Garden State the Movie and Soundtrack

[jerseydevil]

I was just wondering who has seen this movie. I saw it twice. I was sort of upset that they didn't have it at the NJ Film Festival though. The DVD comes out December 28th and I can't wait. This is also the first CD I have bought in years. The soundtrack is great.

My liking it actually has nothing with it being filmed and taking place in NJ though that I like it. The movie just has a surreal dream like quality and Natalie Portman is great in the movie. I'm not even sure how Zack Braff (of scrubs) the writer, director and actor AND fellow New Jerseyan can really say that it necessarily puts NJ in a good light since the characters are pretty strange. I know Jonathan went to see it on Sunday - still waiting for his thoughts on it - (hint hint Jonathan if you read this)

It's a great movie and I highly recommend it to people. Ruinel and I saw it when she visited and she really liked it also.

(I'm listening to the soundtrack right now as I work on my website). What are people's favorite scenes and song?

[BeardofPants]

JD likes Natalie... JD likes Natalie....

Hasn't come out yet, over here, I don't think. But I soooo want to see - might check out the movies today. I LOVE that guy from scrubs (also a JD).

[Ñólendil]

I saw Garden State. It's definitely one of my favorite movies.

I especially like the scene where the main character has that important talk with Ian Holm (his father in the movie). He puts his hand on his chest, and Ian never verbally responds. It was a very real moment. I felt it was a really honest movie, about quirky but somehow believable and broken people.

Another great scene was when the protagonist closes the fridge door, and Ian Holm is standing right there. The son is startled, and they have a conversation in which Holm is kind of a jerk, but as he walks away, almost out of sight of the camera, he turns and says "Sorry for frightening you." That's the kind of thing that doesn't need to be in there, but it just makes the scene. It brings the characters alive, and I have a feeling that Ian Holm improvised it.

Natalie Portman was amazing in this movie, and I thought it was her best performance that I've seen. Her character as Padme Amidala was by contrast unemotional, and as a character seemingly undemanding. Portman does so much better as the fun, giggly, slightly insecure young woman who can't help but tell little lies.

It's a movie, I feel, with a good message, and interesting things to say about life.

[jerseydevil]

Originally Posted by BeardofPants

JD likes Natalie... JD likes Natalie....

And your point is? I love when natalie is talknig to zack in the doctors office when they first meet and she's sitting in the waiting room chair.

Hasn't come out yet, over here, I don't think. But I soooo want to see - might check out the movies today.

Lin saw a billboard advertising it in Australia - so I think it should be there soon. I'm hoping she'll be able to see it before she leaves for China. Jonathan told me he really liked the movie and he really likes the soundtrack (I sent it to him) *damn - the music cops are at my window*

I LOVE that guy from scrubs (also a JD).

I've only watched Scrubs a couple of times. I was going to try seeing about remembering to watch it more often.

[BeardofPants]

Ooh, I want the soundtrack tooooooo.....

Well, I nipped down right after I posted on here, and it was on. FANTASTIC movie, freakin' awesome soundtrack. In fact, I went to try and track the soundtrack down, and I couldn't find it, curse-it-all. It was surprisingly well directed considering that it was his first movie. There were some really great shots - I especially liked it in the beginning in the plane, and later when his dad was calling him, and he was almost catatonic in bed. I love both of their characters as well, the numb guy, and the neurotic compulsive liar. Some stuff didn't quite gell, like the dog humping him, but they're minor quibbles. I also liked how the movie didn't pass judgement on the ancillary characters in the movie... Definitely gonna see it again - gonna drag the BF along.

So... JD... what's it gonna take to get the soundtrack off you? A recitation on how great NJ is?

<edit> AND REMEMBER TO WATCH SCRUBS!!

[jerseydevil]

Originally Posted by BeardofPants

So... JD... what's it gonna take to get the soundtrack off you? A recitation on how great NJ is?

Well - when I first read that you wanted the soundtrack and then couldn't find it - I was going to offer to e-mail it to you. But a recitation of how great NJ is wouldn't hurt. How much space do you have in your inbox?

<edit> AND REMEMBER TO WATCH SCRUBS!!

