Excellent movie, really excellent. I loved Zach Braff in Scrubs, and I was worried that he might fall into the trap that many other TV first actors fall into, and just play the same character over and over (*Matthew Perry*), but of course he didn't. Gets bonus points from me because I actually liked Natalie Portman, who I've despised ever since Leon, her only good role up until Garden State.
Probably the best directorial debut since Resevoir Dogs.
Well, I got around to watching it this evening, and while I thought I was going to come on here and bunk the best directorial debut comment, I found myself in total agreement.
Braff wove a really, really familiar story. There are a lot of people, be it medicated or just detatched from so much in their youth, and when things come back them, it all crashes down and they are left in a real state of solitude. Largeman is an extremely identifiable character.
I think the comment was made once before about this sharing thematic elements of "Eternal Sunshine" where a quirky, live for today type girl comes along and breaks a recluse out of his shell. While Kaufman did it with somewhat incredible "gimmicks", which isn't a bad thing, Zach Braff had a real fervor in his story. It had characters that complimented each other, were unique and easily relatable. It was a smart romantic comedy. No pretention, no cliched love triangle, no stealing, and he always left you guessing.
Not to mention some great cinematography pieces, i.e. Largeman sitting still while literally everything else was in fast forward, his "white room". There was some fantastic cinematic allegory that narrated Large's state.
Beautiful movie, and it's certainly one of the better indies I've seen with some SOLID performances, namely that of, once again, Peter Sarsgaard. Zach Braff pulling off the trifecta of writing, directing AND starring in his own film,and it being as concise and effective as it was just doesn't happen.
When it does, however, you know you've got something special.
I liked it although I did have some problems with the film with mostly scenes that went nowhere, that cut from Zack's character and his Dad scenes which IMO wasn't touched upon enough. I also didn't like the ending which was pretty cliched. Still a good movie though, especially for a first time director.
Great debut film, it not perfect, it does veer a little too closely towards sentimentality on occasion, but is dragged back from the crevice by some cynical humour and the ambiguous Peter Saarsgard, is he good or is he evil?
Excellent soundtrack, which fits the film perfectly giving it that 70's veneer of sensitivity and intelligence. It is funny, but I expected it to make me laugh more.
Many reviews have given it 5 stars or 10 out of 10, I dont think its quite that good but its close. One of the best films ive seen this year along with Napoleon Dynamite and Dead Mans Shoes.