Garden State

Ok, can't keep quiet about this one anymore. If you still haven't seen it yet Neville, you better stop your ears...or as the great Vince Vaughn tells his silverscreen kids, "¡Muffs!" Saw it again tonight with Toll and Elaine. Definately good company. Too bad Liz couldn't be there. I hear her and Elaine's friendship is on the rocks over it. So we got a story here about a 25ish year old who's been away from home for 9 years because he can't stand his father and is now back because him mom has died. While he's home he runs into some old friends, meets some new friends, starts really living life and deals with some of his past. That probably sounds like a lot...and it is. However, this is one of those movies that's so good it's all of a sudden over and you feel like you should only be an hour in. Actors - we got Andrew played by Zach Braff, his dad played by Ian Holm, Sam played by Natalie Portman, and Mark played by Peter Sarsgaard. Quite an amazing cast. Natalie Portman and Zach Braff do such an awesome job in this film. It's really sad how nobody has gotten to act in the Star Wars prequels cause that's what most people look to when you mention Miss Portman. What about Heat, The Professional, Cold Mountain, or Beautiful Girls? Has nobody seen these? She's a talented actress. Then you got Zach who is in Scrubs, one of the funniest sitcoms that I can remember. Ian Holm is definately a decorated veteran and then you have Sarsgaard who's been in Dead Man Walking, The Cell, The Salton Sea, and Shattered Glass. The cinematography in here is pretty good for a first time director. The story rocks, the lines are good, and nothing is just completely thrown out there and completely explained so you don't have to think about it. There's this really cool scene where Sam's mom wants Andrew to hug here. Sam gets kinda embarrassed but Andrew plays it off like he'll placate her. In reality a hug is something he really needs and is longing for and you can really tell. Hard to explain unless you see it. Another thing I really loved was the comedy in here. It just seems so real - like stuff you'd say to your own friends. So much comedy out there is funny, but non-realistic. This is definately one movie that has sent viewers from crying to laughing to sniffling another tear all within the course of a minute. I saw it in the theater. This movie is so serious, so funny, and so real. Definately something to buy when it comes out.