Garden State

Anyone seen this movie yet? If you have, what's the verdict? I don't think it's even hit theaters here in the States yet, so maybe this is mostly for people living abroad or who caught it online or whatever...
Basically, everyone is raving about it, and it actually made the IMDb top 250 list! It stars Zach Braff (you know, Dr. John Dorian from Scrubs) and Natalie Portman.

P.S. Anyone know when it's finally hitting theaters in America?

Eh, caught it on Divx a few days ago
The movie is alright, pretty easy watching. It’s mostly just about relationship stuff—girl and guy dynamics, hanging out with friends... there are a couple of totally twisted characters that actually made me laugh, even though the story itself isn't exactly a comedy..... I don't really feel like getting into the details right now, and honestly, I usually hate movies like this, but I actually liked this one if that even means anything...
No clue when it's hitting theaters here in the States....
Btw, that girl with the epilepsy in the movie is especially cute...

Don't even bother... unless:

- you're over 16
- you actually have emotional intelligence
- you've read more than two books in your life (and I'm not counting Scott Peck or Rika Zarai here)

This movie is melodramatic to an absurd degree. Honestly, I don't know how I didn't turn it off sooner. I can't even remember the last time I saw this many clichés, this much predictability, or such a pathetic, bottom-of-the-barrel ending. I haven't been this annoyed by a movie since I sat through LOTR3—it was just as much of a waste of time.

People on IMDb should probably pass a psych eval before they get permission to rate movies.
Total garbage.

Scott Campbell4...

What kind of movies are actually good in your opinion? Drop a few titles... Just curious, no biggie...

In short, it’s a beautiful movie with a top-tier soundtrack.👍

nimbleangler34 said:Scott Campbell4...

What kind of movies do you actually like? Throw out a few titles... Just asking for no particular reason...

Do you mean movies with similar themes?

The first one that comes to mind is 'Room,' and I also dug 'What's Eating Gilbert Grape' if that's what you were thinking about...

Don't take this the wrong way, but Garden State feels way too much like American Pie trying to act "deep"... It’s just shallow stuff packed in to grab a massive audience that doesn't really watch anything outside of American Pie, just so they can go, "Wow, man, what a movie!"... or "Oh, look how cute the actor is!"... Yeah, right. Just watch Friends and stop pretending there's some huge emotional difference between that and Garden State. I don't mean that personally, but honestly, after reading all the hype about this movie on the message boards, I finally decided to give it a shot.

It's like watching a news report on CNN about some developing nation, showing a line of refugees and a mother nursing a baby... Give me a break. Don't try to tell me it's sad...

Scott Campbell4 said:Are you talking about movies with similar themes?

First thing that comes to mind is 'Room of My Son,' though I also really liked 'What's Eating Gilbert Grape' if you were thinking of that (or he was?)...

Don't take this the wrong way, but Garden State feels a bit too much like an attempt to make American Pie "deep"... when really it's just shallowly packed with enough tropes to grab the widest possible audience—people who don't actually watch much beyond stuff like American Pie and then react with, "Wow, man, what a profound movie!"... or "Oh, look how cute the actor is!"... yeah, right. Just watch Friends and stop acting like there are these massive emotional pillars like Garden State out there; there isn't much difference... I don't mean you personally, just generally speaking, based on everything I've read about this movie on message boards that actually made me decide to check it out.

For starters, I'm not a fan of American Pie, and Friends was only fun for maybe the first two seasons.
I honestly have no idea how you can even put this movie in the same sentence as something as mindless as American Pie.
In your post, you didn't actually say anything specific about what disappointed you.
So, I'll be the one to get specific.
I think this movie works on several different levels...
The protagonist waking up from a years-long lethargy caused by medication, his gradual rediscovery of feeling, his start at living a "real" life...
What I loved most was the depiction of a lost generation—and that's not something unique to the US. Every time I walk through my old neighborhood, I see exactly the kind of people portrayed in this film. They have no drive to work, very few go to school, they take soul-crushing dead-end jobs, and they have absolutely no clue what they want out of life...
They live by the mantra, "From waking up to hitting the journal, I killed another day..."
They try to drown their sadness and disappointment in alcohol and drugs...
If the movie were only what I just described, it would already deserve a high rating. And there's honestly so much more to it...
You really need to watch it a couple of times. The cinematography is excellent and the soundtrack is perfect.