I think it's on Thursdays. I know it's on NBC - I'll have to go through and try to remember now.

Glad you liked the movie. I looked it up on Amazon yesterday and was reading the reviews - there was one review that really represented it for me.

It'll change your life...I swear, November 7, 2004
Reviewer: Julie A. Castellano "fellow twentysomething" (New York, United States) - See all my reviews

This movie will have you staring blankly at the ending credits while you desperately try to process every moment of brilliance that just transpired.

[Count Comfect]

That movie was one of my favorites. A friend of mine kept nagging me to see it ("it's great." "Best movie I've seen" etc etc) and I finally went. The acting was really good, especially Natalie Portman who is just fantastic.

The scene with the hamster cracked me up. Repeatedly. I don't think it is supposed to, quite, but it did.

And the scene in the doctor's waiting room is brilliant.

[BeardofPants]

Originally Posted by jerseydevil

....How much space do you have in your inbox?

I have gmail.

But don't worry, I've already managed to get some tracks off that thing that must not be named. I'm particularly taken by the Shins, and zero 7.

[jerseydevil]

Originally Posted by BeardofPants

I have gmail.

But don't worry, I've already managed to get some tracks off that thing that must not be named. I'm particularly taken by the Shins, and zero 7.

Well I have the entire soundtrack converted over to MP3 - if you want it. I bought the soundtrack - but I converted the songs to MP3 to show Lin.

[BeardofPants]

Zach Braff Blog... apparently he reads all his comments

http://www2.foxsearchlight.com/gardenstate/blog/

[Millane]

He better not have been talking about Margaret in that last post
Im really pissed ive missed this movie, to be quite honest i didnt know it had been and gone in aust, if it did our cinema didnt get it
BoP do you get any of our movie shows over in NZ? the one i think he was talking about was awesome...
EDIT: never fear Empire says it came out on the 25th of november. still a chance yet

[BeardofPants]

Erm, I think the only one we get is "Rove".

[Linaewen]

Originally Posted by Millane

He better not have been talking about Margaret in that last post
Im really pissed ive missed this movie, to be quite honest i didnt know it had been and gone in aust, if it did our cinema didnt get it
BoP do you get any of our movie shows over in NZ? the one i think he was talking about was awesome...
EDIT: never fear Empire says it came out on the 25th of november. still a chance yet

It's not even out yet, mate. I heard an ad for it on the radio a coupla weeks ago, and I believe it's been out since last Thursday. (Do your movies always come out on Thursday too?). And JD, I don't think there's any chance of me seeing it before China...I'm too busy.

BoP, you only get Rove? Well, that's the best one so that's ok.

[Nurvingiel]

I really want to see this movie! I just watched the trailer - wicked cool.

What's the one thing Natalie Portman's character was trying to get Zach Braff's character to do?

[Millane]

Originally Posted by Linaewen

It's not even out yet, mate. I heard an ad for it on the radio a coupla weeks ago, and I believe it's been out since last Thursday. (Do your movies always come out on Thursday too?). And JD, I don't think there's any chance of me seeing it before China...I'm too busy.

BoP, you only get Rove? Well, that's the best one so that's ok.

Rove is the best what? movie show Margaret and David are the best (dont get me started on those ****ing Movie show weasles ) I dunno, i havent really seen anything that would suggest GS came out at my cinema soon, i just got back from the cinema and as usual when i asked the chick at the register she said she had no idea, i had a flick through empire just before and it didnt mention it but the site said november 25. ohh well ill keep my eye out but i know its not coming out tomorrow.
and yes our movies do come out thursday too lin

[Jonathan]

Garden State was a really intelligent movie and I want to go see it again. I love all the subtle humour, like how all the packs of pills are lined up in pedantic order in the bathroom cabinet, and I cracked up when Large (Zach's character) forgot the mouthpiece of a gas pump in his car's tank . Though the film is very earnest, the forgotten mouthpiece told you something about how blunted Large had become. Too much Prozac and crap.

The characters were all different and interesting. Natalie Portman is cute, she talks all the time and lie but she has a certain odd charm.

