Wednesday 20 May 2015

Garden State (2004 Zach Braff)

He wrote this one single-handed, his feature debut as director and writer - thematically it has much in the way of Wish I Was Here (dying, estranged father (Ian Holm), fear of swimming, protagonist as actor etc.). Lots of style e.g. the diploma that is hung on the ceiling as the wall's full. Natalie Portman is fantastically natural and charming as an epileptic liar, Peter Skarsgaard rather cool as low-achieving friend, Michael Weston, Jim Parsons again (moment he arrives in kitchen in suit of armour is hilarious), Ato Essandoh and Denis O'Haire, the Noah's Ark guy at the end (from The Good Wife, Dallas Buyers' Club, Changeling etc.).

A bright, sweet and tangy film shot again by Lawrence Sher. Also funny in encounters with former colleagues.

Liked the description of family as "other people that miss the same imaginary place".

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