First off, fair warning: I’m about to drop some major spoilers here. If you haven't seen the movie yet but are planning to, just skip this post now.

You asked me exactly what I didn't like, but I haven't actually specified any of that yet...

Tip opens his closet and there's at least a hundred bottles of antidepressants and God knows what else... okay, thanks, I'm not an idiot. It’s exactly like that scene in The Ring where the phone rings, someone picks up, and then they just hang up on you. In The Ring, she answers and a voice just says, "Seven days..." and clicks off. So thanks for that. Otherwise, I'd actually be sitting here wondering who called and why.

So, he meets this girl in a waiting room who’s hiding her epilepsy because she’s young, insecure, and emotionally unstable—just like him. Then, somehow, the music coming from her headphones "reveals the world" to him, and suddenly he realizes they're soulmates. He decides to give her a ride home on his motorcycle and actually pulls over at a crosswalk just to let a line of kids holding hands pass by (seriously, I don't think I've seen such shallow, pathetic sentimentality in ages). On the way, he swings by his buddy's place—this guy bought a massive mansion out of pure spite, just another emotionally unstable wreck who has no idea what to do with himself. Same goes for his other friend, so naturally, they all just sit around getting high. And then what? People like this exist in my neighborhood, they exist in yours. They're in every single city in every single country on Earth.
Even if the movie was just about that, it would still just be one more in a billion movies on the subject. What, are we saying Trainspotting, A Clockwork Orange, or Requiem for a Dream are all trash? It’s not about that. The whole point is seeing those losers in Garden State chasing highs just because they're bored... kind of like something out of Brave New World... LOL.

If I made a movie about a guy eating a breakfast sandwich, sitting through some lectures, meeting a girl in the afternoon, and knocking back three beers at night—and then tried to market it as this profound masterpiece—would you tell me, "Hey, this is incredible! It’s so moving because it captures the everyday life I see around me. That part where he gave up his seat for an old lady on the subway was beautiful; it’s truly a film about humanity and love"? Or would you just tell me it isn't worth watching?

Let's get back to the antidepressants. At the end of the movie, he stops taking them just so he can actually start feeling things again. He even reconciles with his dad—even though they weren't even fighting—but that’s just standard sentimental fluff added to make it "emotional." It’s cliché, shallow, and honestly pathetic. The absolute peak of those three descriptors is when the girl starts crying over her chips while he’s sitting there unable to cry because of his mom. When I saw that, I didn't even hit pause on the player, so it's no wonder I ended up watching until the credits rolled.

That scene where she pushes him to do something truly original because his specific brand of chaos is something nobody can ever replicate... man, that hits. It’s great. But look, if I wanted to sit around watching *Beverly Hills*, *Melrose Place*, or *Friends*, I wouldn't be picking out a massive, "larger-than-life" epic. Grow up. Just sell the movie to whoever wants it—send it to the local high schools for their screenings and call it a day.

In the end, he gives up on flying and just goes back to being in her arms because they’re supposedly "two weirdos made for each other" or whatever. So, what am I supposed to do now? Break out in tears? Go apologize to my mom because I told her ten years ago that her homemade pie was garbage? Apologize to my dad for breaking his screwdriver? Or go make up with my ex who drove me absolutely insane?
Honestly, that kind of pathetic, propaganda-heavy melodrama is exactly why I skip most American blockbusters. But if it’s packed with 50% more clichés than your average Hollywood movie, how can anyone call this "non-Hollywood"? It just doesn't add up.

I could just go on forever listing all the details—like how his mother ended up totally broken, her friend who made him that shirt, or that idiot working at the grocery store trying to get sucked into some telemarketing scam... but I’ll stop there. Reading a massive wall of text like that would just be boring.

Sure, there are bright spots here and there, but they’re so rare and insignificant that they aren't enough to save the movie. It just isn't worth the watch.

