Garden State

Name: Garden State
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance
Released: July 28, 2004
Duration: 102 min
Rating: 67
Cast: Natalie Portman, Peter Sarsgaard, Zach Braff

2004

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 37 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 303 Ratings

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8.5

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8.5	User Score Universal acclaim based on 303 Ratings

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Garden State

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Movie Details & Credits

Fox Searchlight Pictures | Release Date: July 28, 2004 | TV-MA

Starring: Natalie Portman, Peter Sarsgaard, Zach Braff

Summary: Andrew Largeman (Braff) shuffled through life in a lithium-induced coma until his mother's death inspired a vacation from the pills to see what might happen. When he travels from L.A. back to his hometown, he meets Sam (Portman), a girl who is everything he isn't. Her warmth and fearlessness give him the courage to open his heart to the joyAndrew Largeman (Braff) shuffled through life in a lithium-induced coma until his mother's death inspired a vacation from the pills to see what might happen. When he travels from L.A. back to his hometown, he meets Sam (Portman), a girl who is everything he isn't. Her warmth and fearlessness give him the courage to open his heart to the joy and pain of the infinite abyss that is life. (Fox Searchlight Pictures)… Expand

Director: Zach Braff

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy, Romance

Rating: TV-MA

Runtime: 102 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Premiere Peter Debruge

Garden State gets it. Not since "The Graduate" has a movie nailed the beautiful terror of standing on the brink of adulthood with such satisfying precision. Read full review

Kevin Thomas

Garden State illuminates a young man's overdue coming of age with unexpected depth and grace. Read full review

Roger Ebert

This is not a perfect movie; it meanders and ambles and makes puzzling detours. But it's smart and unconventional, with a good eye for the perfect This is not a perfect movie; it meanders and ambles and makes puzzling detours. But it's smart and unconventional, with a good eye for the perfect detail. Read full review

Rene Rodriguez

There's no denying the intelligence at work here, or Braff's skill at weaving off-the-wall humor and sight gags into a story that, at heart, is profoundly sad. Read full review

Ella Taylor

Braff is bright and has a quick ear for vernacular dialogue, and he's caught the look and the sound of his blitzed, prematurely disillusioned generation, which has had to live with more lack of definition than most. Read full review

Marc Mohan

Zach Braff has come up with a charming, funny, melancholy ode to twentysomething angst. Read full review

Joe Morgenstern

Mr. Braff's idea of self-discovery is my idea of narcissism.

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User Reviews

CindyP

Jan 10, 2008

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!!

0 of 0 users found this helpful

NyeKemball

Jul 7, 2012

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.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

TylerDurden900

Jul 20, 2014

One of the smartest, perceptive dramas of the last decade. The characters are well developed, and the
movie has a totally feel from any other movie. Garden State is one of Natalie Portman's best movies.

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

DanielE.

Nov 6, 2006

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 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

0 of 0 users found this helpful

axelkoch

Aug 14, 2013

This movie isn't the funniest, the most touching, or the most realistic, yet a lovely and rememberable mixture of all three. I thought that some of the scenes, especially the first scene at the house of Natalie Portman's character, were over-the-top and just didn't hit my sense of humor, butThis movie isn't the funniest, the most touching, or the most realistic, yet a lovely and rememberable mixture of all three. I thought that some of the scenes, especially the first scene at the house of Natalie Portman's character, were over-the-top and just didn't hit my sense of humor, but that's fine since the ones that made me smile were definitely predominant. Zach Braff proves to not only have a talent for acting, but also writing and directing and until he finally releases a new movie, we'll have to content ourselves with watching Garden State over and over again something that I am very keen on doing.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Compi24

Nov 28, 2012

Zach Braff directs and stars in the 2004 dramedy "Garden State". The movie follows the story of a a 26-year-old actor/waiter (Braff) who returns to his hometown in New Jersey after his mother dies. First off, for a first-time attempt at directing a film, Zach Braff does an incredible job. IZach Braff directs and stars in the 2004 dramedy "Garden State". The movie follows the story of a a 26-year-old actor/waiter (Braff) who returns to his hometown in New Jersey after his mother dies. First off, for a first-time attempt at directing a film, Zach Braff does an incredible job. I found the majority of this film to be entertaining. One of the best aspects of the film, is its really clever screenplay written, of course, by Braff. It features a lot of real witty and endearing dialogue between characters. Which brings me to another great aspect of the film - the performances. I found pretty much every performance in the film to be very very well done. Braff does a really great job of depicting what a person would be like if they've been taking lithium carbonate for most of their life. I also found Natalie Portman's portrayal of Sam to be adorable. Whenever her and Braff are interacting on screen their chemistry is just palpable. The film also features a very great licensed soundtrack. In the end, I found Zach Braff's "Garden State" to be a very intelligent romantic comedy that doubles as a very effective mood piece.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

FrankR.

Sep 2, 2005

This is the worst film in the last 100 years.

0 of 1 users found this helpful

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45	#45 Most Discussed Movie of 2004
86	#86 Most Shared Movie of 2004