Actor Zach Braff makes an audacious debut as a filmmaker in this funny, poignant portrayal of a young actor named Andrew Largeman (Braff) whose return from L.A. to New Jersey for a family funeral winds up as a few days of self-discovery thru the haze of his lifelong dependency on anti-depressives administered by his estranged psychiatrist father (Holm) and falling in love with the quirky, epileptic chronic liar Sam (Portman, light years away from Princess Amidala, in arguably her best role to date) while re-connecting with stoner buddy Mark (Sarsgaard, low-key sublimely perfect), a larcenous gravedigger. Witty, heartfelt mix of angst, anomie and ? finally ? acceptance ? of the joys of life amidst death and depression. Has the feel of a novella and echoes of Linklater, Crowe and Nichols (i.e. ?The Graduate?) yet its originality is in its comic dryness and self-depreciative protagonist (Braff, who resembles a pastiche of Ray Romano, Jerry Seinfeld and Garry Shandling, manages to balance the melancholia with barely restrained misplaced anger beautifully) that also dares to reflect authors such as Salinger and Cheever. Braff has a clever eye with camera angles (thanks to the skillful Lawrence Sher) underscoring moments of subtle nuance in capturing absurdity and beauty all at the same time and lets his co-stars shine with moments of both (Portman?s scene at her backyard pet cemetery will leave you with a lump in your throat and Braff?s embrace with her mom, a tear in your eye). Filmed in Braff?s home state ? a true metaphor (i.e. the out-of-nowhere abyss sequence) ? with familiar touches (the folding chair wedged in the front of Mark?s house) and sprinkled with wonderful music (including the ethereal ?Let Go? by Frou Frou (featured in the trailer and my pick for Trailer of ?04); exquisite and my vote (so far) for the best film of the year. … Expand

Terrific movie...Zach Braff should win this year's Best Actor Oscar hands down, as should Natalie Portman the Supporting Actress trophy. If you give this film a 0, or didn't like it, you're clearly missing "it."

I loved this movie. Like some reviewers have commented it is hard to classify it as a drama or comedy forever. But that's the way life is and that seems to be the theme of the movie. Braff is a genuine soul that I think many 20 somethings can relate to and find comfort in. Anyone over the age of 22 will enjoy this movie, if you're still in college go watch Old School and come back once you're sober. Great soundtrack too!… Expand

This is a great, fun, sad, refreshing movie. Go see it!

This is an awesome movie. I think that Zach Braff did a great job writing and directing. Natialie Portman should win an oscor for her stellar performance as the quriky girl-next-door. This movie is filled with heart and laughter. Go see this movie! (oh and the soundtrack is AWESOME!)

My gf made me watch this movie the other day and i was expecting a girly kind of romantic comedy (not knowing any real details of who was directing or the plot) but i can say that it has become one of my favorite movies of all time. A definite recommendation.

Beautiful. . . there are no words. . .

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.… Expand

This movie was amazing. I have never liked a romantic comedy, or even anything like one, but this changed my view on "good movies."

This movie is a great collection of characters, scenes, and ideas. It's quirky, sad, romantic, and at times, bust-the-gut funny. Zach Braff, the director, is at his best when he allows Zach Braff, the actor, to be all 4 in the same scene. Natalie Portman is amazing and cute. This movie made me fall in love with her again (after falling out of love with her in Star Wars). I truely cannot wait for the DVD to come out and I'm even more excited about Zach's next movie and seeing him in a new light in Scrubs.… Expand

What an amazing surprise. I would guess that everyone who enjoyed "Lost in Translation" will love this, and those who hated "Lost" will hate this. it's a subtle film, but very funny, and extremely affecting. I would venture to say that this is the performance of Natalie Portman's career (maybe second to her role "The Professional"). And I've never seen "Scrubs" before, but Braff was amazing in this film. Just go see it. 'Nuff said.… Expand

This movie was absolutly amazing. It is by far one of the best movies i've ever seen. anyone who didn't like it is either too old or too young to relate. if you ever had a shaky relationship with their parents or has left home only to come back will easily enjoy this film.

It was the best movie I have seen since The Royal Tenenbaums.

The best movie ive seen in years. Zach Braff has done an amazing job, can't wait to see him write/direct future movies.

I loved this movie. Zach Braff did a wonderful job writing and directing. I really liked the jokes and obscure things that he added to the movie from his own experiences. It made it more real to see things that might actually happen instead of movies that everyone says and does the perfect thing. Natalie Portman was great at being sweet and original in this part. Garden State kept me smiling. I did get emotional in some parts but was soon rescued by the perfect comedic timing. I think Garden State should be nominated for an Oscar. Its better than Lost in Translation. Zach Braff keep writing and I look forward to your next masterpiece.… Expand

This is the best movie i have seen all year. bob you are freaken crazy! if you havnt seen this movie i urge you to rent it!

