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September 13, 2004
Reviews: (movie) Garden State
The fact that New York and New Jersey are basically rivals (something like N. and S. California), combined with the fact that New York used to set the culture for the entire nation means that for most of us the Garden State will be though of as a vast cultural wasteland. I have no idea if this is true or not, but after seeing Zach Braff masturbatory offering, I have every intention of skipping this state entirely, just to make sure that I’m not contaminated...
The movie opens with a shot of Andrew Largeman (Writer-Director-Star Braff) tucked neatly into bed [(too neatly, in fact. It looked exactly as though someone had tucked him into it after he crawled in). White sheets, white walls, white carpet, white blankets, off white phone. The phone is ringing. Largeman’s father babbling into the phone. Two things are established: the Longmans don’t get along, and The titular character’s mother is dead...
As the movie progresses, we learn of the dysfunction at the heart of the Largeman family, as the movie progresses, I began to care less and less. The movie is filled with all sorts of indy-director tricks (of the sort that I can’t name, but always look like every damned indy movie I’ve ever seen), but it is the script which is truly remarkable...
The script features neither comedy-making wit or drama-making tension. It calls for the lead to stand around and not-emote. It does a competent job telling its story, but manages to tell it without sparking a hint of interest...
Part of the problem, perhaps, is that Braff really only had half a story to tell: the journey of a man from crippling depression. While this is an interesting story to tell, it can’t happen in just 4 days, and anyone who falls in love with you at journey’s beginning is not likely be the sort of person you want to be around at journey’s end. The writer seems to not understand this at all, choosing to take a detour on this journey, and ending with a love-arc...
Ranking: 1 state of Gardens out of 5 states of Bliss. The most satisfying thing about this movie was the credits.
Posted by Andrew at September 13, 2004 06:06 PM
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