There you go.

By the way, the soundtrack is solid. I actually dig the music, but honestly? For a movie this shallow and pathetic, I could probably whip up a decent score myself in about two minutes and call it a day.
If I listed bands like The Verve, Radiohead, Stereophonics, Coldplay, U2, Oasis, or Travis, you’d probably just turn around and tell me again that it's top-tier stuff. You always say it's a serious science.

I honestly think the issue here is just that you went in with way too much expectation. Personally, I don't expect anything from a movie—especially when it comes to American productions—so I can't really be disappointed. Every now and then, something actually manages to pleasantly surprise me...

"In the waiting room, he meets a girl who’s hiding her epilepsy because she’s young, insecure, and emotionally unstable, much like himself, but the music playing through her headphones will reveal a whole new world to him, making him realize they are soulmates."
What exactly led you to that conclusion? Is it just because when she lets him listen to "Shinse," she claims it’ll change his life? During the song, we just get a series of close-ups of her, which I assume is meant to signal to the audience how sweet and endearing she is. That’s all. Just my two cents.
As for that bit with the kids holding hands while crossing the street—I didn't find it pathetic at all; I actually saw it as a small touch of wit. There isn't even any traffic, just some damn toad in the road, yet they cross a tiny little path like that...
Regarding the whole "pathos" debate, I don't necessarily view sentimentality as a bad thing. Truth be told, I'm a huge fan of Balašević, which makes "Garden State" look ultra-light on the sentimentality scale...
Sometimes I just feel like watching a movie like this, just like I enjoy listening to Balašević, which some people might dismiss as "cheap melodrama." Does that make me low-class or tasteless? Not really—it's not like I'm sitting around listening to bubblegum pop...
If putting together a great soundtrack were actually that easy, there would be a lot more movies that nailed it...
Staying on topic: tastes vary. Like any other movie, some people will love it and others won't. For me, it was great.

Regarding Shins, whenever she hands him those headphones, she tells him it’s going to change his life...

To be fair, I had really high expectations for this movie, but I get why. It didn't have a bunch of overhyped actors, it wasn't some massive Hollywood blockbuster, the genre was interesting, and it was the director's debut... it all sounded pretty promising.

If you ask me, Garden State is just pure melodrama—it reminds me of those overly sentimental songs like "Canadian" or "Don't Break My Heart" or "I Hate January." As for this new one, I can't say for sure, but I'm guessing it's a heavy hitter.🙂

I thought the movie was awesome. Not trying to get all deep or philosophical here, I don't have any big critiques, it was just a solid watch. At the end of the day, it really just comes down to "to each their own," right? So yeah... 😁

Sending love to you boys! 👋

Scott Campbell4 said:Just don't even bother...

it's just a whole
ton of
self-righteous
pretentious
nonsense.

Get lost! :2up:

The movie is actually beautiful! 👍

This movie was exhausting... the pacing was just dead... and honestly, the only thing I felt when the credits rolled was a massive sense of regret... I should have just stayed home and watched something on Netflix instead...

Just your typical pretentious "indie" flick... yeah, Sundance, here we come...🙄

Some people here seem pretty narrow-minded when it comes to movies. I guess you should probably broaden your horizons a bit. What were you even expecting? Something like Star Wars: Episode IV? Or some other massive blockbuster? You gotta realize this one was low-budget; they didn't pour a ton of cash into it, but the cast is honestly incredible. I don't want to get into the plot yet since I haven't actually seen it myself. It's hitting theaters here in the States around March, so once I catch a screening, I'll definitely jump back in here and add my two cents to this
thread.
ahoi

