Garden State
Aug. 3rd, 2005 08:04 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lotusbiosmI watched Garden State last night. It belongs to one of my roommates, though I don't know which one, and has been sitting on the table in the common, so I decided to borrow it, as I've been wanting to see it.
It was excellent. The writing, the directing, the acting, all of it. Zack Braff's script is good to start with, and I suspect that being the screenwriter gives you some extra knowledge when you are also the lead acto and the director, because you know what the subtext and motivation and all that is. He's also an excellent director. Visually, this movie is great. The pacing and timing are wonderful, and there are some exquisite images. It's nothing over the top or anything, what it is is subtle and evocative in ways that you don't even always notice. The performances from the other actors are also excellent. Natalie Portman, who, Star Wars not withstanding, is a very talented actress, turns in a fine performance. She has this glow and such an air of something genuine. And the other guy, whose name I don't know, is also very good. On top of this good script and good directing, Braff's acting is very good. His character undergoes this transformation, and his performance captures this in a way that you don't really see, but you know is happening. He changes, but he doesn't make it showy. To add to that, the soundtrack's great. The ending's a little Hollywood-y, but it's a good ending, and doesn't wrap everything up too neatly.
This is one of those movies that doesn't really have a plot so much as a story- it reminds me of a novel. It's about being young and growing up and figuring out who you are. There are some scenes where he totally reminds me of Gabe in the things he says but more in the ways he says them.
Anyway, A+. I hope he keeps making films like this.
It was excellent. The writing, the directing, the acting, all of it. Zack Braff's script is good to start with, and I suspect that being the screenwriter gives you some extra knowledge when you are also the lead acto and the director, because you know what the subtext and motivation and all that is. He's also an excellent director. Visually, this movie is great. The pacing and timing are wonderful, and there are some exquisite images. It's nothing over the top or anything, what it is is subtle and evocative in ways that you don't even always notice. The performances from the other actors are also excellent. Natalie Portman, who, Star Wars not withstanding, is a very talented actress, turns in a fine performance. She has this glow and such an air of something genuine. And the other guy, whose name I don't know, is also very good. On top of this good script and good directing, Braff's acting is very good. His character undergoes this transformation, and his performance captures this in a way that you don't really see, but you know is happening. He changes, but he doesn't make it showy. To add to that, the soundtrack's great. The ending's a little Hollywood-y, but it's a good ending, and doesn't wrap everything up too neatly.
This is one of those movies that doesn't really have a plot so much as a story- it reminds me of a novel. It's about being young and growing up and figuring out who you are. There are some scenes where he totally reminds me of Gabe in the things he says but more in the ways he says them.
Anyway, A+. I hope he keeps making films like this.
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no subject
Date: 2005-08-04 12:47 am (UTC)Everything is happy-dory in the end, yes, but whatever. The rest of the film is worth.
no subject
Date: 2005-08-04 10:49 pm (UTC)The soundtrack is awesome as well.
-Erica
no subject
Date: 2005-08-04 11:12 pm (UTC)I can see that.
Yeah, the music was really good.