I hate to repeat what other critics have already said so that’s why I quote. Here’s what James Berardinelli said in his review:
Garden State is one of those movies that fails to stay with the viewer for an extended period of time. It’s a forgettable film featuring a throw-away story with unmemorable characters and unremarkable performances. That’s not to say it’s bad, because that would be an unfair description. But it’s hard to figure out why this movie caused such a stir at Sundance.
The story is about a guy who went to LA to become a big movie star but ended up waiting tables (at a Vietnamese place). His mother dies so he needs to go back home to the “garden state”. There’s no specific feel for where this garden state is although one would assume it’s New Jersey.
My interpretation of the “garden state” title however is not linked to a place. Maybe I got it wrong but I think it’s related to Largeman’s (Zack Bach) emotional numbness. In other words, garden state = vegetative state.
When Largeman comes back he meets a ton of people who haven’t seen him for 9 years. Some of his school mates have struck it rich, others dig graves for a living. It would’ve been surreal if it was more visual or symbolic. The movie stays close to the ground though.
Largeman goes to see a doctor (he stopped taking his medication) and meets Sam (Natalie Portman). There are some moments between them but the affair lacks passion. To compensate for it, there’s a ton of COMpassion - the cliche that two misfits equal a tight fit.
The ending has a twist but it’s somewhat abrupt and lacks credibility. Then again, the whole movie is disjoined and doesn’t have a smooth flow. Maybe it’s the editor, maybe it’s the story itself.
In many ways, this movie reminds of The Graduate where Dustin Hoffman plays a similarly “numb” young man. The ending is similar as well in terms its “openness”. There’s no similarities in the middle though. There are no good laughs and certainly no Mrs. Robinson.
I rented Garden State because of its success at Sundance. Previous favorites like El Mariachi, Run Lola Run, or American Movie made me believe that Sundance can’t go wrong. They can and they did.
Interesting idea that the “Garden State” had something to do with “Vegetative State”.
Personally, I think there’s something ironic in the name “Garden State”. I’ve only been to the area around NYC, and there’s little in the way of gardens. Very industrial.
I enjoyed the film though since it struck a personal chord with me as I was going through a quarter life crisis.
I agree with you that the movie definitely has a certain appeal for the twenty-somethings. At the same time, I felt the story itself could have benefited from a more pronounced conflict.
In essence, this is a maturation story and a key ingredient is the conflict between the person and the establishment - be it parents, school, work, etc. I didn’t see a lot of conflict in that regard. It was essentially the love sub-plot that carried the movie and gave it some sense of conclusion.
personally i liked the movie alot… maybe being a misfit my self 2.. nehow the parts played out by zach or natalie.. were both very interesting… and like the other guy said it .. maybe the movie was cool coz i had been in a similar situation myself 2 n some how or the other i’m always finding myself being attracted , sorry wrong word to use , but lets say connected to guys who r kinda messed up in the head.. kinda think they’re more interestin than the rest.. neway dats jus me.. overall.. the movie was okay.
Thanks for the comment, Zasa. I think the movie is very targeted to a specific audience, and unfortunately (for a host of reasons), I fall outside its appeal. Maybe I’m too old, too European …
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