We’ve already talked about this here

Scott Campbell4, care 🙏

Hey, just got back from the theater, so I figured I'd dig this Thread back up. The movie finally hit theaters here last Thursday.
Before seeing it, I honestly thought it would be way more depressing or tragic, especially after reading all the hype on different forums. I was actually wondering why everyone kept calling it this "hidden indie gem of 2005" that stands apart from typical Hollywood stuff. I totally get it now, though. The movie is full of those simple, everyday elements we all deal with, but at its heart, it's really about searching for true love, rediscovering your feelings, and just being human. It’s an easy watch—funny at times, but a little sad too (without being overkill). Basically, it's a "melancholy comedy." 😉 Or maybe just a bittersweet movie. Sadly, movies like this don't always grab the masses, so they tend to fade away pretty fast. Sometimes people miss out entirely because they disappear from theaters after just two weeks. I have to correct Scott Campbell4 in this Thread, though, because a few things he mentioned aren't quite right: Sam doesn't cry because of her snack; she breaks down when she hears from Largeman that his mom passed away. And what he said about Sam being "young, insecure, and emotionally unstable" just like him in the waiting room? That’s just not true at all! I don't know where your head was at while watching, Scott Campbell4, but she’s the exact opposite. She's full of life, joy, and adventure. He's more the type who acts like nothing matters, like you saw on the plane (everyone's panicking and he's just indifferent). Plus, he's pretty shy and quiet. But in the end, the movie has a happy ending and shows how love can heal both mental and physical wounds. By the end, Largeman becomes much more open, and you can see his emotions stirring—he even sheds a tiny tear. The soundtrack is fantastic. It fits perfectly, like salt in soup. It really touched me. You've got The Shines, Nick Drake, Coldplay, and stuff like that. I'm not usually a huge Nick Drake fan, so if I'm saying I liked him, you can imagine how much I loved the whole soundtrack. For some, this movie is the flop of the year; for others, it's the discovery of the year. I guess everyone has a different soul. Unlike Star Wars, this movie actually gives you something deep to think about, if you know what I mean. I personally liked it—won't give it a 10/10, but definitely a solid 9/10. On www.imdb.com (click here), the movie has an 8.1 rating from about 25,000 votes, which says a lot.

cya

rapidbadger45 said:Just your run-of-the-mill, "low budget" indie flick... watch out, Sundance, here comes a newcomer! 🙄

I mean, I get where they're coming from—I kind of agree—but "low budget" doesn't automatically mean it's bad, right? 😉
For me, it was actually a pretty pleasant watch, even if I can't quite recall the specific plot points after a few days. It left me with this vague, fuzzy feeling—you know the one? Like, I knew I enjoyed it while it was happening, but once the credits rolled, that was about it. If you aren't looking for some life-altering masterpiece that’s going to fundamentally shift your worldview or whatever, then this is a perfectly solid pick. Honestly, there are way too many movies like this floating around anyway. The soundtrack, though? Pretty good.

Insufferably pretentious.

Boring.

Total amateur hour. (Kind of sucks since Zach Braff is one of my favorites, and Scrubs actually rules)

Soundtrack > movie

American Pie >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Garden State, if you can even call them comparable

Tony Soprano said:I honestly have no idea how you can even group this movie in the same breath as something as mindless as American pie.
.

Sorry, but American Pie is sixteen times better than this wannabe indie flick with its forced, scripted humor that feels straight out of a sitcom... unless, of course, you're Ben Stiller or Jim Carrey—in which case, maybe. For any young up-and-coming directors, it's probably best to just stay far away from this stuff...

I am just so done with these indie pretenders whose directors think they can just slap on a great soundtrack, a light tone, and some messy characters with that whole "Ally McBeal" style glamourization of "eccentricity" and suddenly—boom—they're at Sundance....

Braff seemingly tried to cook up a mashup of Donnie Darko and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind... but look, while I'll give him credit for having a good eye for cinematography, as a screenwriter he's pretty mediocre and overly slick... his character development is just poor and sloppy... plus, all these characters, in their supposed "dysfunction," "quirkiness," and "eccentricity," end up feeling totally one-dimensional, predictable, and half-baked.... which just leaves us with a shallow, mediocre movie, despite there being actual potential there...

I have to admit, though, the film annoyed me so much with its stupidity—I truly couldn't believe anyone could actually laugh at such unintelligent, forced humor... I was sitting there thinking I wasn't even going to make it to the credits... but my husband was absolutely dying laughing the entire time... so I just bit my tongue and stoically sat through it until the end.... 🙄