Well done ....really nice stuff.

Loved it! Don't care what failings it may have, if think it is easy to be over critical - this film left me feeling wonderful, made me cry, made me laugh, and the music is still with me - how can I not give it 10!! Zach Braff is just amazing, Scubs is amazing also, and Portman made me feel like I was 16 again - hormones rushing all over the place!!! Wonderful wonderful wonderful!

Great!

Despite the unexpected turns and the overall stop and go feel, Zach Braff has managed to produce an amazing film for his directing debut. The eccentricities of his characters and the mundane, everyday events occuring throughout the film only accent the beautiful technique Braff has used to portray a heart-moving tale in an every-day setting. Natalie Portman is amazing, using her experience to fully capture the free-lance and somewhat goofy tendencies of her character. Peter Sarsgaard is no dissapointment, bringing to the table a realism that embraces the overall context of the film. I was excited when I saw the teaser trailer for the first time. And now, as ever, I'm both enthralled and touched every time I see this film. Kudos to Zach.… Expand

Wicked Awesome.

I think this movie has everything a movie needs to be great! It is hilarious at times, sad at times, and it can bring you to reality as well. A Great movie in my opinion!

Deep and moving.

So far the 2nd best film of the year for me...behind Eternal Sunshine. Great debut for Braff. Good stuff.

One of the best indie films so far this year. Zach did a tremendous job with the film. The film was enjoyable. A touching and funny movie, without being cute. Some scenes were very creative, and absolutely hilarious. It will be interesting to see how he follows up. Zach has set a high bar for himself.

This movie was a long time coming.. I have been waiting a long time for a movie to captivate me like this one did. I went to see it with my boyfriend and I think we came out better people as cliché as it sounds. the soundtrack is also awesome.

Is it just me or are critics out to hate every movie put out? I really enjoyed this movie. It was very funny at parts, and very moving in others. I loved the whole style of it and the use of music. It's been a while sense I've felt so joyful after a movie. God forbid anyone make a movie about people finding hapiness...maybe we should all just watch fahrenheit9/11 24/7.

Garden State was truly an amazing movie.

Easily one of the best movies I have seen this year. The writing and the directing are both excellent. It is very easy to connect will the characters. A truly beautiful film about finding ones self. a must see.

Surprisingly good!

Introspective without indulging narcissism, dramatic without degenerating into melodrama, comedic but not silly. A moving film with depth that cynical reviewers miss.

Great flick.

A brilliant little film. Natalie Portman is fabuluos. A must see film for intelligent audiences!

Duh! Those who think that the movie is pretentious are missing the point - it is! This is what being a twixter is all about - nothing. We don't have to do anything but think about ourselves. Ultimately we are all just trying to find a 'home' - where we can feel settled.

Garden State was a highly original and spellbinding laugh-fest. I loved how emotionless the main character was yet how his surroundings still retained a sense of humor. By far my favorite comedy this year. A must see!

This movie was amazing. i related to all the characters, cried a couple of times, laughed a couple of times, and left feeling like i knew myself better than i did when i went in.

Anyone in their twenties need's to see this film. Its a very good, well acted depiction of the journey of growing into life. I loved it, and if this is Zach Braff's first turn as a director, then I can't wait for his next film.

I was an awesome movie and I am only in high school but I could relate some of the problems that Zach Braff's character, Large, had in the movie to some problems that are happening in my family right now.

I love this film! I'm currently producing a film called "Twixter",which stars Michael Cotter from Scrubs and he loves this movie as well. I think it is well made and directed. Great DP! Check out twixtermovie!

Yeah I loved this movie but mainly because of Natalie Portman whose absolutely gorgeuos to the highest degree.

Heart warming and original. I'd have given it a 10 but I felt the ending was a little rushed. It is realistic and full of great acting and warm characters. The centre character, 'Large', is naturally sad since his mother died and carries much guilt and sadness from his childhood, which is what makes the other characters' positive effect on him so touching. You really feel like you are in this guys head! I look forward to more films from this guy. The way he falls in love with Natalie Portman's character as he listens to 'New Slang' by the Shins is genious. Or was that me falling in love with her character?! If you like films like Magnolia and Donnie Darko, and appreciate good music, then don't miss this one. And take no notice of the people that have rated this film with a '0' - I'm sure you can imagine what type of mainstream films they indulge in Enjoy!… Expand

One of the most amazing movies i have ever seen. The way that the main character is portraited throughout the movie is a feeling that we can all relate to. A feeling that we should give up hope, or that we are not understood. The movie had a great take on awkwardness, love, hate, and insite. Zach Braff discovers himself at the end of the movie, and sees a world that he hadnt thought existed since the beginning of his adolescence.… Expand

Probably my favorite movie to date. I can watch it over and over again. The acting is incredible and the story is real and moving. I can't imagine how anyone could not like this movie!!