Thanks JD for the soundtrack, I love it. BoP, make sure you let JD send you any songs that you can't get off 'the thing that must not be named'

Watch Scrubs! I watched my first episode a few weeks ago and got hooked.

And read Zach's blog too because it's really funny. BoP posted the link a few posts above.

Just a funny thought - The movie had some of JD Salinger in it. JD recommended me the movie ("It's set entirely in NJ!"). Zach Braff is JD from Scrubs.

[jerseydevil]

Originally Posted by Jonathan

Garden State was a really intelligent movie and I want to go see it again. I love all the subtle humour, like how all the packs of pills are lined up in pedantic order in the bathroom cabinet, and I cracked up when Large (Zach's character) forgot the mouthpiece of a gas pump in his car's tank . Though the film is very earnest, the forgotten mouthpiece told you something about how blunted Large had become. Too much Prozac and crap.

Glad you really liked it. As I said - when you said how high your expectations were before going to the film - I was afraid you'd be disappointed.

One of my favorite scenes that speaks volumes about Large is the opening scene when the phone is ringing and it's an overhead view of him sleeping and as the camera pans out - you see his room is completely empty - his phone is on the floor, his matress is just on the floor, there is nothing on the walls. It's sort of symbolic of the emptiness of of his life.

The characters were all different and interesting. Natalie Portman is cute, she talks all the time and lie but she has a certain odd charm.

I love Natalie Portman - her character is awesome I think.

Thanks JD for the soundtrack, I love it. BoP, make sure you let JD send you any songs that you can't get off 'the thing that must not be named'

I thought you'd like it. I think I'm going to put it on again. I usually listen to it when working on my website now. For some reason it gets me in the mood to work on my New Jersey website.

Watch Scrubs! I watched my first episode a few weeks ago and got hooked.

I plan on it - now that I know he's a New Jerseyan.

And read Zach's blog too because it's really funny. BoP posted the link a few posts above.

I've read his blog before - it is funny and very down to earth. I'm glad he stayed away from political comments concerning the election and just kept the tone of the blog funny and lighthearted.

Just a funny thought - The movie had some of JD Salinger in it. JD recommended me the movie ("It's set entirely in NJ!"). Zach Braff is JD from Scrubs.

If I was only Zack Braff now. But all the JD connections in there is rather odd.

By the way - on Zack's website - you really should look at the behind the scenes interviews he has there. The comments about filming at the estate are very funny. The people must have been thinking - "what the hell were we thinking letting a movie be filmed here?"

[BeardofPants]

JD, as mentioned in an earlier post, I really loved that opening scene on the bed as well. The music reflects this really well, IMO. Btw, I recognise some of the music from the soundtrack... I think some of the artists have been used on Scrubs before (Colin Hay, I dead certain has provided a track for scrubs). Anyway, I've been a scrubs fan ever since it came out. According to the Blog, it doesn't seem to do as well as I thought - in all honestly, it must just be us NZers that are enlightened, we used to have it on 5 nights a week. Scrubs is the reason I went to see this. Oh, and JD? I've changed my mind - can I get you to email me the stuff? Some of the mp3s I've got are pretty ... mush. Email's in profile.

[jerseydevil]

Originally Posted by BeardofPants

Anyway, I've been a scrubs fan ever since it came out. According to the Blog, it doesn't seem to do as well as I thought - in all honestly, it must just be us NZers that are enlightened, we used to have it on 5 nights a week. Scrubs is the reason I went to see this.

I'm not sure why it doesn't do as well here. The one reason I never watch it is because I can never remember when it's on. Wuith 300 channels - it gets hard to keep track of.

Oh, and JD? I've changed my mind - can I get you to email me the stuff? Some of the mp3s I've got are pretty ... mush. Email's in profile.

No problem - I'll send them to you. I'll have to do them in three sets like I did with Jonathan and Gal, neither one received them when I tried to send them all on one e-mail - and they both have g-mail.

[BeardofPants]

No problem, really appreciate this. Lemme know if you need anything that I've got.

<edit> 'Course we've only got FOUR public channels over here, so it's a lot easier to find the good stuff.