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MOVIES / ON DVD / GARDEN STATE
Garden State

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Garden State (2004)

87%
100%
91%
N/A
N/A
N/A
87 %
Reviews Counted: 174 Fresh: 152  Rotten:22 Average Rating: 7.5/10
 
Consensus: Charmingly warm-hearted and quirky.
 

How does the Tomatometer work?

The Tomatometer measures the percentage of positive reviews from Approved Tomatometer Critics for a certain movie.[-]

Runtime: 1 hr 49 mins

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 living in Los Angeles, "Large" hasn't been home to the "Garden State" in nine years. But even... 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]

Genre: Dramas

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

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

DVD Info

Release:

Dec 5, 2006

[DVD Details]

Reviews

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

Click to read the article

Full Review | comment Comment
02/09/06
Time Out
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4/5

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06/25/05
Empire Magazine
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3/5

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03/07/05
Independent
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4/5

A witty, wacky, and wonderful trip through the minefield of being twenty-something.

Full Review | comment Comment
12/07/04
Stella Papamichael
BBC
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
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95/100

Garden State is nothing short of genius, as moving as it is hilarious.

Full Review | comment Comment
12/05/04
Joe Utichi
FilmFocus
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4/5

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Full Review | comment Comment
10/23/04
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon
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4/5

It's heart is beautifully expressed through humour, dry wit and honest emotion that never gets sappy at all.

Full Review | comment Comment
09/09/04
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall
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3/4

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Full Review | comment Comment
12/27/07
Joe Lozito
Big Picture Big Sound
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3.5/5

full review in Greek

Full Review | comment Comment
10/03/06
Joseph Proimakis
Movies for the Masses
Ratings Image
2/4

the quintessential product by and for uninspired times

Full Review | comment 1 Comment
08/24/06
Jay Antani
Perihelion Journal
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3.5/5

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Full Review | comment Comment
12/06/05
Film Threat
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3/4

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09/30/05
Scott Nash
Three Movie Buffs
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3/5

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

Full Review | comment Comment
09/17/05
Enrique Buchichio
Uruguay Total
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5/5

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

Full Review | comment Comment
07/25/05
Uri Lessing
www.kcactive.com
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A-

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

Full Review | comment Comment
06/20/05
Bill Clark
FromTheBalcony
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N/A

Boasts a sweet, moody rhythm.

Full Review | comment Comment
05/03/05
Nick Schager
Lessons of Darkness
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4.5/5

...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 | comment Comment
04/07/05
Alex Ramirez
Cinenganos
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N/A

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 | comment Comment
04/01/05
Brian Juergens
Freeze Dried Movies
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82/100

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

Full Review | comment Comment
02/19/05
Brian Webster
Apollo Guide
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N/A

'the biggest problems lie in the simplistic nature of the characters and the reliance on quirkiness, rather than genuine, realistic emotion, to connect with its audience.'

Full Review | comment 1 Comment
02/05/05
Derek Smith
Cinematic Reflections
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Around the Network

• Garden State at Rotten Tomatoes
• Garden State at IGN
• Garden State at AskMen
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