Some
great dialogue, cute sparks between Natalie
Portman's character and Zach
Braff, and a fistfull of quirkiness really puts
a shine on the otherwise drab silver lining of Garden
State.
I did
not feel statisfied completely with Garden
State simply because there was alot of quirkiness
with alot of cliche. Scenes felt shallow and underdeveloped.
Each scene that redeemed itself, which wasn't many,
did so by a slight margin, a bit of chemistry here,
or insight there - It didn't fully move me, and to be
honest I'm easily moved.
I love
Zach's quirkiness, although I wouldn't exactly call
it unique. I love the show Scrubs, but there he has
alot of support from the rest of the cast. Garden State
has it's moments, I give it that.
The whole
movie
I couldn't help but think he only had Natalie Portman
in the movie cos deep down he always had a crush on
her and wanted a reason to be able to kiss her =p The
ending, was so horrible it was obviously substantiating
my claim!! That was a joke.
The problem
of this movie is that the main character basically is
a butterfly larvae in a coccoon and he moves from this
state to a butterfly a little too quickly. Sure he is
uncertain of what to do, he asks Natalie so.. what do
we do ?? almost pleedingly at the end, that was at least
honest.
But, an aching
gnaws at me, a sense that each scene
barely redeemed itself, underdeveloped, and got nowhere
closer to telling a story.
Most of the
major scenes were a bit contrived, underdeveloped, and
unrealistic.
Especially
the scene with the father and the ending.
Overly elementary
yet endearingly simple. Spiritual adolescence for lack
of better words. I like Zach Braff but I wasn't moved
by Garden State. I know some will be for they are in
a place in life that they will connect with that, and
nothing is wrong with this.
I honestly
feel it would have been better ended if, you see him
get off the plane, run to her and they hug and you think
it's a happy ending, but then we are back on the plane,
as it takes off, and he is sitting there wondering if
he will ever see her again.
To me that
is more realistic progression of his emotions, considering
he experiences so much so quickly, has been medicated
his whole life, I just don't see him coming to a conclusion
and acting on it in that manner.
"What
a joke when we realize it was just a story about him
finding a girl."
Well, the truth
is it was oddly realistic that his next step in his
evolution would be a form of co-dependence, and it's
obvious she is looking for a codependent relationship
as well, so they're kinda perfect for each other, but
dont expect the relationship to last unless that can
move on into independence while retaining the "love"
they share.
They've known
each other four days and what they have I surely would
not call real love, perhaps puppy love, but I didnt
see any real sparks.
The thing that
worries me about the film is that it seems to encourage
codependecy as a solution to loneliness and self exploration.
Or perhaps the real lesson is we don't have to do it
all alone, and if we are lucky enough to find someone
willing to take the journey with us, we shouldn't run
away, seek the moral high ground, because life doesn't
stop, and before you know it, she's gone, and hey you
found yourself, but now you're all alone.