One of the best films in years.

This movie was unbelievable...it was amazing! Zach Braff is a genius. I never thought I could love a movie that was just about life this much! It's incredible. You have to see it.

GREAT MOVIE.

We enjoyed this comedy/tragedy immensely! We're seniors, yet the "growing up at any age" message remains universal to people everywhere. Congratulations to Zach Braff (who looks like a young Ray Romano to us), Natalie Portman (cute, funny and sweetly serious and 1,000 % better than her stiff role in "Star Wars" a few years ago), Peter Saarsgard (whose last role in "Shattered Glass" was phenomenal) and Ian Holm (who aced that New York accent although he's British through and through... and turning 73 years old on Sept. 12, 2004 to boot!) I'll be looking forward to Zach Braff's next movie. I give it an "A" on my Entertainment Report Card. … Expand

This was an incredible film. It was very real and pure- characteristics rarely found in current feature films. It may have lacked big stunts and impressive scenery but it made up for it in the quality of the script, acting, actors, chemistry, and under-appreciated drama, humor and love.

Fantastic reality.

Excellent movie! Easily the best movie of 2004, only to be rivaled by Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Excellent coming of age movie with a great script and brilliant performance by Portman. Production values, especially the sound, could have been better.

An amazing movie! Leaves you feeling numb... in a good way.

Simply the funniest, most heartfelt and meaningful movies ever made. Oen of the best movies ever made.

Really surprised me. I expected it to be good, but I was really blown away. It stands alongside Donnie Darko (and thematically, it's not dissimilar) as one of my favourites films. I very much recommend it.

It's so beautiful. Everyone grows up and you can relate to the feeling of finding yourself. All of us have to do it, and Mr. Braff did a flawless job.

Good, creative film-making.

I absolutely LOVED this movie. It's ingenious. It could not get any better. Natalie Portman and Zach Braff gets 2 giant thumbs up!

Garden State is a great movie. Natalie Portman rocks! This movie is perfect for the sociology student. Don't miss it. It's one of Natalie Portman's best movies.

The best, and possibly, the only way to accurately describe Garden State is "cheerfully melancholic". That is to say it deals with some really depressing issues that have a profound impact on numerous people's lives, but in a positive, matter-of-fact way. It's well written, in a naturalistic and believable sort of style, and well-directed by Zach Braff, who also chose the music for the excellent soundtrack. In short, Braff has proved himself to be an extremely versatile talent. Performance-wise, Natalie Portman impresses, playing a quirky character with a capital Q, as does Peter Sarsgaard's heavily layered and complex performance, and Ian Holm, who, while not on screen for long, stands out as an extremely believable estranged father to Braff's Andrew Largeman. The film is also extremely funny, demonstrating a masterclass in deadpan comedy. Garden State is about life, living in the moment and dealing with the various crises that you encounter. You'll find yourself in a constant flux between laughter and weeping - the film expertly judges the mood of the moment, and touches the very core of your being. It's a film about humanity, and how life often isn't all it's cracked up to be. But it's the only life you'll ever have, so you'd better enjoy it while it lasts. It's not a particularly happy film, but it's often profound, and, rarely for what is essentially (and admittedly extremely dark) rom-com, it makes you think.… Expand

Garden State is charming, raw, emotional and even a little bit weird. However most of all, it is a brilliant love story of two incredibly damaged individuals as they learn what they really want from their lives over the space of a 3 day weekend. Garden State is the story of Andrew Largeman (Zach Braff), Large to his friends, who returns home from LA for his mothers funeral and reunites with his estranged father and his childhood friends. He also meets Sam (Natalie Portman) a beautiful girl who just so happens to be a compulsive liar.
Both Large and Sam go on some bizarre adventures along with Large's old friend Mark (Peter Sarsgaard)
The best part of Garden State is the feel of it. Its perfectly crafted tone is one of optimism despite the darkness of the subject matter. For a first time director and writer (Zach Braff too) its thoroughly impressive because the film never loses focus, it has a tender loving feel to it, with the soundtrack being perfectly suited to it.
The acting is great with Braff bringing out the best in himself and his other two leads. Portman gives a quirky yet nuanced portrayal of a girl who got dealt a bad hand in life while Sarsgaard gives his character gravitas while bringing out the loyalty of the character. It's really a special movie. Something well worth seeing even if you don't like romance movies because its so much more.… Expand

simply a must see movie, zach braffs acting is phenominal, the general feel and brilliant timing of the movie makes it a movie you must see before you die, simply awesome.