoken is more powerful than any dialogue would've been,
but it is clear that Andrew has changed and the same can't be
said for his pals.
Garden State is touching, funny and full
of real characters.
The funeral scene is hilarious as is the
waiting room scene where Andrew first meets Sam.
Excellent film! Fantastic soundtrack.
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