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Garden State

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Garden State (2004)

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Reviews Counted:181

Fresh:155

Rotten:26

Average Rating:7.4/10

Consensus: Charmingly warm-hearted and quirky.

Runtime: 1 hr 49 mins

Genre: Dramas

Theatrical Release:Jul 30, 2004 Limited

Box Office: $26,706,668

Synopsis: Andrew Largeman (Zach Braff) shuffled through life in a lithium-induced coma until his mother's death inspired a vacation from the pills to see what might happen. A moderately successful TV actor... Andrew Largeman (Zach Braff) shuffled through life in a lithium-induced coma until his mother's death inspired a vacation from the pills to see what might happen. A moderately successful TV actor living in Los Angeles, "Large" hasn't been home to the "Garden State" in nine years. But even with 3,000 miles between them, he's been unable to escape his domineering father Gideon (Sir Ian Holm) and the silencing effect he's had on his son from afar. Stunned to find himself in his hometown after such a long absence, Large finds old acquaintances around every corner living quite unique lives as gravediggers (Peter Sarsgaard), fast food knights and the panderers of pyramid schemes. Meanwhile, at home, he does his best to avoid a long-simmering but inevitable confrontation with his father. By a twist of fate, Large meets Sam (Natalie Portman), a girl who is everything he isn't. A blast of color, hope and quirks, Sam becomes a sidekick who refuses to ride in his sidecar. Her warmth and fearlessness give Large the courage to open his heart to the joy and pain of the infinite abyss that is life. GARDEN STATE was directed and written by Zach Braff (of television's "Scrubs"), who also stars alongside Golden Globe®-nominated Natalie Portman (STAR WARS: EPISODE I, COLD MOUNTAIN), Golden Globe nominee Peter Sarsgaard (SHATTERED GLASS, BOYS DON'T CRY), Oscar®-nominated Ian Holm (CHARIOTS OF FIRE, LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING), Emmy Award®-winning Jean Smart (BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE, SWEET HOME ALABAMA), Method Man (SOUL PLANE, HOW HIGH), and Golden Globe nominee Ron Leibman (AUTO FOCUS, PERSONAL VELOCITY).

Opening Date: Friday, August 6 San Francisco: Landmark's Bridge Theatre

Opening Date: Friday, August 13 San Francisco - CineArts @ Empire Emeryville - AMC Bay Street Berkeley - Shattuck Cinema Pleasant Hill - Century Pleasant Hill Burlingame - Century Hyatt San Jose - Camera 12 San Jose - AMC Mercado, Santa Clara San Jose - AMC Saratoga Sausalito - CineArts @ Marin Santa Rosa - Rialto Cinemas Lakeside

Opening Date: Friday, August 20 Sacramento - UA Market Square Roseville - UA Olympus Point Davis - Signature Stadium 5 Stockton - City Center 16 Visalia - Signature Stadium 10 Reno - Riverside 12 Honolulu - Dole Cannery 16 -- © Fox Searchlight [More]

Starring: Zach Braff, Natalie Portman, Ian Holm, Peter Sarsgaard

Starring: Zach Braff, Natalie Portman, Ian Holm, Peter Sarsgaard, Ron Leibman, Method Man, Jean Smart, Ann Dowd, Denis O'Hare, Geoffrey Arend, Jackie Hoffman

Director: Zach Braff

Director: Zach Braff
Screenwriter: Zach Braff
Producer: Pamela Abdy, Dan Halsted, Gary Gilbert, Richard Klubeck
Composer: Chad Fischer
Studio: Fox Searchlight Pictures

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Release:

May 26, 2009

[DVD Details]
 
 

DVD Features:

  • Region 1
  • NTSC
  • Keep Case
  • Anamorphic Widescreen - 1.85

Audio:

  • Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
  • Dolby Surround - Spanish

Additional Release Material:

  • Deleted Scenes
  • Outtakes
  • Making Of
  • Bloopers: Blooper Reel

Audio Commentary:

  • 1. Zach Braff - Director
  • 2. Lawrence Sher - Director of Photography
  • 3. Myron Kerstein - Editor
  • 4. Judy Becker - Production Designer
 
 
 
 

Reviews for Garden State

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1 - 20 (sorted by date)
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Reviews
Tomatometer Critic Review Category
tomato
3.5/4

Felix Vasquez Jr.

