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Garden State

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Garden State (2004)

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87 %
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Reviews Counted:176

Fresh:153

Rotten:23

Average Rating:7.5/10

Consensus: Charmingly warm-hearted and quirky.

Runtime: 1 hr 49 mins

Genre: Dramas

US 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

[See More Credits]

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Reviews for Garden State

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 >> >|
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N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
10/18/08
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: In Film Australia | comment Comment
12/15/04
Luke Buckmaster
Luke Buckmaster
In Film Australia
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed | comment Comment
04/29/09
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed

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: ColeSmithey.com | comment Comment
04/18/09
Cole Smithey
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
03/26/09
Todd McCarthy
Todd McCarthy
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review | comment Comment
08/07/08
Mark Halverson
Mark Halverson
Sacramento News & Review

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Big Picture Big Sound | comment Comment
12/27/07
Joe Lozito
Joe Lozito
Big Picture Big Sound

full review in Greek

Full Review Source: Movies for the Masses | comment Comment
10/03/06
Joseph Proimakis
Joseph Proimakis
Movies for the Masses

the quintessential product by and for uninspired times

Full Review Source: Perihelion Journal | comment 4 Comments
08/24/06
Jay Antani
Jay Antani
Perihelion Journal
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
02/09/06
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/06/05
Film Threat
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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Full Review Source: Three Movie Buffs | comment Comment
09/30/05
Scott Nash
Scott Nash
Three Movie Buffs

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

Full Review Source: Uruguay Total | comment Comment
09/17/05
Enrique Buchichio
Enrique Buchichio
Uruguay Total

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

Full Review Source: www.kcactive.com | comment Comment
07/25/05
Uri Lessing
Uri Lessing
www.kcactive.com

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
06/25/05
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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

Full Review Source: FromTheBalcony | comment Comment
06/20/05
Bill Clark
Bill Clark
FromTheBalcony

Boasts a sweet, moody rhythm.

Full Review Source: Lessons of Darkness | comment Comment
05/03/05
Nick Schager
Nick Schager
Lessons of Darkness

...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: Cinenganos | comment Comment
04/07/05
Alex Ramirez
Alex Ramirez
Cinenganos

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: Freeze Dried Movies | comment Comment
04/01/05
Brian Juergens
Brian Juergens
Freeze Dried Movies

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Independent | comment Comment
03/07/05
Independent
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
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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...

See All

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