Requiem for a Thought

Well I finally got around to seeing "Garden State," a movie that I had intended to see when it first came out. For the two people who read this blog regularly, you both saw the movie so bare with me as I review the plot in the off chance someone else stumbles upon this page who hasn’t seen it.

"Garden State" is the story of Andrew Largeman (Zach Braff), an actor living out in Los Angeles who returns to New Jersey after the death of his mother. Its unclear if Largeman (known as “Large” by his hometown friends) has been estranged from his entire family or just his father, but he has not been home in several years. His return brings him back to old friends, who accept him back eagerly, and to face his family’s past.

Its a great first movie for Zack Braff as writer and director. The themes of loneliness and isolation are skillfully presented early in the film. In the surrealistic opening scene, Largeman sits quietly and apathetically in a plane as the rest of the passengers panic around him. The plane is going down and is suffering major turbulence. He is completely disengaged from the actions on the plane.

During his mother's funeral, Largeman stands off away from the other observers. He is not a part of the ceremony and seems to feel no connection to it. After the funeral, Largeman talks with his Aunt (who looks like she could actually be Braff's mother). His aunt would like him to try on a shirt that she made. Hilariously, he tries it on and it’s the same pattern as the wallpaper from a newly renovated bathroom. However, I think the scene shows how Largeman is blending in with society, remaining unoriginal—another theme which will later be expounded upon.

Returning for a moment to the previous theme of isolation, I think Largeman’s mode of transportation while he is home is quite telling. Its an old motorcycle from his grandfather. He explains that his grandfather left only one thing to any family member—the motorcycle—and he specifically left it to Largeman. However, what could be seen as merely a funny vehicle, further suggests Largeman’s loneliness since there is no one to ride next to him—the sidecar always remains empty until the last 30 minutes of the film.

Soon Largeman meets Sam, a bubbly young girl played by Natalie Portman. Although I know that Portman is not 16, when we first meet her she acts like she is. However, we learn that she is indeed at least 21 and perhaps more Largeman’s age (mid—late 20s?) Their friendship starts off quickly and eventually leads to a romance that takes a bit away from the movie rather than adding to it. And this is where my chief criticism of the movie occurs: why the romance here?

The first half of the movie is about Largeman’s place in life, his isolation and loneliness. A budding friendship with Sam is one thing, after all, Largeman is rekindling old friendships why not start a new one? But the romance between him and Sam sparks over 5 days. They find love in less than a week; why this romance is necessary at all, let alone believable. The film remained very unique up until this point. Then it seemed to slightly devolve from a mature character study to a typical mushy romantic movie. That really is my biggest criticism which, when the movie is taken in its totality, doesn’t really hurt my image of the movie too much.

A friend of mine argued that the movie is one for “our generation.” And I would agree with that. Like many children born after, say, 1975, Largeman has been medicated most of his life. However, he comes to reject the medications route in favor of coping with his feelings on his own. While he rejects prescription drugs, he does join his friends in recreational drug use, something which seems a bit counterintuitive. Prescription drugs hurt the mind, but X and pot don’t? He wants to purge the prescription drugs from his mind but readily pours equally mind numbing chemical back in. It’s a minor inconsistency and one that I can accept since he doesn’t seem to glorify it.

The movie hums along with a great soundtrack. The music compliments the movie’s actions well. The acting is wonderfully refreshing (how’s that for a marketing blurp?!); I cared about the characters. Aside from the fact that the movies seems to depart from its original plot, it’s well worth seeing.