There is not a shot in this movie that doesn’t shine. If you like the well taken picture, this is a great movie for you.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Apr., 29 2009 03:16 AM

Cinema Crazed

splat
C

Cole Smithey

Actor Zach Braff (NBC's "Scrubs") makes an impressive if unsatisfying writing and directing debut with a plaintive post-modern drama that relies on unspoken dry wit to entertain its audience (think a cross between "Harold and Maude" and "The Graduate").

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Apr., 18 2009 07:30 PM

ColeSmithey.com

splat

Todd McCarthy

Feels too piecemeal and ultimately inconsequential to grab the public where it counts.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Mar., 26 2009 03:17 AM

Variety

tomato

Urban Cinefile Critics

Braff, who also wrote and directs, tells this story with great flair, lots of subtlety and a wonderfully paced set of revelations that come to us just as they might in real life.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 18 2008 06:40 AM

Urban Cinefile

tomato
3/5

Mark Halverson

[A] goofy, melancholy, seriocomic slice of life...

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Aug., 07 2008 03:16 AM

Sacramento News & Review

tomato
3/4

Joe Lozito

It's good to see Natalie Portman acting again.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Dec., 27 2007 03:15 AM

Big Picture Big Sound

tomato
3.5/5

Joseph Proimakis

full review in Greek

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 03 2006 09:24 AM

Movies for the Masses

splat
2/4

Jay Antani

the quintessential product by and for uninspired times

Full Review Source: | comment 4 Comments | Aug., 24 2006 12:47 PM

Perihelion Journal

splat

Geoff Andrew

This is a movie where ‘sensitivity’ and ‘sincerity’ are signposted by songs by Paul Simon and Nick Drake, which I guess says it all.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Feb., 09 2006 03:17 AM

Time Out

tomato
3.5/5

Tim Merrill

While Braff's script may suffer from long-windedness, his direction -- of both cast and camera -- is so confident that this debut could well mark the start of a major career.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Dec., 06 2005 08:04 PM

Film Threat

tomato
3/4

Scott Nash

Both funny and touching, this is a small film that deserves to be seen by a wider audience.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Sep., 30 2005 03:22 AM

Three Movie Buffs

splat
3/5

Enrique Buchichio

Es una buena primera película (...) El problema tal vez sea su incontrolable acumulación de situaciones...

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Sep., 17 2005 04:28 PM

Uruguay Total

tomato
5/5

Uri Lessing

The film manages to be delightfully offbeat while simultaneously providing weight and depth.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jul., 25 2005 03:14 PM

www.kcactive.com

tomato
4/5

No review available.

comment Comment | Jun., 25 2005 03:59 AM

Empire Magazine

tomato
A-

Bill Clark

It's the kind of small treasure that drops in theaters once or twice a year.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jun., 20 2005 11:59 AM

FromTheBalcony

tomato

Nick Schager

Boasts a sweet, moody rhythm.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | May., 03 2005 08:22 PM

Lessons of Darkness

tomato
4.5/5

Alex Ramirez

...una perfecta fábula, una agridulce historia de amor, un canto a la madurez como necesidad, al amor como motor y necesidad, y a la definición de lo que somos...

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Apr., 07 2005 09:23 AM

Cinenganos

tomato

Brian Juergens

While Garden State likely won't stand up over time beside the films it emulates, it certainly can't be faulted for trying. An impressive debut.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Apr., 01 2005 08:04 AM

Freeze Dried Movies

tomato
3/5

No review available.

comment Comment | Mar., 07 2005 03:46 AM

Independent

tomato
82/100

Brian Webster

Smart, perceptive and funny filmmaking from a genuine talent in Zach Braff.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Feb., 19 2005 11:38 AM

Apollo Guide

 
 
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all

Latest News for Garden State

May 10, 2007: Box Office Guru Preview: "28 Weeks Later" and "Georgia Rule" To Battle For #2 Spot
In what must be a first at the box office, an aerobics queen takes on killer zombies in a vicious battle for the silver medal during what no doubt will be another mammoth... More...

August 31, 2006: Box Office Preview: "Crank" Closes Up Summer Movie Season
The summer movie season comes to an official end with the Labor Day holiday weekend unleashing three new releases plus the national expansion of a fourth. More...

August 14, 2006: Box Office Wrapup: "Talladega Nights" Stays #1, "Step Up" Surprises
Despite a pair of newcomers close behind in its rearview mirror, Will Ferrell's hit comedy Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby finished in first place for the second... More...

March 02, 2006: Dr. Dorian Prepares for "Open Hearts"
"Scrubs" star Zach Braff, who made quite the impression with his debut movie, "Garden State," has chosen his second directorial project: a remake of the 2003... More...

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